Generate PDF-A File in AutoCAD?

[joe.balaneski]

So I'm up here in Alberta, Canada and our regional association for engineers are making it mandatory to digitally sign all drawings with a new 3rd Party software.

Part of the process is to have the PDF files as a PDF-A format.

I'm wondering if there is anyway within the existing DWG to PDF plot driver to set it so it automatically generates a PDF-A format.  Or if we have to keep doing it manually after generating a regular PDF.

Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.

[pendean]

You will need purchase and use a 3rd party PDF driver that can do that.

[ChicagoLooper]

Have you tried this? Open your PDF=>File=>Save as Other=>Archivable PDF (PDF/A).

[joe.balaneski]

I have not...I will try it and let you know.

If it works, I'll mark this as solution.

[joe.balaneski]

Oh wait...this is in the PDF viewer. I thought this was in CAD itself.

I am looking for a solution to create a PDF-A directly from AutoCAD.

So I'm guessing as some have suggested, I'll need a 3rd party driver.

[pendean]

ding! ding! ding! ding! ding! ding!

[ChicagoLooper]

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@joe.balaneski wrote:

Oh wait...this is in the PDF viewer. 

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You're mistaken.

The image not using a PDF viewer. It's a PDF creator, there's a difference. If you are trying to do it using the free PDF viewer, you can't.

Are you confusing a viewer with a PDF creator?

Are you saying you can't plot to PDF and you can't email that newly created PDF to a colleague? Ae you saying you can only print to hardcopy?

[pendean]

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

You cannot create PDF/A directly from Autocad but you can create one using a PDF creator. Please don't confuse a PDF-creator with a PFD-viewer. Do you have Adobe Acrobat? Or Adobe Acrobat DC? Or another version of a PDF creator?  Open your PDF using your PDF creator.

1. Go to TOOLS Tab=>Protect & Standardize section=>PDF Standards Icon

2. Back in your PDF document, go to panel on the right, select 'Save as PDF/A.'

3. Choose your location to save, then click SAVE.

[joe.balaneski]

Thanks for the update....was hoping it was possible straight out of AutoCAD...but I guess we'll have to just do it as you've outlined above.

Thanks!

[user181]

Do you happen to have the Adobe PDF driver in CAD?  You can create PDF-A with it from AutoCAD. 

[tmckinney]

Is this what you are looking for? I'm using 2020.

When you print to pdf from cad go to -properties- custom properties- change default setting from standard to pdf/a (in adobe pdf settings tab)