Validoc also allows you to produce PDF files in PDF/A format.
PDF/A files are graphic files that describe documents in a similar way to the PDF files from which they derive.
In fact, the PDF/A format, international standard ISO (19005-1:2005), is based on version 1.4 of the PDF format of Adobe System Inc.
The need to have this new format arises from the need to be able to view the documents even after very long periods of time from their creation.
The classic case is that of museum archiving. A constitutional charter, a declaration of independence or other historical documents must be displayable without problems even after centuries.
PDF/A therefore provides a standard format for the long-term archiving of electronic documents.
PDF/A allows you to keep the visual appearance and content of documents constant, regardless of the platform and tools used for creating and viewing.
The ISO 19005-1:2005 standard, in addition to defining the PDF/A format, defines the requirements that must be met by PDF/A readers to be considered “compliant readers”.
A document, in order to meet PDF/A requirements, must be “self-contained”, so all visible content of the document, such as text, fonts, colors, and images, must be inserted into the document.
It is forbidden to use macros, javascripts and executables in general, fonts must be embedded and meta-data must be in XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) format.
The PDF/A standard is divided into two parts, PDF/A-1a and PDF/A-1b where the former is more restrictive than the latter.
From 15 January 2009 some documents must be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce in PDF/A format.
The obligation to submit in PDF/A concerns notarial documents or other documents that can be considered as acts (charters, amendments, letters of attorney, transfers, etc.).
For the presentation of documents to the Chamber of Commerce, the PDF/A-1b format is sufficient.
The PDF/A can also be a suitable solution for replacement storage.
The legislation does not require this, but considering the long periods of storage of fiscal documents, PDF/A becomes a preferable format to PDF or Tiff.