ISO 19444-1:2019
(Main)Document management - XML Forms Data Format - Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)
Document management - XML Forms Data Format - Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)
This document specifies an XML format for representing forms data and annotations in the Portable Document Format, ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0). This document does not change or add any definitions for any components of ISO 32000-2.
Gestion de documents — Format de Données des Formulaires XML — Partie 1: Utilisation de l'ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 08-Aug-2019
- Technical Committee
- ISO/TC 171/SC 2 - Document file formats, EDMS systems and authenticity of information
- Drafting Committee
- ISO/TC 171/SC 2/WG 8 - PDF specification
- Current Stage
- 9093 - International Standard confirmed
- Start Date
- 03-Dec-2024
- Completion Date
- 13-Dec-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 29-Jul-2017
Overview
ISO 19444-1:2019 - Document management - XML Forms Data Format - Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0) defines an XML-based interchange format (XFDF 3.0) for representing PDF form data and PDF annotations in PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2). The standard specifies the XML structure, encoding and namespace conventions, and element vocabulary used to export, import or exchange forms data and annotations without changing any component definitions in ISO 32000-2.
Key topics and requirements
This part of ISO 19444 focuses on practical XML mapping for PDF 2.0 content. Key technical topics include:
- XFDF overview and use - purpose, relationship between PDF, FDF and XFDF, and guidance on when to use XFDF.
- Forms data representation - XML elements for form fields, hierarchical and simple form structures, and value encodings.
- Annotations model - XML elements covering common annotation types (e.g., text, highlight, underline, strikeout, squiggly, line, polygon, free text, stamp, ink, file attachment, sound, link, redact, projection).
- Element and sub-element definitions - detailed reference for xfdf, f, ids, fields, field/value, annots and annotation sub-elements (appearance, contents, popup, actions, resources, destinations).
- Encoding and namespaces - string encoding conventions, rich text handling, and stream encoding guidance.
- Implementation notes and samples - examples comparing FDF and XFDF, sample annotations and forms, and XML content model syntax to aid implementers.
The standard does not introduce new PDF component definitions and explicitly does not change ISO 32000-2 - it maps PDF semantics into an XML exchange format.
Applications and who should use it
ISO 19444-1:2019 is intended for:
- Software developers building PDF viewers, form-fill engines, annotation tools, and document management systems that need to import/export PDF form data and annotations as XML.
- Enterprise workflows that exchange form submissions or annotations between systems (e.g., e‑forms, legal review, archival ingestion).
- Integration specialists creating connectors between PDF workflows and XML-based services (web services, databases, content repositories).
- Archivists and record managers needing a standards-based, machine-readable representation of PDF annotations and form content for preservation.
Benefits include interoperable exchange of form values and annotation metadata, simplified processing in XML toolchains, and clearer mapping between PDF 2.0 semantics and XML workflows.
Related standards
- ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0) - normative reference for PDF structures and semantics used by XFDF 3.0.
- FDF/XFDF legacy notes - background on the relationship to earlier FDF/XFDF versions for compatibility planning.
Keywords: ISO 19444-1:2019, XFDF 3.0, XML Forms Data Format, PDF 2.0, ISO 32000-2, forms data, PDF annotations, document management.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO 19444-1:2019 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Its full title is "Document management - XML Forms Data Format - Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)". This standard covers: This document specifies an XML format for representing forms data and annotations in the Portable Document Format, ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0). This document does not change or add any definitions for any components of ISO 32000-2.
This document specifies an XML format for representing forms data and annotations in the Portable Document Format, ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0). This document does not change or add any definitions for any components of ISO 32000-2.
ISO 19444-1:2019 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 35.240.30 - IT applications in information, documentation and publishing. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
ISO 19444-1:2019 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ISO 19444-1:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
You can purchase ISO 19444-1:2019 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of ISO standards.
Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19444-1
Second edition
2019-08
Document management — XML Forms
Data Format —
Part 1:
Use of ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)
Gestion de documents — Format de Données des Formulaires XML —
Partie 1: Utilisation de l'ISO 32000-2 (XFDF 3.0)
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
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Email: copyright@iso.org
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
Contents Page
Foreword .viii
Introduction .ix
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Notation . 1
5 Overview of XFDF . 1
5.1 General . 1
5.2 Forms data and annotations . 2
5.3 How to use this specification . 3
5.4 PDF, FDF and XFDF . 3
5.4.1 General. 3
5.4.2 Sample form in FDF and XFDF . 4
5.4.3 Sample annotation in FDF and XFDF. 5
5.5 Writing XFDF . 7
5.5.1 General. 7
5.5.2 Encoding and namespace . 7
5.6 Understanding forms . 7
5.6.1 General. 7
5.6.2 Simple XFDF form . 7
5.6.3 Hierarchical XFDF form . 8
5.7 Understanding annotations . 9
5.7.1 General. 9
5.7.2 Simple XFDF annotation .10
5.7.3 Annotation with popup text .11
5.7.4 Annotation with comment .12
5.8 Implementation notes .13
5.8.1 General.13
5.8.2 String encoding conventions .13
5.8.3 Rich text strings .14
5.8.4 Stream encoding .15
5.8.5 XML content model syntax .15
6 XFDF reference .16
6.1 General .16
6.2 XFDF elements .16
6.2.1 Elements .16
6.2.2 xfdf .17
6.2.3 f .17
6.2.4 ids .17
6.3 Form field elements .18
6.3.1 Fields .18
6.3.2 Field.18
6.3.3 value . .19
6.3.4 value-richtext .19
6.4 Annotation elements .19
6.4.1 annots .19
6.4.2 text .20
6.4.3 highlight . .21
6.4.4 underline .21
6.4.5 strikeout .22
6.4.6 squiggly .23
6.4.7 line .24
6.4.8 circle .25
6.4.9 square .26
6.4.10 caret .27
6.4.11 polygon .28
6.4.12 polyline .29
6.4.13 stamp .30
6.4.14 ink .30
6.4.15 freetext .31
6.4.16 fileattachment .32
6.4.17 sound.33
6.4.18 link .34
6.4.19 redact .35
6.4.20 projection .35
6.5 Annotation sub-elements .36
6.5.1 Action .36
6.5.2 appearance .36
6.5.3 BorderStyleAlt . . .37
6.5.4 contents .37
6.5.5 contents-richtext . .38
6.5.6 data .38
6.5.7 defaultappearance .39
6.5.8 defaultappearance .39
6.5.9 defaultstyle .39
6.5.10 Dest .39
6.5.11 File .40
6.5.12 gesture .40
6.5.13 Fit .41
6.5.14 FitB .41
6.5.15 FitBH . .41
6.5.16 FitBV .42
6.5.17 FitH .42
6.5.18 FitR . .43
6.5.19 FitV .43
6.5.20 GoTo .44
6.5.21 GoToR .44
6.5.22 inklist .44
6.5.23 Launch.45
6.5.24 Named .45
6.5.25 Named .45
6.5.26 OnActivation .45
6.5.27 overlayappearance .46
6.5.28 popup .46
6.5.29 resource .47
6.5.30 URI .47
6.5.31 vertices .48
6.5.32 XYZ .48
6.6 Annotation attributes .48
6.7 Mapping tables .67
6.7.1 PDF to XFDF .67
6.7.2 XFDF to PDF .71
7 Reference for 3D and RichMedia annotations .74
7.1 General .74
7.2 Various scenarios of comments on a 3D annotation .74
7.2.1 General.74
7.2.2 Example of a comment on a 3D annotation .75
7.3 The ex_data annotation subelement .76
7.3.1 ex_data .76
7.4 ex_data3d related elements .77
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
7.4.1 exdata3d .77
7.4.2 anno3dname .77
7.4.3 md5checksum .78
7.4.4 measurename .78
7.5 The view3d related elements .78
7.5.1 General.78
7.5.2 view3d .79
7.5.3 externalname .79
7.6 Camera related elements .79
7.6.1 General.79
7.6.2 cameraxform .80
7.6.3 u3dmatrixsource.80
7.6.4 targetdistance .80
7.7 View projection related elements .80
7.7.1 projection .80
7.7.2 fieldofview .81
7.7.3 viewplanesize .81
7.7.4 scalevalue .81
7.7.5 scaletype .82
7.7.6 clip .82
7.8 View background related elements .83
7.8.1 background .83
7.8.2 color .83
7.9 Model rendering related elements .83
7.9.1 renderinginfo .83
7.9.2 auxcolor .85
7.9.3 facecolor .85
7.9.4 opacity.85
7.9.5 creasevalue .85
7.10 Lighting related elements .86
7.10.1 lighting .86
7.11 Cross section related elements .87
7.11.1 General.87
7.11.2 crosssection .88
7.11.3 centerofrotation .88
7.11.4 planetilt1, planetilt2 .88
7.11.5 alignment.89
7.11.6 planevisible.89
7.11.7 planecolor .89
7.11.8 planeopacity .90
7.11.9 intersectionsvisible .90
7.11.10 intersectioncolor . .90
7.12 View specific node control related elements .90
7.12.1 nodeparameter .90
7.12.2 nodeid.91
7.12.3 nodexform .91
7.12.4 opacity.91
7.12.5 noderendermode .92
7.13 Rich Media related elements .92
7.13.1 stateinfo .92
7.13.2 snapshot .92
7.14 Measurement related elements .93
7.14.1 measure .93
7.14.2 measurename .93
7.15 Linear dimension related elements .93
7.15.1 General.93
7.15.2 Linearmarkup .95
7.15.3 annoplane .95
7.15.4 anchor1 .95
7.15.5 anchor1partname .96
7.15.6 anchor2 .96
7.15.7 anchor2partname .96
7.15.8 textposition .96
7.15.9 textydirection . .97
7.15.10 textsize .97
7.15.11 markupcolor .97
7.15.12 value .98
7.15.13 units .98
7.15.14 precision .98
7.15.15 usertext .98
7.16 Perpendicular dimension related elements .99
7.16.1 General.99
7.16.2 perpendicularmarkup .100
7.16.3 annoplane .101
7.16.4 anchor1 .101
7.16.5 anchor1partname .101
7.16.6 anchor2 .102
7.16.7 anchor2partname .102
7.16.8 leaderdirection .102
7.16.9 textposition .102
7.16.10 textydirection .103
7.16.11 textsize .103
7.16.12 markupcolor .103
7.16.13 value .103
7.16.14 units .104
7.16.15 precision .104
7.16.16 usertext .104
7.17 Angular dimension related elements .105
7.17.1 General.105
7.17.2 angularmarkup .107
7.17.3 annoplane .107
7.17.4 anchor1 .107
7.17.5 anchor1partname .108
7.17.6 leaderdirection1 .108
7.17.7 anchor2 .108
7.17.8 anchor2partname .108
7.17.9 leaderdirection2 .109
7.17.10 textposition .109
7.17.11 textxdirection .109
7.17.12 textydirection .110
7.17.13 textsize .110
7.17.14 markupcolor .110
7.17.15 value .110
7.17.16 units .111
7.17.17 precision .111
7.17.18 usertext .111
7.18 Radial dimension related elements .111
7.18.1 General.111
7.18.2 radialmarkup .114
7.18.3 annoplane .115
7.18.4 circlecenter .115
7.18.5 pointoncircle .115
7.18.6 arcstart .116
7.18.7 arcend .116
7.18.8 anchorpartname .116
7.18.9 textposition .116
vi © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved
7.18.10 textxdirection .117
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