Making PDF/A Documents

  • Posted on: 18 January 2018
  • By: susansmythe
English

AILLA requires PDF/A files. A PDF/A file is a special type of PDF that is used for archiving and long-term preservation (read more about PDF/A files here). Often depositors write to us asking how to create a PDF/A file (or how to convert an existing PDF to PDF/A). Given that the process varies depending on the program and operating system being using, we are not able to providd exact or detailed instructions. However, below you will find some instructions that will help get you started. Also note that many methods for creating a PDF/A require some version of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

PCs

  • AILLA Written Instructions for converting Microsoft Office 2013 Word and PowerPoint documents to PDF/A files using Windows 10 if you do NOT have Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  • AILLA YouTube Video: demonstrating how to make PDF/A documents using Windows 10 and Microsoft Word (Office 2013) with Adobe Acrobat Pro installed on the computer.

Macs

  • AILLA YouTube Video: demonstrating how to make PDF/A documents using Mac OS 10.10.5 (Yosemite) and Microsoft Word (Office 2011 for Mac) with Adobe Acrobat Pro installed on the computer.

Apache OpenOffice lets you export directly to PDF. See the OpenOffice Wiki for instructions on exporting to PDF/A under the section called Controlling PDF content and quality.