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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.

PDF Accessibility Days videos and presentations now available!

February 2016 by Duff Johnson
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Videos and presentations from the November, 2015 PDF Accessibility Days are now available!

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February 2016 by Duff Johnson
Duff Johnson
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Now a Partner Organization, the 3D PDF Consortium will bring the experience of 3D PDF development and implementation to the … Read more

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January 2016 by PDF Association staff
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An R&D engineer at heart and an active PDF software developer, Peter brings new energy to the Project Leader role.

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January 2016 by Matthias Wagner
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This is an incremental bugfix release based on the earlier 1.8.10 release. It contains a couple of fixes and small … Read more

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January 2016 by PDF Association staff
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PDF/VT Application Notes available

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December 2015 by Duff Johnson
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veraPDF 0.8 includes several updated features and a variety of bug-fixes.

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December 2015 by PDF Association staff
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Download the first public draft of the PDF Structure Elements Best Practice Guide today!

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December 2015 by PDF Association staff
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The coming year means more PDF files, more PDF creators supporting PDF/UA and leveraging PDF/A-3. The space continues to grow, … Read more

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December 2015 by Duff Johnson
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Videos from the PDF Technical Conference are now posted!

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December 2015 by PDF Association staff
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These videos total over 20 hours of high-quality technical education and perspective, from panel sessions to technical deep-dives.

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December 2015 by PDF Association staff
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The popular PDF Days Europe will be even more attractive. It’s not just the new location in the metropolis of … Read more

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