PDF/A Compliance
Validate and convert PDFs to archival standards
Check compliance against PDF/A-1b, 2b, and 3b. Auto-fix common violations. Batch convert your entire archive.
Download Free TrialHow It Works
PDF/A compliance in three steps
Load & Select Standard
Load your PDF files. Choose the target PDF/A conformance level: PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b depending on your compliance requirements.
Validate
Run validation to check each file against the selected standard. A detailed report lists every violation with rule codes and descriptions for each file.
Convert & Fix
Auto-fix common violations and convert non-compliant files to the target PDF/A standard. Re-validate to confirm compliance before your deadline.
Key Capabilities
Complete PDF/A compliance toolkit
Supported Standards
- PDF/A-1b — ISO 19005-1 Level B conformance
- PDF/A-2b — ISO 19005-2 Level B conformance
- PDF/A-3b — ISO 19005-3 Level B conformance
- Detailed rule-level validation reporting
- Clear pass/fail status per file
Validation Reports
- Rule code and description for each violation
- Violation count per file and per rule
- Summary statistics across the entire batch
- Identifies fixable vs. manual-attention violations
- Export validation results for documentation
Auto-Fix & Conversion
- Automatically fix common violations (missing metadata, color spaces)
- Embed fonts that are referenced but not embedded
- Convert RGB/CMYK color spaces as needed
- Add required XMP metadata and output intent
- Re-validate after conversion to confirm compliance
Batch Processing
- Validate and convert hundreds of PDFs in one operation
- Real-time progress with per-file status
- Separate output for converted files
- Skip already-compliant files automatically
- Chain with optimize or sign in a pipeline
Use Cases
When archival compliance is mandatory
Government Archives
A state agency must convert 10,000 public records to PDF/A-2b for long-term digital archival. Batch validate, auto-fix, and convert — meeting the mandate without manual file-by-file work.
Legal Document Retention
A law firm converts case files to PDF/A before moving to long-term storage. Validation reports prove compliance for each document, satisfying retention policy requirements.
Audit Preparation
A compliance officer validates 200 financial reports against PDF/A-2b before an external audit. The validation report documents every file's compliance status as audit evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PDF/A-1b, 2b, and 3b?
PDF/A-1b (ISO 19005-1) is the original archival standard with the strictest constraints. PDF/A-2b (ISO 19005-2) adds support for JPEG2000 compression, transparency, and layers. PDF/A-3b (ISO 19005-3) further allows embedding arbitrary file attachments. Most organizations target PDF/A-2b as the recommended default.
What kinds of violations can be auto-fixed?
The app can automatically fix missing XMP metadata, incorrect color spaces, unembedded fonts, missing output intents, and other common structural issues. Violations requiring content changes (like removing JavaScript or multimedia) are flagged for manual attention.
Can I validate without converting?
Yes. Validation and conversion are separate steps. You can run a validation-only pass to get a compliance report for each file, then decide which files to convert. Already-compliant files are identified and can be skipped automatically.
Can I export the validation report?
Yes. Validation results — including rule codes, descriptions, and pass/fail status per file — can be exported for documentation, audit evidence, or sharing with your compliance team.
Meet your PDF/A compliance deadline
Validate, fix, and convert your entire PDF library. Free 14-day trial.
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