Description: When exporting as a PDF file (PDF/A-3b) from LibreOffice Writer and looking at the file metadata using ExifTool, the PDF file is showing the Adobe PDF version as 1.6, instead of 1.7. According to the below link, PDF/A-3 is supposed to be based on Adobe PDF version 1.7. https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000318.shtml "PDF/A-3 is a constrained form of Adobe PDF version 1.7" And also here. https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000318.shtml "PDF/A-1, the first PDF/A standard [ISO 19005-1:2005], was based on PDF version 1.4 (see PDF-1-4) and published in 2005. PDF/A-2 as defined in ISO 19005-2:2011, extended the capabilities of PDF/A-1 and is based on PDF version 1.7 (as defined in ISO 32000-1, see PDF-1-7). One new capability was to allow the embedding of PDF/A-compliant attachments. PDF/A-3 added a single and highly significant feature to its predecessor (PDF/A-2), to permit the embedding of a file or files in any format. The intent expressed by many proponents is that the embedded files not be considered part of the archival payload. However, use cases are emerging where the embedded files would likely warrant preservation by archival institutions." Steps to Reproduce: 1. Open a new LibreOffice Writer document. 2. Go to File > Export As > Export as PDF. 3. Select the option for "Archive (PDF/A, ISO 19005)" and PDF/A Version as "PDF/A-3b". 4. Click the Export button. 5. View the file metadata using ExifTool, which shows "PDFVersion: 1.6". Actual Results: The PDF file metadata from ExifTool shows the following: ======== C:/Users/UserName/Desktop/Test/02 PDFA3b.pdf [ExifTool] ExifToolVersion : 12.16 [System] FileName : 02 PDFA3b.pdf [System] Directory : C:/Users/UserName/Desktop/Test [System] FileSize : 21 KiB [System] FileModifyDate : 2021:03:11 14:48:20+00:00 [System] FileAccessDate : 2021:03:11 14:49:01+00:00 [System] FileCreateDate : 2021:03:11 14:48:20+00:00 [System] FilePermissions : rw-rw-rw- [File] FileType : PDF [File] FileTypeExtension : pdf [File] MIMEType : application/pdf [PDF] PDFVersion : 1.6 [PDF] Linearized : No [PDF] PageCount : 1 [PDF] Language : en-GB [PDF] TaggedPDF : Yes [PDF] Title : Template Writer 01 [PDF] Creator : Writer [PDF] Producer : LibreOffice 7.0 [PDF] CreateDate : 2021:03:11 14:48:20Z [XMP-pdfaid] Part : 3 [XMP-pdfaid] Conformance : B [XMP-dc] Title : Template Writer 01 [XMP-pdf] Producer : LibreOffice 7.0 [XMP-xmp] CreatorTool : Writer [XMP-xmp] CreateDate : 2021:03:11 14:48:20Z Expected Results: It should show the following: [PDF] PDFVersion : 1.7 Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: No Additional Info: Version: 7.0.5.2 (x64) Build ID: 64390860c6cd0aca4beafafcfd84613dd9dfb63a CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19042; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win Locale: en-GB (en_GB); UI: en-GB Calc: threaded
The first link above should be: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000360.shtml
On pc Debian x86-64 with master sources updated today, I could reproduce this.
It concerns both PDF/A-2 (which includes PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-2a) and PDF/A-3 (which includes PDF/A-3b and PDF/A-3a) I put "b" version before because it's the basic/minimum requirement of the standard.
I gave a try with https://gerrit.libreoffice.org/c/core/+/112369
Barring further input, I'd say this is not a bug. Newer PDF versions are usually supersets of earlier ones, so a valid 1.6 file is also a valid 1.7 file. I ran three complex documents (after exporting them to PDF/A-3b) through verapdf, and they all passed. Can you provide us with a bugdoc where LibreOffice indeed generates invalid PDF?
(Patch abandoned)
Resolving for the moment - please reopen if there's new insights.