Introduction

The 3-Heights™ PDF to PDF/A Converter converts PDF files into PDF/A files. PDF/A has been acknowledged world-wide as the ISO standard for long-term archiving since 2005. The tool analyzes and converts the input file, applying a digital signature where required.

The integrated validator then checks conformity once again. This product is robust and powerful and therefore predestined for archive migrations of any size.

Brief Description

Performance Characteristics

• Robustness
• High throughput
• True to the original
• High conversion quality
• PDF/A compliance
• Integrability
• Universal use

Areas of Use

• Archiving
• Standardization
• Quality assurance
• Compliance with legal requirements

Functions

• Conversion (PDF, PDF/A)
• Selectable level of conformity
• Embedding ICC color profiles for device-dependent color spaces
• Replace and subset fonts (optional)
• Validation
• File analysis and repair
• Conversion reporting
• OCR (optional)
• Digital signatures, PDF/A-compliant

Sectors

• Public sector
• Banking and insurance
• Archives and libraries
• Health sector
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Industrial documentation service
• Legal sector
• Patent sector
• Oil and gas industry (long-term leasing contracts)

Functions

The 3-Heights™ PDF to PDF/A Converter accepts files from many different applications and automatically converts them into PDF/A. The level of conformity can be set to Level A or Level B. ICC color profiles for device-dependent color profiles and font types are embedded in the document. There is an option to provide the entire character set for fonts (no subsetting) to facilitate editing at a later stage. Missing fonts are reproduced as close to the original as possible via font recognition. Metadata can be generated automatically or added from external sources. The tool also detects and automatically repairs problems typical of the PDF format. A digital signature can be applied and a conformity check carried out at the end of the process. The optional OCR Add-On and linearization for fast web display are valuable additional functions.

Functions

• Conversion (PDF, PDF/A)
• Selectable level of conformity
• Embedding ICC color profiles for device-dependent color spaces
• Replace and subset fonts
• Validation
• File analysis and repair
• Conversion reporting
• OCR (optional)
• Digital signatures, PDF/A-compliant
• Write the application log in a log file or in the event log of the operating system (with Windows Service)
• Configure the virtual appearance of the signature (page, size, color, position, text, background image, etc.)
• Enforce conversion even if the file is unconvertible

• Read input and output document from file or memory (API only)
• Metadata management
• Read encrypted input files
• Encryption with access authorizations (not for PDF/A)
• Linearization (fast web display)
• JBIG2 compression
• JPEG2000 compression
• List OCR plug-Ins
• Set the OCR language

Benefits

Properties and Benefits

The 3-Heights™ PDF to PDF/A Converter is characterized by a high conversion throughput speed and an extensive performance catalog. These functions enable reliable, ISO-compliant long-term storage of large PDF document inventories. The guaranteed visual reproducibility also lends the document a record-like quality that increases auditing acceptability and reduces compliance risks. As an active member of the ISO, PDF Tools AG is in a position to provide the most competent and future-oriented PDF/A solutions.

Performance Characteristics

• Robustness
• High throughput
• True to the original
• High conversion quality
• PDF/A compliance
• Integrability
• Universal use

Areas of Use

Incoming Mail

All incoming PDF documents can be converted directly to PDF/A for long-term archiving. Documents that cannot be converted can be rejected as soon as they are received by email. That increases process quality and reduces the need for subsequent quality controls.

Areas of Use

• Archiving
• Standardization
• Quality assurance
• Compliance with legal requirements

Archive

The Converter processes documents from all corporate business areas during archiving. It quickly and easily converts documents to which retention periods apply into PDF/A and verifies conformity of the result with the ISO standard. It therefore acts as a gatekeeper with regard to input control and ensures that only compliant data enter into the business process or long-term archive.

Sectors

• Public sector
• Banking and insurance
• Archives and libraries
• Health sector
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Legal sector
• Patent sector
• Oil and gas industry (long-term leasing contracts)

Technical Details

Architecture and Application Options

The PDF to PDF/A Converter is available in the following variants:

• as a Windows service with watched folders (Service)
• as a command line for batch processing (Shell)
• as a programming interface for integration in existing applications (Application Programming Interface, API)
• other variants on request

Variants

Product Variants

• Shell tool (command line)
• API (programming interface)
• Windows service (system service)

Formats

Input Formats

• PDF 1.x (PDF 1.4, PDF 1.5, etc.)
• PDF/A-1a
• PDF/A-1b
• PDF/A-2a
• PDF/A-2b
• PDF/A-2u

Target Formats

• PDF 1.x (PDF 1.4, PDF 1.5, etc.)
• PDF/A-1a
• PDF/A-1b
• PDF/A-2a
• PDF/A-2b
• PDF/A-2u

Compliance

• Standards: ISO 19005-1 (PDF/A-1), ISO 32000 (PDF 1.7)
• Quality assurance: Isartor test suite

Platforms

Operating Systems

• Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7 - 32 and 64 bit
• FreeBSD 4.7 for Intel
• HP-UX 11.0 – 32 bit and Itanium
• IBM AIX (4.3: 32 Bit, 5.1: 64 bit)
• Linux (SuSE and Red Hat on Intel)
• Mac OS X
• Sun Solaris (2.7 and higher)

Interfaces and Languages

Interfaces

• API: C, Java, .NET, COM

For further product details please see "Further product details"

Programming Languages

All program libraries are written in efficient and thread-safe C++. API offers a selection of the following connections to programming languages:

• C#, VB .NET, J# via .NET
• Java via JNI
• MS Visual Basic, Borland Delphi, MS Office products such as Access and C++ via COM
• C and C++ via native C

Product Code

• CNV

Related Products

• 3-Heights™ Document Converter Service
• 3-Heights™ PDF Producer
• 3-Heights™ Image to PDF Converter

Further Product Details

The 3-Heights™ PDF to PDF/A Converter API converts PDF files into PDF/A files in accordance with the international standard ISO 19005-1. It can also apply PDF/A-compliant digital signatures during the process.

The 3-Heights™ PDF to PDF/A Converter API first analyzes the input file based on the level of conformity (Level A and B). Conversion to the highest possible level of conformity is then carried out with the aid of the results from the analysis. There is also an option to carry out an analysis of the output file.

The conversion process embeds missing fonts and optimizes them by forming subsets. Device-dependent color spaces are replaced by specified ICC color profiles. An output intent is created where necessary. Prohibited and unnecessary content (e.g. Java scripts, etc.) are removed and specified content supplemented as far as possible. The file is reformatted during conversion and safe repairs are carried out.

Digital signatures: PDF/A-compliant digital signatures can be added to PDF/A files. This is further assurance to you that your archived files cannot be modified.