Tag: pdf/a

Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 Update: Expanded PDF/A Archiving, Markdown Support, and Automation Enhancements

The Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 update introduces expanded PDF/A archiving options, native Markdown support, improved spreadsheet formatting, metadata preservation for Word and Excel files, and email conversion enhancements. Most of these new features are only available in the Win2PDF Pro version of the software, but are available at no charge to all licensed users of Win2PDF or Win2PDF Pro 7.0 or higher.

1. Expanded PDF/A Archiving and Automation

[Note: This feature is only available in the Win2PDF Pro version of the software.]

Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 expands enhanced PDF/A support for both Win2PDF Desktop and automated workflows. Users can export documents directly to PDF/A within Win2PDF Desktop using File > Export > PDF/A.

The 11.0.10.1 release supports additional PDF/A sub-types, which many customers have requested.

For automated processing, Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 includes support for:

  • pdf2pdfa command‑line utility
  • convertto formats covering PDF/A‑1a, PDF/A‑1b, PDF/A‑2a, PDF/A‑2b, PDF/A-2u, PDF/A‑3a, PDF/A‑3b, PDF/A-3u, PDF/A-4, PDF/A‑4e, and PDF/A‑4f
  • Batch Convert and Watch Folder for automated PDF/A generation

These automated features assist organizations with high-volume compliance and long-term archiving needs.

2. Native Markdown Input and Output

[Note: This feature is only available in the Win2PDF Pro version of the software.]

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that you can use to add formatting elements to plain text documents. Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 introduces native Markdown support, allowing Markdown files to be converted to PDF or PDF/A or other formats, and other formats can be converted to Markdown.

New tools include:

While Google Workspace offers native Markdown support in both Docs and Drive, it lacks batch conversion capabilities. Win2PDF fills this gap by supporting automated, batch Markdown conversions for various file formats.

3. Improved Spreadsheet-to-PDF Output

[Note: This feature is only available in the Win2PDF Pro version of the software.]

A new xlsxautofit output format is now available in convertto and Batch Convert. This option automatically adjusts column widths in XLSX source files to improve table readability in the generated PDF output.

4. Metadata Preservation and Email Processing Enhancements

[Note: This feature is only available in the Win2PDF Pro version of the software.]

Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 improves how document metadata is preserved during automated conversions. When using Batch Convert or Watch Folder, Win2PDF now transfers properties such as:

  • Creation Date
  • Modification Date
  • Author
  • Title
  • Subject
  • Keywords

from DOCX and XLSX source files to the resulting PDF. This helps maintain accurate document history and improves searchability in document management systems.

Email conversion handles multiple recipients and invalid address strings more effectively. Converted email PDFs also list attachment names in the document body.

Additional Resources

Full feature listing:

Win2PDF 11.0.10.1 download page:

PDF/A – the PDF file for Archiving

Since we added PDF/A support in our most recent Win2PDF 7 release, we’ve had some questions about this new type of PDF file.  First, the basics.

What is PDF/A?

It’s basically a subset of the PDF file format used to archive data for long-term storage (the A stands for PDF/Archive).  It is an ISO standard (ISO 19005-1:2005) that does not need to depend on external programs or information to be displayed, all information is entirely self contained.  It does not permit the inclusion of any executable scripts, audio, video and/or encryption.  In contrast, a regular PDF file may substitute fonts (because not all fonts are saved in the original file), and may have these other types of data “linked” within the PDF file, but not “contained” within the PDF file.

For a longer description, please check out the Wikipedia entry on PDF/A.

Why is it increasingly being used in government (and courts in particular)?

  1. It’s an ISO standard file format.  Regardless of what application creates the PDF/A file, all PDF/A files will conform to the same rules.  Which is good for…
  2. Archiving.  Since these files are self contained buckets of information, the file will be able to be viewed in the future and look exactly as it did when it was created. If the PDF file linked to external information, there is no guarantee that information would be accessible in the future.
  3. It’s more secure and readily accessible.  Again, since it doesn’t allow encryption  it keeps the document accessible, and since it doesn’t allow external links to data sources, it prevents security exploits.  And finally…
  4. It’s mandated in many situations.  The Administrative Office of the US Courts identified the potential risk of not being able to reliably access archived digital files in the future in 2010.  Since then, many district Courts  now mandate the PDF/A standard for court documents.  It is also mandated by law in several European countries.

There’s other interesting information on the Legal Case for PDF/A from the PDF Association’s web site (www.pdfa.org).

How do I make a PDF/A file?

With Win2PDF 7,  just select “PDF for Archiving (PDF/A)” as the Win2PDF file save type.  [Update:  Win2PDF will create a file that complies with the PDF/A-1b standard)].  It will still have a .pdf file extension, and it is just as easy to create a PDF/A file as it is to create a normal PDF file.

Win2PDF Save As PDF/A
Win2PDF file save window - Save as PDF/A

How do I know Win2PDF has created a PDF/A file?

First, make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed.  Then, open the PDF file and you’ll see a notice in Adobe Reader that states:  “The file you have opened complies with the PDF/A standard and has been opened read-only to prevent modification.”

PDF/A file in Adobe Reader
PDF/A file in Adobe Reader