PDFA in 2025

[pschlan]

Hi,

I'm trying to create PDF/A documents using Core API (in order to comply with electronic invoicing regulations in EU), but couldn't find a way to do so by checking the SDK docs. I've seen threads from 2016/2017 about this topic, where use of the Editor SDK is recommended, but I'm wondering if there's by now a way to do this with the "modern" Core API SDK?

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

Patrick

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, pschlan

The Core API is not a more "modern" version. The Editor SDK is still an actively developed product. The two have different use cases.

Core API is to be used for creating new document from scratch, and it does have the ability to create new files which are PDF/A compliant. See here: https://sdkhelp.pdf-xchange.com/view/PX ... ument_Save
Specifically:

Code: Select all

//C#
private void SaveDocument(PDFXEdit.IPXV_Document Doc, PDFXEdit.IPXV_Inst Inst)
{
	//Performing save to the same file
	Doc.Save();
	//Performing save to the specified file without the progress bar
	PDFXEdit.IAFS_Inst fsInst = (PDFXEdit.IAFS_Inst)Inst.GetExtension("AFS");
	PDFXEdit.IAFS_Name destPath = fsInst.DefaultFileSys.StringToName("D:\\TestFile.pdf"); //Converting string to name
	Doc.Save(destPath, (int)PDFXEdit.PXV_DocSaveFlags.PXV_DocSave_NoProgress);
	//Saving document as pdfa (for this the PDFA plugin should be registered)
	PDFXEdit.IPXV_ExportConverter cnv = null;
	for (uint i = 0; i < pdfCtl.Inst.ExportConvertersCount; i++)
	{
		if (pdfCtl.Inst.ExportConverter[i].ID == "conv.exp.pdfa")
			cnv = pdfCtl.Inst.ExportConverter[i];
	}
	if (cnv != null)
	{
		PDFXEdit.ICab cab = pdfCtl.Inst.GetFormatConverterParams(false, "conv.exp.pdfa");
		pdfCtl.Doc.Save(destPath, 0, null, cnv, cab);
	}			
}

If you simply need to convert an existing PDF to PDF/A, the Editor SDK will still work, and the process should be the same as before. Do ensure that the PDFA plugin is loaded of course.

Kind regards,

[pschlan]

Hi Dan,

The linked method is of the editor layer, not Core API, or am I missing something?

I’m trying to create a new PDF from scratch with Core API in a PDF/A compliant way.

Thanks,

Patrick

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, pschlan

Aside from that method, the answer the Dev team has given me is that Creating PDF/A from scratch is essentially just following rules of PDF/A during normal PDF creation process.

One member of the dev team has said they will try to find some time to offer some more details here later. Hopefully they can offer some more.

Kind regards,

[pschlan]

That would be great, thanks!

(I'm especially curious how to add the piece of information into the PDF which claims that it is PDF/A compatible. Acrobat and PDF-XChange both show some banner when this is the case.)

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

[pschlan]

Any news here?
The colleague wanted to provide more details.

[Sean - PDF-XChange]

Hi pschlan,

No news so far I'm afraid.

Kind regards,