PDF/UA-1 rule reference › clause 7.4.2
Not fixed automatically structure, heading
Heading level %1 is skipped in a descending sequence of header levels
veraPDF rule 7.4.2-1 = ISO 14289-1:2014 clause 7.4.2, test 1, checked on PDF object SEHn.
In Adobe Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker the closest item is “Appropriate nesting”.
For documents that are not strongly structured, as described in ISO 32000-1:2008, 14.8.4.3.5, heading tags shall be used as follows: (*) If any heading tags are used, H1 shall be the first. (*) A document may use more than one instance of any specific tag level. For example, a tag level may be repeated if document content requires it. (*) If document semantics require a descending sequence of headers, such a sequence shall proceed in strict numerical order and shall not skip an intervening heading level. (*) A document may increment its heading sequence without restarting at H1 if document semantics require it
Heading tags come from heading styles in the source document (Heading 1, Heading 2 … without skipping levels); correct the tag tree if the export mixed H and H1–H6.
Upload the PDF: veraPDF lists every failed PDF/UA-1 rule, our fix runs, and veraPDF checks the fixed file again — you see “N failed rules before → M after” before deciding. The fixed file costs 19 € (excl. VAT); the check is free. We never call a file “accessible” or “compliant”.
Rule text (description and error message): veraPDF validation profile PDF/UA-1 © veraPDF Consortium, licensed under CC BY 4.0. This site is not affiliated with the veraPDF Consortium, the PDF Association, ISO or Adobe. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe; the Acrobat checker item is named only to help you match the two reports.