PDF/A-1
PDF/A-1b
The original PDF/A standard. It provides a more limited feature set than newer PDF/A versions.
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF (ISO 19005) designed specifically for the long-term preservation and archiving of electronic documents. The goal of PDF/A is to ensure that a document can be opened and reproduced reliably in the future, independently of the software or system originally used to create it.
A PDF/A document is designed to be self-contained. Information required to reproduce the document must be stored within the file rather than relying on external resources. Depending on the PDF/A conformance level, this includes content such as text, images, vector graphics, fonts, and color information.
PDF/A is widely used by organizations that need to retain documents for long periods, including government agencies, engineering companies, financial organizations, and document management and archival systems.
PDF/A conformance levels supported by ViewCompanion Premium
ViewCompanion Premium can convert existing PDF files to the following PDF/A conformance levels:
PDF/A-2
PDF/A-2b PDF/A-2u
A newer standard with support for more modern PDF features. Recommended for many general archiving workflows.
PDF/A-3
PDF/A-3b PDF/A-3u
Similar to PDF/A-2, but additionally allows other files to be embedded within the PDF/A document.
PDF/A-4
PDF/A-4 PDF/A-4e
Based on PDF 2.0. PDF/A-4e is intended for engineering and technical documentation.
PDF/A-1 has a more limited feature set than newer PDF/A standards. For best results, we recommend using PDF/A-2b or higher unless your archive or document management system specifically requires PDF/A-1. Some PDF documents contain features that cannot be represented while maintaining PDF/A-1 conformance.
The b (basic) conformance level focuses on preserving the visual appearance of the document. The u (Unicode) level additionally requires text to have Unicode mappings, helping preserve searchable and extractable text.
Easy PDF/A conversion
With ViewCompanion Premium, you can convert PDF files to PDF/A without using an online service. Select the required PDF/A conformance level, choose the destination file, and create the archival PDF locally on your computer.
For larger document collections, the same conversion can be performed using batch processing.
- Convert individual PDF documents to PDF/A.
- Batch convert multiple PDF files.
- Select the required PDF/A conformance level.
- Supports PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2, PDF/A-3, and PDF/A-4 standards.
- Keep document processing on your local computer.
- Convert existing PDF files without modifying the original documents.
Batch PDF to PDF/A conversion dialog in ViewCompanion
How to convert PDF to PDF/A
Convert a single PDF file to PDF/A
- Open the PDF file in ViewCompanion Premium.
- Select the PDF/A conversion function from the available PDF tools.
- Select the required PDF/A conformance level and conversion options.
- Select the destination filename and create the PDF/A file.
Batch convert multiple PDF files to PDF/A
When you need to archive multiple documents, ViewCompanion Premium can convert them to PDF/A in a single batch operation.
- Add the PDF files you want to process to the batch conversion list.
- Select PDF/A as the output format and choose the required PDF/A conformance level.
- Select the output folder where the converted PDF/A files should be saved.
- Press Start to begin the batch conversion.
ViewCompanion will process the selected files and create the PDF/A output files in the specified folder.
Automate PDF/A conversion
For automated workflows, ViewCompanion Premium also includes tools for command-line and unattended file conversion.
Your PDF files stay on your computer
ViewCompanion Premium performs PDF/A conversion locally. Your files do not need to be uploaded to a cloud service or third-party conversion website.
This can be especially useful when working with confidential drawings, engineering documents, business records, or other sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PDF/A?
PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of PDF designed for long-term preservation and archiving. It is intended to keep documents reproducible and self-contained for future use.
Which PDF/A levels does ViewCompanion Premium support?
ViewCompanion Premium supports conversion to PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-2u, PDF/A-3b, PDF/A-3u, PDF/A-4, and PDF/A-4e.
What is the difference between PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-2u?
PDF/A-2b focuses on preserving the visual appearance of the document. PDF/A-2u additionally requires Unicode mappings for text, helping preserve searchable and extractable text.
Can ViewCompanion batch convert PDF files to PDF/A?
Yes. ViewCompanion Premium can batch convert multiple PDF files to PDF/A in a single operation, which is useful when processing larger document collections.
Are PDF files uploaded to the cloud during PDF/A conversion?
No. ViewCompanion Premium performs PDF/A conversion locally on your computer, so your files do not need to be uploaded to an online conversion service.
PDF/A conversion for developers
Need to add PDF to PDF/A conversion to your own Windows application or automated workflow?
scConverter is a file conversion and PDF processing SDK that can be integrated using a COM interface or directly through the DLL interface. It supports PDF to PDF/A conversion as well as PDF merging and splitting and conversion to formats including TIFF, DXF, PNG, JPEG, DWF, and more.
Convert PDF files locally with ViewCompanion Premium
ViewCompanion Premium combines PDF/A conversion with viewing, annotation, measurement, batch processing, and other tools for technical documents.
Learn more about ViewCompanion Premium
