Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Sep 12, 2008, at 11:11 AM, Ernesto Posse wrote: The files do open in PDF/A mode, but when I run preflight on them I get this: Preflight errors from Untitled-ps.pdf Syntax problem: Stream dictionary improperly formatted Width information for glyphs is inconsistent (1 match on 1 page) Untitled-pdflatex.pdf Device process color used but no PDF/A OutputIntent (1 match on 1 page) XMP property not predefined and no extension schema present When I preflight the two documents using: Advanced | Preflight | PDF/A compliance | Verify compliance with PDF/ A-1b | Execute I get ``No problems found'' when using Adobe Acrobat Professional 8 --- I'm going to d/l the demo for v9, but I really think either Acrobat on your machine or Acrobat on Windows is broken. William -- William Adams senior graphic designer Fry Communications
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
Thanks, but it didn't work either. I tried \usepackaga{hyperref}, then latex + dvips + distiller, and then Acrobat preflight gives me these errors: Author mismatch between Document Info and XMP Metadata Keyword mismatch between Document Info and XMP Metadata Subject mismatch between Document Info and XMP Metadata Title mismatch between Document Info and XMP Metadata Width information for glyphs is inconsistent (1 match on 1 page) If I try via pdflatex I get the XMP error I mentioned earlier... On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 10:02 AM, Daniel Lohmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On 11.09.2008, at 15:55, Ernesto Posse wrote: >> >> PS: I'm not sure how the hyperref package could help, as the document >> doesn't have any hyperrefs; even the minimal file I posted earlier >> fails... > > Besides dealing with hyperlinks, the hyperref package provides an interface > for many other aspects of "PDF magic" (such as PDF metadata, physical page > size, etc.). I don't know about hyperref's PDF/A capabilites, but definitely > would give it a try. > > Daniel > -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 7:30 AM, William Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sep 11, 2008, at 9:55 AM, Ernesto Posse wrote: > >> No, it still doesn't work (either through pdflatex or dvips + ps2pdf >> or dvips + distiller). > > Did you use the PDF/A-1b:2005 (CMYK) setting in Acrobat Distiller? I tried > this w/ a .ps from dvips and it opened in PDF/A mode. Yes, that was the setting. When I open the file, Acrobat indeed tells me it is in PDF/A mode, but when I run preflight to check it it gves me the error. >> If I follow your instructions literally, using pdflatex, opening in >> Acrobat and saving as PDF/A, Acrobat complains and tells me to use >> preflight first. > > It shouldn't. You should save as PDF/A-1b, quit, then re-open the document. > This should open it in PDF/A mode. That's exactly what I tried. >> I do so, but this time (from the pdflatex generated >> file) I get a different error: "XMP property neither predefine nor >> defined in extension schema". > > Strange. Can't find that error anywhere (even after adding the ``d'' after > predefine). The missing d was a typo, but I do get that error in preflight. If I use latex + dvips + (distiller or ps2pdf) instead of pdflatex an error saying that the width information of a glyph is inconsistent. >> Could it be a problem with this version of Acrobat, maybe? (I'm using >> Acrobat 9 Pro on Vista + MiKTeK 2.6) > > Well, your minimal example works w/ Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional on Mac OS X > Leopard using MacTeX. > > I seem to recall your having mentioned files created by Adobe Acrobat not > working either --- perhaps the problem is in your Acrobat installation? I meant the PDF/A created by Acrobat from the PS file. > Have you tried d/l'ing a PDF/A document from somewhere and testing it? I do not have any other PDF/A files. I've tried running preflight in a bunch of other pdf files from different origin, but the only one which succeeded was a scanned document. The rest where mostly papers written in either LaTeX or Word. > I'm attaching files which I made w/ dvips/Acrobat and pdflatex --- if they > don't read as PDF/A on your Acrobat, it's broken. The files do open in PDF/A mode, but when I run preflight on them I get this: Preflight errors from Untitled-ps.pdf Syntax problem: Stream dictionary improperly formatted Width information for glyphs is inconsistent (1 match on 1 page) Untitled-pdflatex.pdf Device process color used but no PDF/A OutputIntent (1 match on 1 page) XMP property not predefined and no extension schema present It is possible that Acrobat 9 is broken. When developing software, new versions sometimes introduce bugs that were not there before... >> PS: I'm not sure how the hyperref package could help, as the document >> doesn't have any hyperrefs; even the minimal file I posted earlier >> fails... > > > The hyperref package now has an option which will tag text so that one could > use a PDF/A standard other than PDF/A-1b (which is for untagged text). Right, but if it's unable to generate PDF/A-1b it's quite unlikely that it would be able to generate a PDF/A-1a... > William > > -- > William Adams > senior graphic designer > Fry Communications > > > > -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On 11.09.2008, at 15:55, Ernesto Posse wrote: PS: I'm not sure how the hyperref package could help, as the document doesn't have any hyperrefs; even the minimal file I posted earlier fails... Besides dealing with hyperlinks, the hyperref package provides an interface for many other aspects of "PDF magic" (such as PDF metadata, physical page size, etc.). I don't know about hyperref's PDF/ A capabilites, but definitely would give it a try. Daniel
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Sep 11, 2008, at 9:55 AM, Ernesto Posse wrote: No, it still doesn't work (either through pdflatex or dvips + ps2pdf or dvips + distiller). Did you use the PDF/A-1b:2005 (CMYK) setting in Acrobat Distiller? I tried this w/ a .ps from dvips and it opened in PDF/A mode. If I follow your instructions literally, using pdflatex, opening in Acrobat and saving as PDF/A, Acrobat complains and tells me to use preflight first. It shouldn't. You should save as PDF/A-1b, quit, then re-open the document. This should open it in PDF/A mode. I do so, but this time (from the pdflatex generated file) I get a different error: "XMP property neither predefine nor defined in extension schema". Strange. Can't find that error anywhere (even after adding the ``d'' after predefine). Could it be a problem with this version of Acrobat, maybe? (I'm using Acrobat 9 Pro on Vista + MiKTeK 2.6) Well, your minimal example works w/ Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional on Mac OS X Leopard using MacTeX. I seem to recall your having mentioned files created by Adobe Acrobat not working either --- perhaps the problem is in your Acrobat installation? Have you tried d/l'ing a PDF/A document from somewhere and testing it? I directly sent you files which I made w/ dvips/Acrobat and pdflatex --- if they don't read as PDF/A on your Acrobat, it's broken. PS: I'm not sure how the hyperref package could help, as the document doesn't have any hyperrefs; even the minimal file I posted earlier fails... The hyperref package now has an option which will tag text so that one could use a PDF/A standard other than PDF/A-1b (which is for untagged text). William -- William Adams senior graphic designer Fry Communications
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
No, it still doesn't work (either through pdflatex or dvips + ps2pdf or dvips + distiller). If I follow your instructions literally, using pdflatex, opening in Acrobat and saving as PDF/A, Acrobat complains and tells me to use preflight first. I do so, but this time (from the pdflatex generated file) I get a different error: "XMP property neither predefine nor defined in extension schema". Could it be a problem with this version of Acrobat, maybe? (I'm using Acrobat 9 Pro on Vista + MiKTeK 2.6) PS: I'm not sure how the hyperref package could help, as the document doesn't have any hyperrefs; even the minimal file I posted earlier fails... On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 7:23 AM, William Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sep 10, 2008, at 2:48 AM, G. Milde wrote: > >> Maybe it's a font issue (the validator not knowing the CM latex fonts)? > > Nope. I used Ernesto's example file w/ pdflatex and it worked as I > described. > > The problem would seem to be w/ the .pdf generated by Ghostscript since he's > using dvips. > > So prefix it w/ the following step: > > - take the source .ps file from dvips and distill it in Adobe Acrobat > Distiller (instead of Ghostscript --- there should be an option to save a > copy of the .ps) using the appropriate .joboptions file which matches your > colour model (e.g., PDF/A-1b:2005 (CMYK) > > Or switch to using pdflatex. > > William > > -- > William Adams > senior graphic designer > Fry Communications > > > -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Sep 10, 2008, at 7:23 AM, William Adams wrote: Or switch to using pdflatex. Also, Martin Heller mentioned on texhax that the hyperref package as a pdfa option which may help as well. William -- William Adams senior graphic designer Fry Communications
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Sep 10, 2008, at 2:48 AM, G. Milde wrote: Maybe it's a font issue (the validator not knowing the CM latex fonts)? Nope. I used Ernesto's example file w/ pdflatex and it worked as I described. The problem would seem to be w/ the .pdf generated by Ghostscript since he's using dvips. So prefix it w/ the following step: - take the source .ps file from dvips and distill it in Adobe Acrobat Distiller (instead of Ghostscript --- there should be an option to save a copy of the .ps) using the appropriate .joboptions file which matches your colour model (e.g., PDF/A-1b:2005 (CMYK) Or switch to using pdflatex. William -- William Adams senior graphic designer Fry Communications
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On 9.09.08, Steve Litt wrote: > > > On Tuesday 09 September 2008 12:54:38 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: > > >> This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone > > >> here could have an idea on this issue. > > >> > > >> Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from > > >> LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from > > >> PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I > > >> haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A > > >> compliant by at least two different validators, even with the > > >> following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: > > >> > > >> === file a.tex === > > >> \documentclass{article} > > >> \begin{document} > > >> Just this line... > > >> \end{document} > > >> === end of file === > The PDF/A Wikipedia page makes it look pretty straightforward -- all fonts > embedded, all fonts legal everywhere, no video, audio or javascript, device > independent color. Maybe it's a font issue (the validator not knowing the CM latex fonts)? How about trying the standard PS fonts, like === file a.tex === \documentclass{article} \usepackage{mathptmx} % or \usepackage{mathpazo} \begin{document} Just this line... \end{document} === end of file === ? Günter
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Tuesday 09 September 2008 06:25:54 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: > On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM, Steve Litt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > What a nightmare! > > Indeed. > > > What does the university say about validators -- any validator, all > > validators, Adobe's validator? > > They use Acrobat's. It seems that Adobe's Distiller has its own > validator which is different than Acrobat's, since Distiller says the > generated file is compliant, but Acrobat says it is not. Next step -- find a small PDF that the Acrobat validator says complies, and try to exploit the differences between that file and your timy LyX-derived PDF. Also this will tell you if your particular validator won't pass ANYTHING. SteveT
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM, Steve Litt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What a nightmare! Indeed. > What does the university say about validators -- any validator, all > validators, Adobe's validator? They use Acrobat's. It seems that Adobe's Distiller has its own validator which is different than Acrobat's, since Distiller says the generated file is compliant, but Acrobat says it is not. > The PDF/A Wikipedia page makes it look pretty straightforward -- all fonts > embedded, all fonts legal everywhere, no video, audio or javascript, device > independent color. As far as I know, the generated PDF includes all fonts, and since it's that minimal latex file I mentioned, it does not have anything fancy, no audio, no video, no javascript, not event hyperrefs. > Makes sense when thought about from a portability as opposed to a long term > archival viewpoint. And it seems straightforward, except for proving it :-) > > SteveT > > On Tuesday 09 September 2008 02:00:54 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: >> Hi. I do not have a particular preference for PDF/A, but unfortunately >> my university requires electronic thesis submissions to be in PDF/A. >> After seeing that even a minimalistic latex document seems to be >> impossible to convert to PDF/A, and realizing that there is no >> consistency among PDF/A "validators", I'm not becoming a fan of the >> format. Nevertheless, I need to convert my thesis to this format... >> >> On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Steve Litt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: >> > On Tuesday 09 September 2008 12:54:38 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: >> >> This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone >> >> here could have an idea on this issue. >> >> >> >> Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from >> >> LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from >> >> PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I >> >> haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A >> >> compliant by at least two different validators, even with the >> >> following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: >> >> >> >> === file a.tex === >> >> \documentclass{article} >> >> \begin{document} >> >> Just this line... >> >> \end{document} >> >> === end of file === >> >> >> >> I've tried generating through dvips: >> >> >> >> dvips -o a.ps a.dvi >> >> >> >> or >> >> >> >> dvips -Ppdf -o a.ps a.dvi >> >> >> >> then through ghostscript/ps2pdf as described in >> >> http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/cvs/Ps2pdf.htm (I tried it on both >> >> Windows Vista and Ubuntu) >> >> >> >> I also tried generating with dvipdf and pdflatex, and then using a PDF >> >> to PDF/A converter. >> >> >> >> I've tried Acrobat 9 Pro (Distiller on Windows Vista), as well as >> >> PDF2PDF from pdf-tools.com (On Windows Vista, XP and Ubuntu), PDF >> >> Quick Master (On Windows XP), and PDF Appraiser (On Windows Vista and >> >> XP) >> >> >> >> Acrobat Distiller produces a PDF file and claims it is PDF/A >> >> compliant, but when I run the compliance test within Acrobat, it >> >> fails! (An Acrobat generated PDF/A file fails the Acrobat PDF/A test!) >> >> >> >> Any ideas on how to generate PDF/A from LaTeX would be welcome... >> >> >> >> Thanks >> > >> > Hi Ernesto, >> > >> > This isn't responsive to your question, but maybe, just maybe, it's >> > responsive to your situation. >> > >> > I see nothing but heartache in PDF/A. PDF/A test notwithstanding, I >> > contend you don't REALLY know it it will render accurately (or at all) >> > years from now. Things happen. >> > >> > Of all the ways to define data, PDF is one of the most complex. I've >> > modified PDFs with pdftk, and (ugh) with Vim. It's ugly, unless you know >> > the whole standard by heart. It's not human readable. >> > >> > More to the point, over years and decades, "standards" come and go. Those >> > QIC tapes I so joyously used in 1994 are unreadable today unless I go out >> > and buy a QIC tape drive and somehow get the matching software. Do you >> > really think the ISO9660 standard so ubiquitous today will exist in 2050? >> > Me neither. My prediction -- .tgz and .zip will be the stuff of old-timer >> > reminiscences by then, the way Kaypro computers are today. And PDF, I >> > doubt it will exist. >> > >> > If something's really important to have throughout the ages, print it to >> > nice, acid free paper, and store it appropriately. That will last at >> > least 200 years. >> > >> > I called the US trademark office and asked whether I could submit my >> > Ebooks' copyright specimens on paper in addition to electronically on CD. >> > They said yes, they prefer it that way, because paper stands the test of >> > time, and digital representations don't necessarily. >> > >> > I have handwritten journal pages from the mid 1970's, written in >> > ballpoint pen on cheap notebook paper, that are perfectly readable over >> > 30 years later. I dare you to read a magtape from 1975. >> > >> > If you have a lot of docs that
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
What a nightmare! What does the university say about validators -- any validator, all validators, Adobe's validator? The PDF/A Wikipedia page makes it look pretty straightforward -- all fonts embedded, all fonts legal everywhere, no video, audio or javascript, device independent color. Makes sense when thought about from a portability as opposed to a long term archival viewpoint. And it seems straightforward, except for proving it :-) SteveT On Tuesday 09 September 2008 02:00:54 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: > Hi. I do not have a particular preference for PDF/A, but unfortunately > my university requires electronic thesis submissions to be in PDF/A. > After seeing that even a minimalistic latex document seems to be > impossible to convert to PDF/A, and realizing that there is no > consistency among PDF/A "validators", I'm not becoming a fan of the > format. Nevertheless, I need to convert my thesis to this format... > > On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Steve Litt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Tuesday 09 September 2008 12:54:38 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: > >> This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone > >> here could have an idea on this issue. > >> > >> Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from > >> LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from > >> PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I > >> haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A > >> compliant by at least two different validators, even with the > >> following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: > >> > >> === file a.tex === > >> \documentclass{article} > >> \begin{document} > >> Just this line... > >> \end{document} > >> === end of file === > >> > >> I've tried generating through dvips: > >> > >> dvips -o a.ps a.dvi > >> > >> or > >> > >> dvips -Ppdf -o a.ps a.dvi > >> > >> then through ghostscript/ps2pdf as described in > >> http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/cvs/Ps2pdf.htm (I tried it on both > >> Windows Vista and Ubuntu) > >> > >> I also tried generating with dvipdf and pdflatex, and then using a PDF > >> to PDF/A converter. > >> > >> I've tried Acrobat 9 Pro (Distiller on Windows Vista), as well as > >> PDF2PDF from pdf-tools.com (On Windows Vista, XP and Ubuntu), PDF > >> Quick Master (On Windows XP), and PDF Appraiser (On Windows Vista and > >> XP) > >> > >> Acrobat Distiller produces a PDF file and claims it is PDF/A > >> compliant, but when I run the compliance test within Acrobat, it > >> fails! (An Acrobat generated PDF/A file fails the Acrobat PDF/A test!) > >> > >> Any ideas on how to generate PDF/A from LaTeX would be welcome... > >> > >> Thanks > > > > Hi Ernesto, > > > > This isn't responsive to your question, but maybe, just maybe, it's > > responsive to your situation. > > > > I see nothing but heartache in PDF/A. PDF/A test notwithstanding, I > > contend you don't REALLY know it it will render accurately (or at all) > > years from now. Things happen. > > > > Of all the ways to define data, PDF is one of the most complex. I've > > modified PDFs with pdftk, and (ugh) with Vim. It's ugly, unless you know > > the whole standard by heart. It's not human readable. > > > > More to the point, over years and decades, "standards" come and go. Those > > QIC tapes I so joyously used in 1994 are unreadable today unless I go out > > and buy a QIC tape drive and somehow get the matching software. Do you > > really think the ISO9660 standard so ubiquitous today will exist in 2050? > > Me neither. My prediction -- .tgz and .zip will be the stuff of old-timer > > reminiscences by then, the way Kaypro computers are today. And PDF, I > > doubt it will exist. > > > > If something's really important to have throughout the ages, print it to > > nice, acid free paper, and store it appropriately. That will last at > > least 200 years. > > > > I called the US trademark office and asked whether I could submit my > > Ebooks' copyright specimens on paper in addition to electronically on CD. > > They said yes, they prefer it that way, because paper stands the test of > > time, and digital representations don't necessarily. > > > > I have handwritten journal pages from the mid 1970's, written in > > ballpoint pen on cheap notebook paper, that are perfectly readable over > > 30 years later. I dare you to read a magtape from 1975. > > > > If you have a lot of docs that must be archived, and space is a concern, > > perhaps microfiche is the way to go. I'd guess that will last at least 30 > > years, always assuming they keep making microfiche readers. > > > > If you MUST go digital, I recommend plain text. In 1987, when I first > > started making invoices for customers, I made a very savvy choice. All my > > invoices, from 1987 through the present, have been plain text. Formatting > > was done by inserting space characters. No tabs, which of course can be > > redefined by the rendering software. If you absolutely must go digital > > with
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 4:02 PM, William Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sep 9, 2008, at 12:54 PM, Ernesto Posse wrote: > >> Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from >> LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from >> PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I >> haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A >> compliant by at least two different validators, even with the >> following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: > > > Since pdflatex can't insert .pdf tags (or is there a package for this?), you > need to certify against pdf/A-1b: > > - Open the file in Adobe Acrobat > - Save File As and choose as Format: PDF/A > - choose pdf/a-1b in the pop-up > - quit Acrobat > - re-open the file > - preflight (successfully) as PDF/A-1b It doesn't work for me. I have tried PDF/A-1b:2005(CMYK) and PDF/A-1b:2005(RGB), and preflight still complains. In particular it gives me an error "Width information for glyphs is inconsistent (1 match on 1 page)" I tried the conversion directly through Distiller and within Acrobat itself... > William > > -- > William Adams > senior graphic designer > Fry Communications > > > -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Sep 9, 2008, at 12:54 PM, Ernesto Posse wrote: Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A compliant by at least two different validators, even with the following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: Since pdflatex can't insert .pdf tags (or is there a package for this?), you need to certify against pdf/A-1b: - Open the file in Adobe Acrobat - Save File As and choose as Format: PDF/A - choose pdf/a-1b in the pop-up - quit Acrobat - re-open the file - preflight (successfully) as PDF/A-1b William -- William Adams senior graphic designer Fry Communications
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
Hi. I do not have a particular preference for PDF/A, but unfortunately my university requires electronic thesis submissions to be in PDF/A. After seeing that even a minimalistic latex document seems to be impossible to convert to PDF/A, and realizing that there is no consistency among PDF/A "validators", I'm not becoming a fan of the format. Nevertheless, I need to convert my thesis to this format... On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Steve Litt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Tuesday 09 September 2008 12:54:38 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: >> This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone >> here could have an idea on this issue. >> >> Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from >> LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from >> PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I >> haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A >> compliant by at least two different validators, even with the >> following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: >> >> === file a.tex === >> \documentclass{article} >> \begin{document} >> Just this line... >> \end{document} >> === end of file === >> >> I've tried generating through dvips: >> >> dvips -o a.ps a.dvi >> >> or >> >> dvips -Ppdf -o a.ps a.dvi >> >> then through ghostscript/ps2pdf as described in >> http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/cvs/Ps2pdf.htm (I tried it on both >> Windows Vista and Ubuntu) >> >> I also tried generating with dvipdf and pdflatex, and then using a PDF >> to PDF/A converter. >> >> I've tried Acrobat 9 Pro (Distiller on Windows Vista), as well as >> PDF2PDF from pdf-tools.com (On Windows Vista, XP and Ubuntu), PDF >> Quick Master (On Windows XP), and PDF Appraiser (On Windows Vista and >> XP) >> >> Acrobat Distiller produces a PDF file and claims it is PDF/A >> compliant, but when I run the compliance test within Acrobat, it >> fails! (An Acrobat generated PDF/A file fails the Acrobat PDF/A test!) >> >> Any ideas on how to generate PDF/A from LaTeX would be welcome... >> >> Thanks > > Hi Ernesto, > > This isn't responsive to your question, but maybe, just maybe, it's responsive > to your situation. > > I see nothing but heartache in PDF/A. PDF/A test notwithstanding, I contend > you don't REALLY know it it will render accurately (or at all) years from > now. Things happen. > > Of all the ways to define data, PDF is one of the most complex. I've modified > PDFs with pdftk, and (ugh) with Vim. It's ugly, unless you know the whole > standard by heart. It's not human readable. > > More to the point, over years and decades, "standards" come and go. Those QIC > tapes I so joyously used in 1994 are unreadable today unless I go out and buy > a QIC tape drive and somehow get the matching software. Do you really think > the ISO9660 standard so ubiquitous today will exist in 2050? Me neither. My > prediction -- .tgz and .zip will be the stuff of old-timer reminiscences by > then, the way Kaypro computers are today. And PDF, I doubt it will exist. > > If something's really important to have throughout the ages, print it to nice, > acid free paper, and store it appropriately. That will last at least 200 > years. > > I called the US trademark office and asked whether I could submit my Ebooks' > copyright specimens on paper in addition to electronically on CD. They said > yes, they prefer it that way, because paper stands the test of time, and > digital representations don't necessarily. > > I have handwritten journal pages from the mid 1970's, written in ballpoint pen > on cheap notebook paper, that are perfectly readable over 30 years later. I > dare you to read a magtape from 1975. > > If you have a lot of docs that must be archived, and space is a concern, > perhaps microfiche is the way to go. I'd guess that will last at least 30 > years, always assuming they keep making microfiche readers. > > If you MUST go digital, I recommend plain text. In 1987, when I first started > making invoices for customers, I made a very savvy choice. All my invoices, > from 1987 through the present, have been plain text. Formatting was done by > inserting space characters. No tabs, which of course can be redefined by the > rendering software. If you absolutely must go digital with data meant to > survive a century, plain text is the way to do it. As long as ASCII exists > (or a codepage that maps to old ASCII), and as long as I keep copying those > invoices to media that can be read by newly current technologies, my invoices > will be readable. > > Personally, when I hear the words "PDF" and "archive" in the same sentence, I > become very skeptical. > > SteveT > > Steve Litt > Recession Relief Package > http://www.recession-relief.US > > -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Re: Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
On Tuesday 09 September 2008 12:54:38 pm Ernesto Posse wrote: > This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone > here could have an idea on this issue. > > Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from > LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from > PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I > haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A > compliant by at least two different validators, even with the > following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: > > === file a.tex === > \documentclass{article} > \begin{document} > Just this line... > \end{document} > === end of file === > > I've tried generating through dvips: > > dvips -o a.ps a.dvi > > or > > dvips -Ppdf -o a.ps a.dvi > > then through ghostscript/ps2pdf as described in > http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/cvs/Ps2pdf.htm (I tried it on both > Windows Vista and Ubuntu) > > I also tried generating with dvipdf and pdflatex, and then using a PDF > to PDF/A converter. > > I've tried Acrobat 9 Pro (Distiller on Windows Vista), as well as > PDF2PDF from pdf-tools.com (On Windows Vista, XP and Ubuntu), PDF > Quick Master (On Windows XP), and PDF Appraiser (On Windows Vista and > XP) > > Acrobat Distiller produces a PDF file and claims it is PDF/A > compliant, but when I run the compliance test within Acrobat, it > fails! (An Acrobat generated PDF/A file fails the Acrobat PDF/A test!) > > Any ideas on how to generate PDF/A from LaTeX would be welcome... > > Thanks Hi Ernesto, This isn't responsive to your question, but maybe, just maybe, it's responsive to your situation. I see nothing but heartache in PDF/A. PDF/A test notwithstanding, I contend you don't REALLY know it it will render accurately (or at all) years from now. Things happen. Of all the ways to define data, PDF is one of the most complex. I've modified PDFs with pdftk, and (ugh) with Vim. It's ugly, unless you know the whole standard by heart. It's not human readable. More to the point, over years and decades, "standards" come and go. Those QIC tapes I so joyously used in 1994 are unreadable today unless I go out and buy a QIC tape drive and somehow get the matching software. Do you really think the ISO9660 standard so ubiquitous today will exist in 2050? Me neither. My prediction -- .tgz and .zip will be the stuff of old-timer reminiscences by then, the way Kaypro computers are today. And PDF, I doubt it will exist. If something's really important to have throughout the ages, print it to nice, acid free paper, and store it appropriately. That will last at least 200 years. I called the US trademark office and asked whether I could submit my Ebooks' copyright specimens on paper in addition to electronically on CD. They said yes, they prefer it that way, because paper stands the test of time, and digital representations don't necessarily. I have handwritten journal pages from the mid 1970's, written in ballpoint pen on cheap notebook paper, that are perfectly readable over 30 years later. I dare you to read a magtape from 1975. If you have a lot of docs that must be archived, and space is a concern, perhaps microfiche is the way to go. I'd guess that will last at least 30 years, always assuming they keep making microfiche readers. If you MUST go digital, I recommend plain text. In 1987, when I first started making invoices for customers, I made a very savvy choice. All my invoices, from 1987 through the present, have been plain text. Formatting was done by inserting space characters. No tabs, which of course can be redefined by the rendering software. If you absolutely must go digital with data meant to survive a century, plain text is the way to do it. As long as ASCII exists (or a codepage that maps to old ASCII), and as long as I keep copying those invoices to media that can be read by newly current technologies, my invoices will be readable. Personally, when I hear the words "PDF" and "archive" in the same sentence, I become very skeptical. SteveT Steve Litt Recession Relief Package http://www.recession-relief.US
Generating PDF/A from LyX/LaTeX
This question is not a LyX-only question, but I thought maybe someone here could have an idea on this issue. Has anyone succeeded in producing a PDF/A file (PDF for archival) from LyX/LaTeX? I've tried tools that claim to generate PDF/A from PostScript files or PDF files (both for Windows and Linux) but I haven't been successful in generating a file which is considered PDF/A compliant by at least two different validators, even with the following minimal file (in LaTeX) via dvips: === file a.tex === \documentclass{article} \begin{document} Just this line... \end{document} === end of file === I've tried generating through dvips: dvips -o a.ps a.dvi or dvips -Ppdf -o a.ps a.dvi then through ghostscript/ps2pdf as described in http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/cvs/Ps2pdf.htm (I tried it on both Windows Vista and Ubuntu) I also tried generating with dvipdf and pdflatex, and then using a PDF to PDF/A converter. I've tried Acrobat 9 Pro (Distiller on Windows Vista), as well as PDF2PDF from pdf-tools.com (On Windows Vista, XP and Ubuntu), PDF Quick Master (On Windows XP), and PDF Appraiser (On Windows Vista and XP) Acrobat Distiller produces a PDF file and claims it is PDF/A compliant, but when I run the compliance test within Acrobat, it fails! (An Acrobat generated PDF/A file fails the Acrobat PDF/A test!) Any ideas on how to generate PDF/A from LaTeX would be welcome... Thanks -- Ernesto Posse Applied Formal Methods Group - Software Technology Lab School of Computing Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada