What types of PDF documents does the eFOB eFolder support?
Supported PDF document types
The eFOB - intelligent employee e-File system was designed to work on documents in PDF format, which is now a standard in maintaining HR and business documentation.
Our system supports all major PDF standards, including:
- PDF (ISO 32000) – standard PDF file format,
- PDF/A (ISO 19005) – archiving version, ensuring long-term readability of documents,
- PDF/UA (ISO 14289) – version facilitating access for people with disabilities,
- PDF with electronic signature (ISO 32000 + ISO 32000-2) – enabling full compliance with legal requirements.
- PDF/X (ISO 15930) – intended for data exchange in printing and printing,
- PDF/E (ISO 24517) – used in engineering and technical design,
For all the above formats, the eFOB system allows transferring, storing and viewing files.
Currently, we also offer the option of generating documents in PDF format (ISO 32000) and PDF with electronic signature (ISO 32000 + ISO 32000-2).
Details on supported PDF document types
How to check the PDF document type?
1. Checking in Adobe Acrobat Reader
The easiest and safest way is to use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Simply opening the file in a web browser (e.g. Chrome or Edge) will not show us what version we are dealing with.
- PDF general
- Open the file in Acrobat Reader, go to File → Properties of the document,
- In the Advanced section, under PDF version, information about its version will be visible.
- PDF/A (archiving)
- When you open a PDF/A file in Acrobat Reader, a message bar automatically appears at the top of the window, e.g.: "This file declares compliance with the PDF/A standard."
2. Other PDF types
In the case of standard PDF (ISO 32000) or specialized versions such as PDF/X (printing), PDF/E (engineering) or PDF with electronic signature, Acrobat Reader usually does not show the information bar, but details can be checked in the document metadata (Document Properties tab). There are also other tools available, e.g. the free Functions in PDFsam Basic, free and open source - PDFsam.
PDF/A
PDF/A is a special variant of the PDF format intended for long-term document archiving. Unlike regular PDF:
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All fonts must be embedded in the file so that the document will look the same in the future.
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You must not use dynamic content - e.g. scripts, multimedia, forms that require an active connection to the network.
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Colors and metadata must be correctly defined so that the document is fully self-contained and independent of external resources.
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The standard forces the document to maintain a constant appearance regardless of the system or software.
###PDF/UA
PDF/UA is a variant of PDF intended for digital accessibility (Universal Accessibility) to make documents usable by people with disabilities. Unlike regular PDF:
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The document must contain a complete logical structure (headings, paragraphs, tables) so that screen readers can read the content in the correct order.
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All images must have alternative text (alt text) that describes the visual content.- Colors and contrasts must comply with accessibility guidelines to make the document readable for visually impaired people.
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Forms and interactive elements must be marked so that they can be fully operated using assistive technologies.
PDF with signatures
PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most commonly used electronic document format. One of its key functionalities, especially in business and legal applications, is the ability to add digital signatures. Thanks to them, the document can not only be read, but also legally binding - just like a traditional handwritten signature.
Technical basis
- The standard for describing signatures in PDF files is ISO 32000 (and the newer ISO 32000-2).
- The digital signature in PDF uses asymmetric cryptography - the document is associated with a user certificate issued by a trusted certification authority (CA).
- The integrity of the document is ensured by calculating a checksum (hash), which is encrypted with the signer's private key.