Tagged PDF support

[leomayer]

I've checked briefly the issues and I don't get a clue if the 2025 TexLive version of tabularray will support tagged PDFs. I've seen some hints that it is but #27 last entry raises doubts.
So, is it or not? The q is of interest since I want to switch from tabularx to here. While tabularx mentions quite clearly that they support tagged PDFs, I couldn't find any specifics hints for tabularray

[lvjr]

Well, tabularray will provide only a minimal example library. Unless someone else would like to maintain and improve the library, users have to manually tag their documents with public tabularray hooks and variables.

[leomayer]

OK, manually tagging... Will there be a guide how to do it? Or is just Ulrikes sample from #27 sufficient with definitions at the beginning? And example library means it will be included in the 2025 TexLive or one has to install it manually?
Honestly I want to get an idea how good (or not) at least basic things like structure is supported. I mean in sense of a regular user without fancy customization (whatever this means).
Th Medium link has at the ending a nice screenshot about accessibility checks done for a table.

[lvjr]

Everything about tagging is experimental at this moment. For a regular user, my suggestion is to wait for three or five years first before using it.

[FrankMittelbach]

Everything about tagging is experimental at this moment. For a regular user, my suggestion is to wait for three or five years first before using it.

LaTeX tagging is developed in a big and lengthy project, but by now it is not just experimental any more; not more than other packages in the TeX world that also see updates and improvements and changes. Yes, we are still missing some finalization in interfaces and lot of the code internally will see improvements (and changes). But we are way beyond the stage that one should suggest to users "use this only for experimentation, not for real". On the contrary, what we do say is that if you take only packages from the compatibility table

https://latex3.github.io/tagging-project/tagging-status/

you are by now perfectly capable of automatically producing fully accessible PDF documents according to PDF/UA-2 (or if you have to PDF/UA-1 standards) including accessible math.

Yes, there are some interfaces that will change or get enhanced, but if the package authors wait for us to first finish everything rather than trying to integrate with the interface we already provide then chances are high, that any necessary extensions are not going to be provided (because we don't learn about them, and it is impossible for us to analyze all third-party packages to see if our interfaces for tagging are enough to cater for them). In other words in many package areas it is by now the right point in time, to see if they can be made accessible using the interface we provide -- and give feedback if that isn't possible and something is missing. That is especially true for tabular code. We have done the work so that the core (basic) LaTeX tabular packages are compatible but to find out what is missing (if anything) in what we provide for this, it needs to tried and applied out in further situations.

As @leomayer remarked the pressure on users of LaTeX is on and it will only increase and if your package waits another 3 or 5 years to consider tagging, chances are high it by then unusable for many users.

[lvjr]

I have some packages but limited time. It is necessary to focus on essential parts and leave others to contributors.

[FrankMittelbach]

The limited time is true for everybody. But my point was mainly about your suggestion that this should be left alone for another 3-5 years. You may or may not fine contributors but you have to be willing to work with/integrate what they provide. If that is not the case it is unlikely that you find contributors. The other aspect that I was trying to stress is that this is going to be an essential part for the usability of the package eventually.

[leomayer]

Sorry, but I cannot share your point of view. Within the EU law about accessibility gets more stricter (and controlled) - which means we need to have Tagged PDFs - experimental or not. Otherwise penalties need to be paid.

Waiting 3-5 years on adaption of your package means we need to use in the meantime other options. And honestly I wouldn't think that in 3-5 years I would come back to your package. Just a side note from my side.