Configure PDF Output
- 02 Sep 2024
- 5 Minutes to read
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Configure PDF Output
- Updated on 02 Sep 2024
- 5 Minutes to read
- Contributors
- Print
- PDF
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The PDF Output has the following settings:
Note
These settings are relevant to EMF-based PDF output and rich-text-based PDF output.
PDF/A Compliant
PDF/A is a PDF format typically used for the long-term archiving of electronic documents and is based on the PDF reference version 1.4. Fonts and color profiles will be embedded in the PDF file.
Multi Language Support
By default, the PDF format includes 7-bit ASCII characters only. Multi language support must be activated for supporting and embedding additional characters and fonts.
Embed Fonts
Determines what fonts are embedded in the PDF file. Font embedding is used to assure correct output on other client computers.
Title, Author, Subject and Keywords
Descriptions to be included in the document properties of the PDF file.
Image Compression
Three options and a JPEG quality value (default 80%) are available for compressing images:
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Automatic | Prefers indexed and uses JPEG if image contains more than 256 colors. |
Indexed | Creates indexed images (using a palette) if image contains no more than 256 colors - otherwise store as bitmap. The setting gives the best image quality, but the file size may increase. |
JPEG | Compresses all images using JPEG. The setting compromises image quality in favor of smaller file sizes. |
PDF/A-3 - Tunneling Attachment(s) into PDF
The PDF output has a support for PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3:2012, PDF1.7). It allows embedding the previous sheets (such as XML, CSV, EDI, PDF, TIFF, XHTML) into documents that conform to PDF/A standards, plus additional PDFA schemas in a Metadata section.
Embedding files in a PDF requires a set of JobInfos per file to be defined before PDF creation.
JobInfo | Description |
|---|---|
PDFEmbedFilename | Defines the name of the embedded file inside the PDF. |
PDFEmbedRelationship | This field must set to either Source, Data, Alternative or Supplement. The standard describes which value to use, depending on the embedded files relationship to the PDF: Source: Use if the file specification is the original source material for the associated content. Data: Use if the file specification represents information used to derive a visual presentation – such as for a table or a graph. Alternative: Use if the file specification is an alternative representation of content, for example audio. Supplement: Use if the file specification represents a supplemental representation of the original source or data that may be more easily consumable (e.g., A MathML version of an equation). If no PDFEmbedRelationship is defined, or it is set to an invalid value, it defaults to Supplement. |
PDFEmbedDescription | This JobInfo contains a description of the embedded file. The field is optional. |
PDFEmbedSubType | This JobInfo must contain the MIME type of the embedded file. If not specified it will default to |
PDFEmbedData | This JobInfo must contain the (binary) content of the file to embed into the PDF. |
Any number of files can be embedded by creating an array of the JobInfos described above. The files are embedded at the PDF document level (it is currently not possible to embed files per page).
It is possible to embed files when using regular PDFs and PDF/As. The PDF version will change from 1.4 to 1.7 when embedding files. If PDF/A is enabled, Lasernet will generate PDF/A-3B instead of PDF/A-1B.
Embedding PDF/A Extension Schemas and additional metadata elements to a PDF/A.
Additional PDF/A Extension Schemas and additional XMP Metadata can be embedded in the PDF. Both features are required by certain formats such as ZUGFeRD, used for electronic invoicing in Germany.
The PDFEmbedPDFAExtensionSchema JobInfo is used for PDF/A Extension Schemas. Any number of schemas can be embedded by creating an array. Each entry must be valid XML.
The PDFEmbedAdditionalMetadataElement JobInfo allows you to embed any number of additional XML metadata elements in the PDF by creating an array. Each entry must be valid XML.
XMP Metadata (and PDF/A extension schemas) are only included in the PDF when using PDF/A.
PDF Security
The PDF security options allow you to set PDF protection to prevent others from changing content, printing, copying content, adding notes or modifying form fields, signing, etc.
Encrypt
PDF encryption allows you to secure the contents of your PDF with a password. It also allows you to define which operations will be allowed by the user reading the PDF.
The user and owner password created for the PDF document can be overwritten at runtime by setting the following JobInfos:
PDFOwnerPassword
PDFUserPassword
Note
Encryption is not allowed when working with PDF/A (ISO 19005-1-2005).
Algorithm choice
The following algorithms can be used for encrypting the PDF. Each algorithm has its own advantages and disadvantages which should be taken into consideration when deciding which one to use.
Algorithm | Description |
|---|---|
RC4 | The RC4 algorithm is supported from PDF 1.1 (Acrobat Reader 2.0). It supports key lengths ranging from 40 bits to 128 bits in 8 bit increments. Use of key lengths longer than 40 bits is supported from PDF 1.4 (Acrobat Reader 5.0). Be aware that the RC4 algorithm has been proven to have vulnerabilities that make it less secure than the AES algorithm. It should only be used for backward compatibility with earlier versions of Acrobat Reader. |
AES | The AES algorithm is a newer algorithm that provides better security than RC4. AES encryption was introduced in PDF 1.6 (Acrobat Reader 7.0) and only supports a key length of 128 bits. This is the recommended algorithm when you do not require backward compatibility with older versions of Acrobat Reader. |
Passwords
Two passwords are defined when enabling encryption. The user password is the password that must be supplied to the recipient of the PDF. When opening the PDF with the user password, the restrictions defined in the document permissions are enforced.
Opening the PDF with the owner password overrides any document restrictions. You will also be able to change the operations allowed by the recipient.
If the user password and the owner password are the same, the user password has priority which means you will not be able to circumvent the restrictions defined in the document permissions.
Permissions
You can define which actions will be allowed when opening the encrypted PDF with the user password. This allows you to prevent the document from being modified, printed or copied from.
Sign
By signing your PDF using a digital certificate, you enable the recipient to verify the origin and the integrity of the document, so that they can be certain the document came from your organization and has not been changed since it was created. Digital signatures are supported since PDF 1.3 (Acrobat Reader 4.0) and are allowed in PDF/A.
Certificate
To sign the PDF using a digital signature, you must have a valid and appropriate certificate installed for the user account that the Lasernet service is running under.
Reason
The Reason field allows you to enter a text string that will be displayed when viewing the signed PDF. This provides a visual representation of the signature to the user. You can select text and background colour for the text field.
Location
The physical location where the signature is added, for example “Zurich, Switzerland”. If this property is set to an empty string no entry is created.
Timestamp
By signing your PDF with a timestamp provided by a trusted source, you can make sure that the PDF will still show a valid signature after your certificate expires. If you choose not to timestamp your PDF, the recipient will receive a warning that the certificate used to sign the PDF has expired.