Supplemental guide for PDF/A File Creation

PDF/A (Portable Document Format/Archive) is a file format meant to preserve electronic

documents. This format is defined with ISO 19005-1:2005 standard and based on description of the PDF
version 1.4 from Adobe Systems Inc. Its goal is a long-term archiving of electronic document and correct
presentation of information independent from the tools and systems used to created, store or
reproduce the files. This is achieved by imbedding all the necessary elements to display the PDF/A file in
unaltered form.

File Format: PDF/A-1b

Online Validator: http://www.pdf-tools.com/pdf/validate-pdfa-online.aspx

I. Options in creating the file

1. Scan the document directly to file in PDF/A-1b format (some scanners supported this
functionality)
2. Convert by printing to file using PDFCreator

3. Use PDFBox (open source java library for PDF creation and validation). Tutorial available at
https://pdfbox.apache.org/1.8/cookbook/pdfacreation.html

II. Using the Online Validator

1. Navigate to the validator URL

2. Click on “Choose File”, browse for the pdf file that needs validating.
3. Click on “load PDF”
4. Choose Option “PDF/A-1b”, then click “Execute”
5. Take note of the output if successfully validated. Sample Screen below: