How to Validate PDF Files Against PDF 2.0 and PDF/A-3 Standards Using VeryPDF Tools
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Tired of PDF compliance headaches? Learn how I used VeryPDF tools to validate PDFs against PDF 2.0 and PDF/A-3 standardsfast, simple, and developer-friendly.
Every doc had an issueand I had no clue until clients noticed
Let’s be real.
Half the time, when clients sent me PDF files, I’d just assume they were “fine.”
Open scan visually send it on its way.
But that blew up in my face.
A government client flagged one of our deliverables for failing PDF/A-3 compliance. Another partner couldn’t process an invoice PDF because it didn’t follow the PDF 2.0 spec.
Cue the hours of Googling, running half-baked scripts, and arguing with PDF validators that returned conflicting results.
I needed a better waysomething developer-friendly, accurate, and scalable. That’s when I found VeryPDF PDF Solutions for Developers.
How I found VeryPDF (and why it saved my sanity)
I’d messed around with a few open-source PDF validators before. Most of them broke on larger files or couldn’t handle edge cases.
I needed something serious.
That’s when I landed on the VeryPDF validation SDKpart of their broader PDF toolkit for developers. What caught my eye?
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It supports PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2) and PDF/A-1, A-2, and A-3.
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Offers custom validation levels.
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Generates clear error/warning reports with page-level detail.
This wasn’t a duct-tape solution. It was the real deal.
The tool: What it is and who it’s built for
VeryPDF PDF Validation SDK is made for developers, sysadmins, and compliance officers who deal with:
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Government forms
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Legal records
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Archived documents
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Invoices in ZUGFeRD format
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Accessibility mandates
Basically, if your PDF output needs to meet ISO standards, this tool handles it.
You can run it as part of your batch process, CI pipeline, or standalone checks.
What sealed the deal for me?
I could customise the checks.
I wasn’t stuck with a rigid yes/no validator. I could specify:
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What level of PDF/A to check against
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If accessibility tags mattered
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Whether certain metadata fields were critical
Feature 1: Deep compliance checks that actually catch stuff
This thing doesn’t just skim the surface.
It dives into:
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Lexical structure token validation, stream filters, malformed dictionaries
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PDF object positioning wrong cross-reference pointers? It catches that.
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Embedded content flags missing fonts, non-embedded attachments, or XMP inconsistencies
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Metadata and structure invalid title fields, broken outlines, missing tags
The first time I ran it on our internal invoice PDFs, it flagged 18 issues we’d never noticedincluding stuff that Adobe Acrobat didn’t even complain about.
Big moment of clarity: I’d been sending broken files for months.
Feature 2: Custom conformance levels
This is where the tool becomes yours.
You can validate for:
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PDF/A-1b Basic compliance for long-term archiving
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PDF/A-3u With Unicode mapping, for invoice storage
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PDF 2.0 The new kid on the block, ISO 32000-2
Need to meet ZUGFeRD or Factur-X standards for e-invoicing?
You can configure the validator to check embedded XML consistency, metadata alignment, and other compliance points.
I used it to validate a batch of 500 e-invoices. The result? Clean, compliant filesand I could sleep better at night.
Feature 3: Detailed, developer-friendly reports
I hate vague errors.
“This PDF is invalid.” Cool. Why?
VeryPDF gives you:
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Detailed error descriptions
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Line numbers or object IDs
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Severity levels warning, error, fatal
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Summary mode for fast checks
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Verbose mode for when you want every dirty detail
I routed the JSON report straight into our internal PDF dashboard. Now, if something fails compliance, my QA team sees exactly what brokenot just “it’s red.”
Why VeryPDF crushed the alternatives
Here’s the thing.
I’ve tried other tools. Most of them fall into two categories:
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Too simple: Just tick a box saying “valid,” no diagnostics.
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Too complicated: Require a PhD to configure, return error codes instead of clear messages.
VeryPDF hits the sweet spot:
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Clear documentation
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Easy to integrate
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Can be run from CLI, API, or SDK
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Scales like crazywe ran it on over 10,000 files in a week
Bonus: I emailed their support with a weird metadata issue.
They replied same day with a fix.
Real-world scenarios where this saved me
Legal archiving
We had to archive a bunch of contract PDFs. PDF/A-2 compliance was mandatory. One clause in the contract required digital signatures and embedded fonts. VeryPDF made it simple to check both.
B2B invoicing (ZUGFeRD 2.1.1)
Our automated invoice system generates hybrid PDFs. VeryPDF helped validate the embedded XML, check PDF/A-3U compliance, and make sure the document was machine-readable and human-readable at the same time.
Government filings
Some agencies only accept PDF 2.0 files. One submission failed with another validator. VeryPDF picked up on a broken cross-reference table. After fixing it based on the report, the submission went through.
What I’d tell any dev or ops lead today
If you’re dealing with PDF/A, PDF 2.0, or accessibility standards, you need to stop guessing.
Don’t rely on visual checks or Adobe’s vague warnings.
Use a real validator.
One that:
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Understands the standards inside and out
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Gives you detailed feedback
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Fits into your automation
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Doesn’t make your life harder
I’d highly recommend VeryPDF’s PDF Validation tools to any team working with regulated document workflows, archival compliance, or structured document output.
Click here to try it out: https://www.verypdf.com/
Custom Development Services by VeryPDF
Got a workflow that doesn’t fit the mould?
VeryPDF offers custom development, tailored to your environmentWindows, Linux, macOS, cloud, on-prem, hybridyou name it.
Whether you need:
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A custom virtual printer to intercept print jobs and convert to PDF
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API-based OCR with layout recognition for scanned documents
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A hook layer to monitor Windows file activity
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A barcode extraction module built into your existing system
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Or even a custom ZUGFeRD-compliant invoice generator
They’ve done it beforeand can do it again.
Tech stack? They’re fluent in:
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C, C++, .NET, Java, Python, PHP
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Windows API, Linux system hooks
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HTML5, JavaScript, cloud services
Need help? Reach out here: https://support.verypdf.com/
FAQs
1. What standards does VeryPDF’s validation tool support?
It validates against PDF 1.32.0, and PDF/A-1, A-2, and A-3, including accessibility standards like PDF/A-3A.
2. Can I integrate this into my automation?
Yes. You can use it via CLI, API, or SDK, making it easy to slot into CI/CD pipelines or bulk processing jobs.
3. Does it support ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoices?
Absolutely. You can validate both the PDF/A-3 compliance and embedded XML structure for these invoice formats.
4. What output formats are available for reports?
You get structured reports in JSON, XML, or human-readable text summariesgreat for automated analysis or dashboards.
5. Is there a GUI available or just command-line?
The SDK is CLI/API-focused, but you can build your own UI on top using their SDK components.
Keywords & Tags
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PDF 2.0 validation
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PDF/A-3 compliance tool
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validate PDF standards
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ZUGFeRD invoice validator
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VeryPDF PDF Solutions for Developers