Website Accessibility Scanning
How do I start a website scan?
Open DAC Web and choose Website Inventory, Webpage Scan, or Website Scan. The page will open with mode-specific controls already preselected. Enter the full https:// URL and start the run. You can monitor progress in the live status area and in the Scan and Remediation History.
Which engines power the audits?
DAC-A11y uses Playwright-powered browsers (Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit) to simulate how real visitors use your site, then checks each page against WCAG accessibility requirements to support remediation.
What should I look for in the report?
Every website report highlights totals by severity, the affected pages, and remediation guidance for each finding, including the WCAG citation and helpful code context. Work on critical and serious issues first, then address lower-priority items and rerun the scan to confirm remediation fixes.
How long do scans take?
Scan duration varies by page count, site performance, and scan scope. Small marketing sites may finish in minutes, while larger sites with deep navigation can take longer. You can monitor progress while the scan runs, and review each run's start time and status in Scan and Remediation History.
What happens if I paste a document link?
If a target URL resolves to a document, we reroute the job through document remediation automatically. You will see the new entry in Documents > History with the same status updates you receive for file uploads.
What's new with deep scans?
Deep scans now run in a background queue so the site stays fast during large scans. You get a run ID right away, can track progress while it runs, and can review results in Scan and Remediation History when complete.
Why are export checkboxes disabled sometimes?
Auto-download exports (Excel, Word, PDF) now apply only to immediate single-page scans. When you perform a Deep Scan run, the export options hide because those reports are delivered after completion from Scan and Remediation History view once the queued crawl has finished.
Can I use Authenticated Page Access with Website Inventory?
Not yet. Website Inventory currently hides the Authenticated Page Access section. Authenticated run-now scanning is currently supported for Webpage Scan and Website Scan, and those authenticated runs execute locally.
What changed in Website Inventory reports?
Website Inventory conducts a preliminary scan audit of websites to determine the total number of webpages, links and documents that are contained on the website. The Website Inventory tool does not evaluate accessibility.
Can I resume a deep scan after interruption?
Yes. Deep scans now have stronger resume support for interruption scenarios (including partial and eligible cancelled runs). Resume controls are available from the Scan and Remediation History and Run Details when the run state supports continuation.
Why can't I resume a Website Inventory run?
Website Inventory uses a discovery-only flow and resume actions are intentionally hidden for these runs. If an inventory run stops early, start a new Website Inventory run to rebuild discovered-link coverage.
Why do crawl pattern labels look different in Run Details?
Run Details now converts raw crawl templates (such as slug/hash/id patterns) into user-friendly labels so discovered-link summaries are easier to review.
What happens if I start the same single-page scan twice?
To cut noise and duplicate load, identical single-page submissions for the same URL and engine are de-duplicated. If a matching job is already queued or running, we reuse the existing run and show you its status instead of spawning a duplicate.
Document Remediation
How do I check a document for accessibility?
Go to DAC Docs > Document Scan and either upload a local PDF, DOCX, PPTX, or XLSX, or paste a direct document URL. Uploads enter the queue immediately, while links are fetched in the background before remediation begins.
What is the cost to run the Document Scan Summary?
The Document Scan Summary is one credit per page for Base and Pro accounts and is designed to estimate analysis and remediation effort before you commit to remediation. The Document Scan provides a page count and a rating for the likelihood that the document can be made accessible through automated remediation.
Do audit uploads stay on the server?
No. For the Document Scan Summary (audit scan), files are used temporarily to count pages and estimate effort, then deleted after the summary session ends. These summary-scan files are not saved to the database.
Which formats are supported?
DAC-A11y handles the formats teams use most:
- PDF files with full tagging support
- Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- High-resolution images for OCR and description generation
What does the document report highlight?
Reports call out missing alt text, heading issues, untagged regions, reading order concerns, color contrast problems, inaccessible tables, and missing document language. Each item includes a recommended fix.
Can I import directly from Google Drive?
Yes. The cloud picker now supports Google Drive with My Drive and Shared Drives, including folder view, MIME filtering to PDF/Office types, and multi-file selection so you can queue several documents in one step.
What if the linked document is password protected?
We detect password-protected files early and return an immediate message instead of failing later in remediation. Remove the password or upload an unlocked copy to continue.
How are uploads queued now?
Uploads route through a new queue modal that confirms each file or cloud selection, shows progress, and identifies any download failures before processing starts.
Where are uploaded or imported documents stored during processing?
Document uploads and cloud imports now use cloud processing paths for improved reliability and scale. Temporary processing artifacts (including uploaded and processed files) are managed by retention and cleanup routines based on system configuration.
Can I paste images for alt text suggestions?
The Alt Text Lab now accepts clipboard images. Focus the paste area, press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac), and we will queue the image alongside file and folder uploads for five caption options.
What if the linked document is unavailable?
If the source host times out, blocks the download, or returns an unsupported file type, we mark the job as failed and send an alert. You can retry or upload the file directly once it is available.
What additional checks run automatically (no layout changes)?
Beyond alt text, headings, tables, and language, we now flag (report-only) issues that avoid layout changes: missing embedded fonts/ToUnicode maps, unlabeled form fields, missing document titles, visually bold text that skips Heading styles, slides missing reading-order cues, and empty Excel header cells. All of these are reported as issues—you choose how to remediate.
Plans & Billing
How do I subscribe to a plan?
Visit the Pricing page, review the plan tiers, and choose Subscribe or Get started. Checkout is processed through Stripe and supports all major credit cards.
Can I change my plan later?
Absolutely. Open Account Settings > Billing and select Manage subscription to upgrade, downgrade, or switch to annual billing. Changes apply immediately with prorated charges on your next invoice.
Can I buy one-time credits?
Yes. Credit bundles (1,000 standard, 5,000 with 15% off, and 10,000 with 25% off) are available from the Pricing page. Credits activate as soon as payment clears and supplement your included monthly allowance.
How many credits does each job type use?
Credits are charged by successful page outcomes based on job category:
- Credit model: 1 credit equals $0.05 USD.
- Webpage scan (single page): 1 credit per successful page scan.
- Deep website scan: 1 credit per successfully scanned page. Unsuccessful pages consume 0 credits.
- Document audit: 1 credit per successfully processed document page.
- Document remediation: 4 credits per successfully remediated page.
- Website Inventory (link discovery mode) does not consume page credits.
What is the difference between pending credits, reserved credits, and consumed credits?
For exact jobs, credits are reserved before processing begins. This reservation temporarily reduces available balance while the job is pending/in progress. On success, reserved credits become consumed. If the job fails or is cancelled, reserved credits are restored.
What happens when credits run out during deep scans or document batches?
Deep scans and large batches can be marked partial when credits are exhausted. Successful pages already completed remain charged; failed pages are not charged. For unknown-estimate batches, you can apply a max-credit cap (default: current remaining credits). Documents that exceed the remaining cap are skipped, while eligible items can continue.
How do I view invoices and payment history?
This feature is limited to designated Administrator level users in an organization. All receipts live under Manage your account > Organization. Download individual invoices or export a full statement anytime.
Can organization admins manage subscription and invoice actions?
Yes. OrgAdmin users now have expanded organization billing controls, including invoice self-service workflows and subscription action options based on account state and permissions.
What happens if a payment fails?
We notify you by email and retry the charge automatically. If retries exhaust, premium features pause until you update the payment method and the next attempt succeeds.
Is there a trial option?
New workspaces can run a limited free scan. For broader pilots of Pro or Enterprise plans, reach out through the Contact page so our team can tailor access.
Violation Definitions Legend
PDF Violations
PDF.Document.MissingStructTree: The document is not tagged, making it largely inaccessible to screen readers.
PDF.Page.MissingStructParent: A page is missing a parent in the structure tree, breaking the reading order.
PDF.Image.MissingAltText: An image is missing alternative text, so its content is not available to visually impaired users.
PDF.Document.MissingLanguage: The document's primary language is not specified, which can confuse text-to-speech software.
PDF.Document.MissingBookmarks: Long documents should include bookmarks for navigation; this file has none.
Additional PDF Checks
These checks look at the tag structure and settings of a PDF. Items marked "Manual review required" are reported but never changed automatically.
Document
PDF.Document.AccessibilityPermission: The document's security settings do not allow assistive technology to extract its text. Manual review required.
PDF.Document.ImageOnly: Some pages are pictures of text with no real text on them.
PDF.Document.LanguageInvalid: The declared document language is not a valid language code.
PDF.Metadata.DisplayDocTitleMissing: The viewer is not set to show the document title.
Page content
PDF.Content.Untagged: Some page content is neither tagged nor marked as an artifact. Manual review required.
PDF.Annotation.Untagged: Links, comments or other annotations are not part of the tag structure.
PDF.Page.TabOrder: Pages with links or fields do not use the document structure as their tab order.
PDF.Fonts.EncodingRisk: Some fonts use encodings that may not map to readable text. Manual review required.
PDF.Multimedia.Untagged: The document contains audio, video or 3D content that needs a text or accessible alternative. Manual review required.
PDF.Scripts.Present: The document contains JavaScript that can interfere with assistive technology. Manual review required.
Forms
PDF.Form.Untagged: Form fields are not part of the tag structure.
PDF.FormFields.MissingTooltip: A form field has no description (tooltip).
Alternate text
PDF.Alt.Nested: Alternate text is set on an element inside another element that already has alternate text.
PDF.Alt.NoContent: An element has alternate text but no page content.
PDF.Alt.HidesAnnotation: Alternate text on a parent element hides a link or annotation from screen readers.
PDF.Alt.OtherElementsMissing: A formula (or other non-figure element that needs a description) has no alternate text. Manual review required.
Tables
PDF.Table.RowsInvalid: A table row is not a direct child of a table (or table head, body or footer). Manual review required.
PDF.Table.CellsInvalid: A header or data cell is not a direct child of a table row. Manual review required.
PDF.Table.Irregular: The rows of a table do not have the same number of cells. Manual review required.
PDF.Table.NoHeader: A table has no header cells.
PDF.Table.HeaderScopeMissing: A table header cell does not say whether it applies to a row or a column.
Lists
PDF.List.ItemsInvalid: A list item is not inside a list, or a list contains something other than list items. Manual review required.
PDF.List.LblLBodyInvalid: A list item is missing its body element, or contains elements other than a label and a body.
Headings
PDF.Heading.SkippedLevel: Heading levels are skipped or the first heading is not level 1.
Word Violations
Word.Image.MissingAltText: An image is missing alternative text.
Word.Image.AltTextLooksLikeFilename: Alt text appears to be a filename; provide a descriptive alternative.
Word.Paragraph.MissingHeadingStyle: Text that looks like a heading is not formatted with a heading style, preventing proper navigation.
Word.Table.MissingHeaderRow: A table is missing a designated header row, making it difficult to understand data relationships.
Word.Table.ComplexStructure: Tables with merged or nested cells can confuse screen readers and need manual review.
Word.ContentControl.MissingTitle: A content control is missing a title or tag, so its purpose is unclear to assistive tech.
Word.Document.MissingLanguage: The document's language is not set.
Excel Violations
Excel.Image.MissingAltText: An image on a worksheet is missing alternative text.
Excel.Image.AltTextLooksLikeFilename: Alt text appears to be a filename; provide a descriptive alternative.
Excel.Table.MissingHeaderRow: A table or sheet is missing a designated header row.
Excel.Table.ComplexStructure: Tables with merged cells can disrupt header associations and should be reviewed.
Excel.Sheet.MissingName: Worksheets should be clearly named for navigation and bookmarks.
Excel.Sheet.MissingMeaningfulName: Default sheet names should be replaced with descriptive labels.
Excel.Document.MissingLanguage: The workbook's language is not specified.
PowerPoint Violations
PPT.Slide.MissingTitle: A slide is missing a title, which is essential for navigation and understanding the slide's purpose.
PPT.Slide.DuplicateTitle: Multiple slides share the same title; titles should be unique.
PPT.Image.MissingAltText: An image is missing alternative text.
PPT.Image.AltTextLooksLikeFilename: Alt text appears to be a filename; provide a descriptive alternative.
PPT.Table.MissingHeaderRow: A table is missing a header row.
PPT.Table.ComplexStructure: Tables with merged cells can confuse screen readers and should be reviewed.
PPT.Section.MissingMeaningfulName: Presentation sections should have meaningful names for navigation.
PPT.Section.DuplicateName: Presentation sections should have unique names to avoid confusion.
Web Page Violations (Axe-core)
image-alt: Images must have alternate text.
color-contrast: Elements must have sufficient color contrast.
heading-order: Heading levels should only increase by one.
link-name: Links must have discernible text.
button-name: Buttons must have discernible text.
area-alt: All areas of an image map must have alternative text.
document-title: The page must have a title that describes topic or purpose.
html-has-lang: The element must have a lang attribute.
label: Every form element must have a label.
list: Lists must be structured correctly (using unordered, ordered, and list-item elements).
td-headers-attr: Table cells must use the headers attribute to associate them with header cells.
Additional Document Checks (flag-only)
PDF.Fonts.Embedded / PDF.Fonts.MissingUnicodeMap: Confirms fonts are embedded and include ToUnicode maps so text stays selectable for assistive tech.
PDF.Metadata.TitleMissing: Flags documents without a title or subject for better navigation.
PDF.FormFields.Unlabeled: Highlights fields missing tooltips/labels.
Word.Styles.InlineOnlyHeading: Identifies text that looks like a heading but is not using Heading styles.
PPT.Fonts.NotEmbedded: Notes slides using fonts without embedded subsets for portability.
These are reported for awareness; remediation is left to you to avoid layout changes.
DAC A11y Assistant
How do I use the DAC A11y Assistant prompt system?
First, sign into your account, then on the Home page type your request in DAC A11y Assistant and select the Preview Action button. The preview confirms detected intent, target, and estimated credits before you execute. For query requests, the assistant can also return results directly in chat, including summary details and links to run details. This preview-first flow helps prevent accidental scans or exports.
What are good prompt examples for DAC A11y Assistant?
Try these examples:
Discover all pages on https://example.com
Check https://example.com/about for WCAG 2.2 accessibility issues
Check my attached document for accessibility issues
Fix accessibility issues in my attached document
How many accessibility issues were found in run #1234?
How do I check a document using the assistant?
For a document audit summary, type "Audit my document for accessibility" and attach a file using the attachment button, or include a direct URL such as "Check https://example.com/report.pdf". For full remediation, use "Remediate my document" and attach the file.
Can I query results from a completed scan?
Yes. Include the run ID in your question, for example: "What are the total issues in run #42?", "Show top accessibility problems for run 100", or "How many pages were scanned in run 55?". The assistant returns a summary with issue counts by severity and the most common rule violations, plus a link to the full run details.
How do I view my scan history through the assistant?
Ask "Show my recent scans", "Show scan history", or "My runs". The assistant recognizes history requests and provides a direct link to your History page.
What happens if I switch topics mid-conversation?
Each assistant session is tied to a specific task type and target. If you ask about a different website domain or switch between a web scan and a document task, the assistant automatically starts a fresh conversation and notifies you that the topic has changed. This keeps each chat session focused on one run at a time.
Can I use the assistant without signing in?
Informational questions, document upload audit summaries, and website audits may be available without signing in depending on your plan settings. Actions that create queued scans or query personal run history require signing in.
What suggestion chips are available?
In the DAC A11y Assistant section on the Home page, you will see quick-start chips such as Website Inventory, Check accessibility, Document Scan, and Run Analytics. Click any chip to pre-fill the assistant input and get started immediately. The chips update as new capabilities are added.
