RE: PDF Title

Yet another reason not to be using PDF on the web …

 

From: chagnon@pubcom.com <chagnon@pubcom.com> 
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2025 11:57 PM
To: 'Morrell, Eleonora A' <emorrell@albany.edu>; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: RE: PDF Title

 

Quote/ In my opinion, we shouldn’t have to translate the title. The user’s browser language would translate the title. /End Quote.

 

HTML and PDF files are very different from each other. And given that it’s been only recently that browsers can even open and process PDFs, we can’t assume that a browser will function and translate any part of a PDF as it does an HTML file. 

 

As Karen McCall said, yes, the title in File/Properties (the PDF’s metadata) must be translated into the desired language. And the File/Properties language setting must match the translated language, too.  The body text, Properties/Title, and Properties/Language all must match, regardless of whether the PDF is viewed in a browser or directly in a PDF reader program.

 

Bevi Chagnon |  <mailto:chagnon@PubCom.com> chagnon@PubCom.com

Member, ISO Committees for PDF & PDF/UA Standards

Adobe Community Expert

Media Designer, Author, Trainer, and Consultant

 

PubCom.com

Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing

MS Office – Adobe InDesign & Acrobat – Editorial & Design – A11y  Publishing Workflow

 

 

 

From: Morrell, Eleonora A <emorrell@albany.edu> 
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 1:54 PM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
Subject: RE: PDF Title

 

Thank you all for sharing your expertise and for answering my question. Probably a simple question, but I just wasn’t sure.

I’m new to the group and I’m so glad to have found it. hope to share some of my expertise and experience with the group in the future.

Cheers to everyone!

Eleonora 

 

 

From: info@karlencommunications.com <mailto:info@karlencommunications.com>  <info@karlencommunications.com <mailto:info@karlencommunications.com> > 
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 11:51 AM
To: 'Lars Ballieu Christensen' <lbc@sensus.dk <mailto:lbc@sensus.dk> >; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> 
Subject: RE: PDF Title

 

Yes, the title of the document in the document properties must be in the same language as the PDF. 

 

Cheers, Karen

 

From: Lars Ballieu Christensen <lbc@sensus.dk <mailto:lbc@sensus.dk> > 
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 11:22 AM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> 
Subject: Re: PDF Title

 

Hi Eleonora,

 

You would need to translate the title as well. There is no automated translating going on. The language attribute merely specifies the main language of the document. 

 

Venligst/Kind regards

 

Lars

----

Lars Ballieu Christensen 

Rådgiver/Adviser, Ph.D., M.Sc., Sensus ApS

Specialister i tilgængelighed/Accessibility Consultants 

Tel: +45 48 22 10 03 – Mobil: +45 40 32 68 23

Mail:  <mailto:lbc@sensus.dk> lbc@sensus.dk – Web:  <https://www.sensus.dk> https://www.sensus.dk 

 

Vi arbejder for et tilgængeligt og rummeligt informationssamfund

Working for an accessible and inclusive information society

 

 

From: "Morrell, Eleonora A" <emorrell@albany.edu <mailto:emorrell@albany.edu> >
Date: Friday, 24 October 2025 at 08.10
To: "w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> " <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> >
Subject: PDF Title
Resent from: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> >
Resent date: Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:13:48 +0000

 

Hello,

I have been asked a question that I’m not 100% sure of the answer by one of my co-workers. We are translating a PDF into 12 different languages. Do we have to translate the Title property of the PDF? 

In my opinion, we shouldn’t have to translate the title. The user’s browser language would translate the title. Am I incorrect? Any other opinions/thoughts from others who might have more expertise in this matter would greatly appreciate.

Thank you in advance,

Eleonora Morrell

She/her/hers

Senior Workforce Development Trainer

Digital Accessibility Specialist

Professional Development Program

Rockefeller College, University at Albany

PH: 518-442-6542

emorrell@albany.edu <mailto:emorrell@albany.edu>