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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.

Refried PDF

July 2018 by Duff Johnson
Article


My hospital emailed me a medical records release form as a PDF. They told me to print it, fill it, sign it, scan it and return it to the medical … Read more

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July 2018 by PDF Association staff
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On July 23, 2018 alone, three distinct announcements of PDF 2.0 support from Adobe, Agfa and OneVision appeared in your … Read more

News

June 2018 by PDF Association staff
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You missed the PDF Days Europe 2018? Never mind! Here you can find the slides and video recordings of all … Read more

Article, PDF Association news

June 2018 by PDF Association staff
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The world has changed since 1993. PDF, introduced 25 years ago today, has become the dominant final-form electronic document format … Read more

News

June 2018 by PDF Association staff
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The ISO committee for PDF/A committee could see into the future. 5 years into the future, to be exact.

News

June 2018 by Duff Johnson
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PDF/UA, like PDF itself, is internally complex, but used correctly, actually makes things easier.

Article

June 2018 by PDF Association staff
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Catherine Andersz of PDFTron Systems, Alaine Behler of iText Software and Peter Wyatt, ISO Project Leader for ISO 32000 enrich … Read more

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May 2018 by PDF Association staff
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“PDF Products & Services 2018” is now available for download! This volume showcases PDF Association members highlighting the diversity of … Read more

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May 2018 by PDF Association staff
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Richard Cohn, Principal Scientist at Adobe and the co-author of PDF 1.0, gave the opening keynote at the PDF Days … Read more

Article, PDF Association news

April 2018 by PDF Association staff
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Our Executive Director Duff Johnson gives some personally information about his experience with the “PDF universe” and much more.

Article

April 2018 by Nicole Gauger
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Session Description: Chairman of the Board Matt Kuznicki calls the staff of the PDF Association, Duff Johnson, Thomas Zellmann and … Read more

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