Annual Review 2018-2019

Ulster University Financial Statements 2022

Financial Statements 2016-2017

Annual Review 2020/2021

Financial Statements 2017-2018

Ulster University Annual Review 2022-2023

Ensures that headings in PDF documents follow a logical hierarchical order for accessibility.

## What this means

Headings in a PDF should be arranged in a logical sequence, much like a table of contents in a book. This means using a consistent hierarchy of heading levels (like Heading 1 for main titles, Heading 2 for subsections, etc.). Headings should not skip levels abruptly (e.g., jumping from Heading 1 directly to Heading 3).

## Why it matters

1. **Accessibility**: Screen readers rely on a logical heading structure to navigate content, making it essential for users with visual impairments.
2. **Readability and Navigation**: A well-structured document with logically ordered headings enhances readability and allows all users to navigate the content more efficiently.
3. **Consistency and Professionalism**: Logical heading order reflects a professional approach to document creation and helps maintain consistency across documents.

## How to fix

1. **Review Heading Levels**: Check your document to ensure that headings follow a sequential order without skipping levels.
2. **Modify Headings**: If any headings are out of order, adjust them using your PDF editing tool to align with the logical structure.

## Testing Methodology

Silktide's checks your PDF to identify the sequence of headings. It flags PDFs where the heading order is not 
hierarchical (e.g., a Heading 3 directly following a Heading 1).

Headings in a PDF should follow the sequence Heading 1 > Heading 2 > Heading 3 without skipping intermediate headings.
It is acceptable to 'go back' to previous styles/headings but the sequence should then continue without missing headings.

### Limitations
- **Contextual Analysis**: Silktide might not fully grasp the context behind the document's structure, so manual review is recommended for complex documents.
- **Styling Variations**: Variations in styling that are not properly tagged might not be detected accurately.

## Further Reading

- [Understanding WCAG: Headings and Labels](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/headings-and-labels.html)
- [How to Organize PDF Content with Accessible Headings](https://www.adobe.com/accessibility/pdf/pdf-accessibility-overview.html)

pdf-headings-order

October 2025

September 2025

Ulster University

	Title / URL	Issues
	Annual Review 2018-2019www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/614203/UU-Annual-Review-2018-19.pdf	1
	Ulster University Financial Statements 2022www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1473804/UU-Financial-Statement-2022.pdf	1
	Financial Statements 2016-2017www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/240004/2016-2017.pdf	1
	Annual Review 2020/2021www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1494337/40812-UU-16-Page-Annual-Report_SM_V3.pdf	1
	Financial Statements 2017-2018www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/350023/2017-18.pdf	1
	Ulster University Annual Review 2022-2023www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1619410/43930-UU-Annual-Review-Redesign-Final-1.pdf	1

Ensure PDF headings follow a logical order

Ulster University

Where this issue has occurred