PDF/support

[vivadavid]

Hello, friends of Tracker Sofware,

I've tried to find this information, but I was unsucessful. I work mostly with PDF/A files and whenever I open one on PDF Xchange Viewer, there's always a message informing that "saving changes to the file may add unsupported content - making it no longer PDF/A compliant". What does it involve exactly?

Thanks for your time.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi vivadavid,

PDF/A is a subset of the PDF standards that is designed for archiving purposes. It is commonly used with institutions that want to ensure the files will always be available to be opened.

When you open a PDF/A in the Viewer it is warning you that changes you make may not be compliant with the PDF/A specifications. It will still be a compliant PDF but not necessarily PDF/A.

If you want to ensure your document is PDF/A compliant it could be 'reprinted' using the PDF-XChange Standard driver. This is not however a recommended solution as it can potentially introduce other problems.

The good news is that V3 of the Viewer is planned to be able to maintain the PDF/A standard on saving.

hth

[vivadavid]

Thank you for your answer. I understand you're saying I shouldn't use PDF-Xchange Viewer to add comments on PDF/A until the next version of programme. I don't know what those possible changes to the PDF structure could be, but it sounds a bit risky to use the software if this is what happen.

Again, thank you for your time, and looking forward to the new version, expected in September, I believe.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi again vivadavid

it sounds a bit risky to use the software if this is what happen.

I'm not sure that I would go so far as to call it risky. Most actions you take will not break compliance with PDF/A. I would test with copies some of the more common things you wish to do and validate the result with something like this: http://www.pdf-tools.com/pdf/validate-pdfa-online.aspx

There are many online.

Yes you are right that V3 will offer you that peace of mind however - but do note that all PDF's we create are 100% PDF format compliant - its just the specific subset of the PDF/A that is very specific that we do not offer 'save to' attributes for.

hth

[vivadavid]

Thanks for your reply and for the information. I'd like to say that the PDF/a files that I open on PDF-Xchange Viewer are created with an external programme.

I've used the link you provided me and here are my results:

1. The original PDF/A conforms to the PDF/A1-b standard.
2. The same file, once I add a note, a bookmark and I underline some text on Adobe, doesn't conform any more.

This means that even Adobe doesn't follow the standard. However, I can still work with the files. I guess it's not the end of the world if the PDF/A file is not a "perfect" PDF/A in its structure if you can still add notes and underline, delete pages, rotate them, search for text, etc.: the operations that a normal used needs.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi vivadavid,

interesting results. Did you do the same changes with our Viewer and if so what were the results? I'd be interested to know.

regards

[vivadavid]

Test on PDF/A1-b validity (where the unedited PDF conforms). Changes made on the PDF: added one note and a bookmark; underlined some words.

1. The PDF edited on Adobe:
Validating file "A happy prince (edited with Adobe).pdf" for conformance level pdfa-1b
The value of the key CA is 0.6 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key ca is 0.6 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key CA is 0.335007 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key ca is 0.335007 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key BM is Multiply but must be Normal or Compatible.
The key S has a value Transparency which is prohibited.
The document does not conform to the requested standard.
The document contains transparency.
Done.

2. The PDF edited on PDF-Xchange Viewer:
Validating file "A happy prince (edited with PDF-Xchange).pdf" for conformance level pdfa-1b
The value of the key BM is Multiply but must be Normal or Compatible.
The key S has a value Transparency which is prohibited.
The value of the key CA is 0.6 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key CA is 0.600001 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key ca is 0.600001 but must be 1.0.
The value of the key F is 'Invisible' but must be 'Not Invisible'.
The value of the key F is 'Not Print' but must be 'Print'.
The document does not conform to the requested standard.
The document contains transparency.
The document contains hidden, invisible, non-viewable or non-printable annotations.
Done.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Thanks for that vivadavid,

I'm not personally sufficiently conversant with the standards to comment on the details but having this is going to be helpful as we develop V3.

[vivadavid]

Glad I helped!

[John - Tracker Supp]