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PDF/A and external references

November 2025 by Peter Wyatt

PDF/A ensures reliable long-term rendering by embedding fonts, images, and color profiles, but URLs can still appear in text, hyperlinks, bookmarks, annotations, metadata, and embedded files.

Link annotations and URI Actions define clickable destinations, but PDF/A restricts certain action types to prevent external dependencies.

Guided by clear policies, comprehensive audits of both visible and hidden references help maintain authenticity, accessibility, and long-term integrity of PDF/A documents and digital collections.

PDF/A ensures reliable long-term rendering by embedding fonts, images, and color profiles, but URLs can still appear in text, hyperlinks, bookmarks, annotations, metadata, and embedded files.

Link annotations and URI Actions define clickable destinations, but PDF/A restricts certain action types to prevent external dependencies.

Guided by clear policies, comprehensive audits of both visible and hidden references help maintain authenticity, accessibility, and long-term integrity of PDF/A documents and digital collections.

The Hall of Fame

February 2020 by PDF Association staff
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The Hall of Fame is a permanent tribute on to the generous contributions of our events’ top-tier sponsors. These companies make PDF Days and similar events possible.

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February 2020 by Duff Johnson
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When people talk to me about PDF technology they are generally pretty happy about it. End users feel that they … Read more

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January 2020 by PDF Association staff
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The agenda of the PDF Days Europe 2020 shows “All dimensions of PDF”.

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January 2020 by Duff Johnson
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“I’m sorry, Derek, but, now that Kelsey has learned how to convert JPEGs into PDFs, we can’t justify keeping you … Read more

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January 2020 by PDF Association staff
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Visiting the No. 1 PDF event – the PDF Days Europe 2020 – in Berlin? Great! Here are some hotel … Read more

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December 2019 by PDF Association staff
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Are you a PDF end user with a message for the PDF community? Are you a PDF technology innovator with … Read more

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December 2019 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association’s case study and white paper archives are filled with stories and use cases to help users understand … Read more

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December 2019 by PDF Association staff
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We’re busy preparing for PDF Days Europe 2020 coming next April, but it’s already time to reward those who plan ahead! … Read more

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December 2019 by PDF Association staff
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UKAAF’s liaison with the PDF Association will help ensure that PDF technology continues to promote and improve easy readability and … Read more

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December 2019 by Thomas Zellmann
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Thomas Zellmann discusses the benefits of OCR and of making PDFs fully searchable, especially as input for AI systems.

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November 2019 by Klaas Posselt
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The PDF/UA Technical Working Group released Tagged PDF Best Practice Guide: Syntax – to provide developers and expert users with … Read more

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