View and edit PDF/A archives
Revu can open, edit, and verify PDF/A archives. Revu can also create PDF/A archives; for information, see Creating PDF/A Archives.
Revu shows that a document is a PDF/A archive in the following locations:
-
On the Document tab–The Document tab shows a
PDF/A icon to the left of the document name. Select the icon to reveal a context menu that allows you to verify or unlock the file (if it is currently locked). - On the Properties tab–The Standards section of the Properties panel shows the PDF/A icon, the format of the PDF document, and if the file is locked or unlocked for editing.

Select the
icon to open the PDF/A dialog. If the PDF/A file is locked, select Unlock to unlock the file for editing (if it is not currently locked, the Unlock button does not appear).
Verify checks the document and reports on its PDF/A-1b compliance without changing or saving the file. This allows you to see what changes will be required to convert the document to PDF/A-1b.
Some PDF editors are not PDF/A aware and might allow a PDF to be changed and saved, resulting in a PDF that reports it is PDF/A, but is not actually compliant. Verify ensures that your document is PDF/A-1b compliant.
To verify any PDF or PDF/A file, follow these steps:
-
Go to Document >
Archive as PDF/A.Or, select the
PDF/A icon on the Document tab and select Verify from the menu that appears. - Select Verify. Revu checks the document for PDF/A compliance and returns a report.
Because PDF/A is a long term archival format, Revu opens the files as "locked for editing" by default (this can be changed in the PDF/A Preferences if desired). This safety measure is meant to prevent accidental changes to the document that might invalidate the PDF/A compliancy.
Locked PDF archives can be unlocked, enabling them to be edited. They will be saved as normal PDFs, not as PDF/A. Convert them to PDF/A again to archive them. See Creating a PDF/A-1b Archive.
While the file is locked for editing, the command buttons and tools that will change the PDF are unavailable.
There are several ways to unlock a PDF/A file:
- Go to Document >
Security, and click Unlock in the Document Properties dialog. - Select the Security icon on the Navigation bar, and select Unlock in the Document Properties dialog.
- Go to Window > Panels > Properties to show the Properties panel. In the Standards section, select Unlock.
As soon as the file is unlocked, the Properties tab will report that the PDF is "unlocked for editing" and the command buttons and tools will become active so you can edit or mark up the PDF.
Revu can be configured to automatically open PDF/A files unlocked in PDF/A Preferences.
