ISO 19005-4:2020

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19005-4
First edition
2020-11
Document management — Electronic
document file format for long-term
preservation —
Part 4:
Use of ISO 32000-2 (PDF/A-4)
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Notation . 2
5 Conformance . 3
5.1 Conforming Files . 3
5.2 Conforming Processor . 4
6 Technical requirements . 4
6.1 File structure . 4
6.1.1 General. 4
6.1.2 File header . 4
6.1.3 File trailer . . . 4
6.1.4 Cross reference table . 4
6.1.5 String objects . 5
6.1.6 Stream objects . 5
6.1.7 Name objects . 5
6.1.8 Indirect objects . 5
6.1.9 Inline image dictionaries . 5
6.1.10 Linearized PDF . 6
6.1.11 Permissions . 6
6.1.12 Document catalog dictionary . 6
6.2 Graphics . 6
6.2.1 General. 6
6.2.2 Content streams. 6
6.2.3 Output intent . 7
6.2.4 Colour spaces . 7
6.2.5 Extended graphics state. 9
6.2.6 Flatness .10
6.2.7 Images .10
6.2.8 XObjects .11
6.2.9 Transparency .11
6.2.10 Fonts .11
6.3 Annotations.15
6.3.1 Annotation types .15
6.3.2 Annotation dictionaries .15
6.3.3 Annotation appearances .15
6.3.4 Display of annotation contents .16
6.4 Interactive forms .16
6.4.1 General.16
6.4.2 XFA forms .16
6.5 Digital signatures .16
6.5.1 General.16
6.5.2 Signature profiles .17
6.5.3 Proof of existence .17
6.5.4 Validation .17
6.6 Action .18
6.6.1 General.18
6.6.2 Handling of JavaScript actions .18
6.6.3 Trigger events .18
6.6.4 Handling of GoToR, GoToE, URI and SubmitForm actions .19
6.7 Metadata .19
6.7.1 General.19
6.7.2 Metadata streams .19
6.7.3 Version identification . .20
6.7.4 File identifiers .20
6.7.5 File provenance information .21
6.8 Logical structure .21
6.9 Embedded files .21
6.10 Optional content .22
6.11 Use of alternate presentations and transitions .23
6.12 Document requirements .23
6.13 Print scaling .23
6.14 Geospatial .23
6.15 Measurement Properties .23
Annex A (normative) Requirements for a PDF/A with Embedded Files (PDF/A-4f) .24
Annex B (normative) Requirements for a PDF/A for Engineering (PDF/A-4e) .25
Bibliography .27
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-g
...