Class PdfAVersions

PDF/A archival standard versions for long-term document preservation. Ensures documents remain viewable for decades with embedded fonts and metadata.

// Most common - supports attachments:
pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA3b);

// Basic archival (no attachments):
pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA1b);

// With accessibility (screen reader support):
pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA2a);

// Modern standard with embedded files:
pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA4f);

"B" = Basic compliance, "A" = Accessibility compliance

PDF/A-3 and PDF/A-4F support file attachments, others do NOT

See: https://ironpdf.com/how-to/pdfa/

Inheritance

System.Object

PdfAVersions

Namespace: IronPdf

Assembly: IronPdf.dll

Syntax

public sealed class PdfAVersions : Enum

The PdfAVersions enumeration in IronPDF declares the PDF/A archival profile applied by ConvertToPdfA.

Part of the IronPdf namespace, the canonical Basic-compliance levels lead the set: PdfA1b, PdfA2b, and PdfA3b, with PDF/A-3b being the default for ZUGFeRD hybrid invoices. Accessibility (a) and engineering (PdfA4, PdfA4e, PdfA4f) variants complete the 9 total members.

See export PDF/A documents in C# for usage.

Fields

PdfA1a

PDF/A-1A: Accessible archival (ISO 19005-1). Includes structure for screen readers. NO attachments.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA1a);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA1a

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA1b

PDF/A-1B: Basic archival (ISO 19005-1). Oldest standard, maximum compatibility, NO attachments.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA1b);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA1b

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA2a

PDF/A-2A: Enhanced accessible archival (ISO 19005-2). Better accessibility support. NO attachments.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA2a);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA2a

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA2b

PDF/A-2B: Enhanced archival (ISO 19005-2). Supports JPEG2000, transparency, layers. NO attachments.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA2b);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA2b

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA3a

PDF/A-3A: Modern accessible archival (ISO 19005-3). Accessibility + ATTACHMENTS. Best for inclusive archival.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA3a);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA3a

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA3b

PDF/A-3B: Modern archival (ISO 19005-3). SUPPORTS FILE ATTACHMENTS. Most versatile for archival.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA3b);  // Default choice

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA3b

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA4

PDF/A-4: Latest standard (ISO 19005-4). Based on PDF 2.0. NO attachments in base version.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA4);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA4

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA4e

PDF/A-4E: Engineering documents (ISO 19005-4). Optimized for technical drawings and CAD.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA4e);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA4e

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

PdfA4f

PDF/A-4F: With embedded files (ISO 19005-4). Latest standard WITH ATTACHMENT SUPPORT.

pdf.ConvertToPdfA(PdfAVersions.PdfA4f);

Declaration

public const PdfAVersions PdfA4f

Field Value

Type	Description
PdfAVersions

value__

Declaration

public int value__

Field Value

Type	Description
System.Int32