Description: As I understand it, PDF/A-1a is more restrictive than PDF/A-1b. My organization requires archiving in PDF/A-1a, and several of our users will start exporting to it. Since only PDF/A-1b is available in the dialog, our support advises using another converter, or moving away from libreoffice. My test (using verapdf) tells me that selecting PDF/A-1b in the dialog exports PDF/A-1a. - Is this expected behavior? - Will this always work? - What is the reason for writing the less restrictive PDF/A-1b in the dialog - Why do the docs only mention PDF/A-1a? If the export is PDF/A-1a, I'd recommend to write that in the dialog. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Attempt to export PDF/A-1b Actual Results: Obtain PDF/A-1a (which is better!) Expected Results: I'd expect to obtain PDF/A-1b. Since PDF/A-1a does obey PDF/A-1b, my expectations are fulfilled. Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: No Additional Info: Display that PDF/A-1a will be generated in the export dialog
LO proposes: PDF/A-1b PDF/A-2b PDF/A-3b + a checkbox to enable/disable PDF/UA option IMHO LO doesn't propose PDF/A-1a PDF/A-2a PDF/A-3a because there must be accessibility issues to implement/fix. So for some files, I suppose there's no accessibility issues and validator will indicate your file as PDF/A-1a compliant but for others it may fail and only indicate PDF/A-1b. Of course I may be wrong but if if it's not the case, I'd put this bugtracker more as an enhancement (which may stay quite a lot of time if no devs are interested in implementing/fixing this. -oldest bugtrackers are more than 10 years ago! -) Miklos: I put you in cc if you got more info. If it's not the case, don't hesitate to uncc and sorry for the noise.
This could be understood as: LibreOffice /can/ output PDF/A-1a for simple documents, and falls back to PDF/A-1b in case this is not possible. I suggest clarifying this in the docs, and also in the dialog. Thanks for an excellent document suite, by the way!
(In reply to Jan-Åke Larsson from comment #2) > This could be understood as: LibreOffice /can/ output PDF/A-1a for simple > documents, and falls back to PDF/A-1b in case this is not possible. > > I suggest clarifying this in the docs, and also in the dialog. I don't understand the need to clarify in the docs. LO just tries to provide at least a reliable PDF/A-<n>b, <n> depending on the user choice. There's no analyzing mechanism in LO to fallback into PDF/A-<n>b if it can't generate PDF/A-<n>a in pdf export code. If it complies PDF/A-<n>a sometimes (for some simple or for some complex files), you can see it as just a bonus/luck.
It could be beneficial for users who are not experts on the intricacies of the PDF format that LibreOffice can indeed export PDF/A-1a for simple documents. This is not clear at the moment. Also just now there is quite some confusion since the export dialog says PDF/A-1b and the docs say PDF/A-1a. At least that could become clearer.
Since I disagree here, I prefer to uncc myself and let other people decide.
(I know Julien won't read this but...) I find it strange that you don't think the docs can be improved. Plus, if LibreOffice did aim for PDF/A-1b, it would not generate PDF/A-1a even for simple documents. It seems it does try to generate PDF/A-1a but can only guarantee PDF/A-1b. That should be visible in the docs, and in the dialog, IMHO.
Jan-Åke, whre can I see specification in exported PDF (I use Acrobat reader)? Is it sufficient to improve documetation: https://help.libreoffice.org/7.3/en-US/text/shared/01/ref_pdf_export_general.html => NEEDINFO
Acrobat reader does not, to my knowledge, display the PDF/A level. You will need a proper verifier to 1) display what PDF/A level a given PDF claims to obey and 2) verify that it obeys that level. verapdf is such a verifier. It is likely not enough to document in the referred page, I did not reach that page when trying to find information on this. Some is better than none I suppose.
[Automated Action] NeedInfo-To-Unconfirmed
(In reply to Jan-Åke Larsson from comment #8) > It is likely not enough to document in the referred page, I did not reach > that page when trying to find information on this. It's just the page you get, when you press Help-Button in "Export as PDF"-Dialog :-)
I see, in that case it would probably be enough. :-)
(In reply to Jan-Åke Larsson from comment #11) > I see, in that case it would probably be enough. :-) So let's close it. => RESOLVED WORKSFORME
No, that page does not mention PDF/A-1a. Please amend the documentation so that it states when it is possible to obtain PDF/A-1a using LibreOffice.
Since discussion in this bug report is very long, please open a new report, which refers to documentation as component and asks to improve help-page. Thank you.