Archive to PDF/A locally: a format built to last

PDF/A: the archive format

PDF/A (ISO 19005) is the standardized PDF variant for long-term preservation. Its principle: everything the rendering depends on must be embedded in the file — fonts, colors, metadata — and anything that could break future reading is forbidden: JavaScript, encryption, mandatory external links, non-standardized audio/video streams.

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When you need it

• Regulatory filings (invoices, contracts, notarial records).
• Administrative or legal archiving with retention obligations.
• Transfer to an archive service or DMS that mandates the standard.

What local conversion does

1. Embeds fonts and color profiles.
2. Adds XMP metadata declaring PDF/A conformance.
3. Neutralizes forbidden elements (scripts, encryption, external dependencies).
4. Produces the file in your browser — no upload.

Honest limits

• The conversion applies structural adaptations; formal 100% conformance can only be attested by a validator (veraPDF) — the PDF/A standard is broad and some edge cases need dedicated validation.
• An encrypted document must be unlocked first — PDF/A forbids encryption.
• Content depending on external sources (fonts that can’t be embedded for licensing reasons) may cause issues.

Archiving best practices

• Keep the original alongside the PDF/A.
• Validate the produced file with a validator when conformance is contractual.
• Name archives with dates and versions.

And for keeping your archives?

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