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New Application Note Illuminates PDF’s Flexible Options for Custom Metadata

October 2025 by PDF Association staff

The PDF Association has released a new Application Note titled “Including Custom Metadata Structures in PDF.”

This document addresses the need for organizations to use custom metadata beyond standard XMP schemas in their PDF workflows. It provides guidance on designing custom metadata schemas, embedding them interoperably, best practices for versioning and extensibility, and strategies for exposing metadata to applications and tools.

The document’s objective is to enhance interoperability and efficiency by allowing custom metadata to travel seamlessly within PDF documents, eliminating the need for separate “sidecar files.”

The Note is now available on the PDF Association website.

The PDF Association has released a new Application Note titled “Including Custom Metadata Structures in PDF.”

This document addresses the need for organizations to use custom metadata beyond standard XMP schemas in their PDF workflows. It provides guidance on designing custom metadata schemas, embedding them interoperably, best practices for versioning and extensibility, and strategies for exposing metadata to applications and tools.

The document’s objective is to enhance interoperability and efficiency by allowing custom metadata to travel seamlessly within PDF documents, eliminating the need for separate “sidecar files.”

The Note is now available on the PDF Association website.

E-invoicing is coming fast – Our members can help

November 2024 by Melina Tusch
PDF Association news


Use the PDF Association’s free XML invoice viewer and find our members’ e-invoicing solutions.

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November 2024 by Peter Wyatt
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In 2021, not a single tested implementation passed this test. 3 years later about three-quarters of viewers we checked now … Read more

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November 2024 by PDF Association staff
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Limited Full membership for larger companies in which only a small number of developers and / or other experts work … Read more

PDF Association news

November 2024 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF Association announces a new membership type designed for organizations that produce or consume PDF files at-scale.

PDF Association news

November 2024 by PDF Association staff
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New guidance on PDF Portable Collections and on digitizing paper. | US Army website features PDF/UA | PDFism! | Scratch-and-sniff … Read more

PDF in the Wild

November 2024 by PDF Association staff
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The PDF industry’s technical conference, PDF Week provides an opportunity for cross-pollination, networking and shared experience across PDF’s ecosystem.

PDF Association news

November 2024 by PDF Association staff
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Using the member’s version of the PDF Association logo on your website, outbound communications and printed collateral is a great … Read more

For members only

October 2024 by Duff Johnson
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Accessibility considerations for digital content aren’t limited to navigation, reading and interaction. Users also need to be able to archive, … Read more

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October 2024 by PDF Association staff
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The 2nd edition now totals 18 pages includes 5 new sheets focusing on logical structure, tagged PDF, and the Arlington … Read more

PDF Association news

October 2024 by PDF Association staff
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In 2025 Europe will require ebooks to be accessible and include detailed accessibility metadata while Germany will require e-invoicing. | … Read more

PDF in the Wild

September 2024 by Peter Wyatt
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This PDF-UX article offers an overview of bookmarks and suggests considerations and general best practices for every PDF author, and … Read more

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