Document.Convert() throws NullReferenceException for PDF/A

Aspose.PDF Product Family
,
1

nullref.zip (1.1 MB)

Aspose.PDF for .NET 26.5 throws an unhandled NullReferenceException from Document.Convert(PdfFormatConversionOptions) on several valid input PDFs. Adobe Acrobat Pro Preflight converts the same inputs to PDF/A-2b cleanly on the same machine. Looking for confirmation this is a defect and guidance on a workaround.

Stack trace (identical on every affected file):

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at #=zxdI5uUXfKy0965G9U4FJy$hGMhR3Hny$UjVTs1b9fHo_ToDDyz2TFOI=.#=zGMSxEQlP2FL5(#=zbC94T4TWdbxK94r6gACg_RnF8WP2omXhcg== #=zcdJfrKSgNOc9, String #=zJwvb4grKmje8)
   at #=zxdI5uUXfKy0965G9U4FJy$hGMhR3Hny$UjVTs1b9fHo_ToDDyz2TFOI=.#=z1rewQJxMdTPI(#=z65GHowXU6RWK9PNEQygMaSiyJ1bzU$MGXw== #=z3vxaTlo=)
   at #=zxdI5uUXfKy0965G9U4FJy$hGMhR3Hny$UjVTs1b9fHo_ToDDyz2TFOI=.#=zFHAgAMM=()
   at #=zxdI5uUXfKy0965G9U4FJy$hGMhR3Hny$UjVTs1b9fHo_ToDDyz2TFOI=.#=z8LMs6G0=()
   at #=z3_mWVfh07WbDNZJgA2znP4L7lM1rTyDZrlWAf94eqWx_$Ux5DV1uKiw=.#=z679L65I=()
   at #=zxdI5uUXfKy0965G9U4FJy$hGMhR3Hny$UjVTs1b9fHo_ToDDyz2TFOI=.#=zFV2k1tw=(PdfFormatConversionOptions #=zliGxjJc=)
   at Aspose.Pdf.Document.#=zvRJY0N0=(PdfFormatConversionOptions #=zliGxjJc=, Boolean #=zx7l6P5byqXJa)
   at Aspose.Pdf.Document.Convert(PdfFormatConversionOptions options)

Environment

  • Aspose.PDF for .NET, version 26.5 (current latest)
  • No special fonts installed on the conversion machine — Adobe Acrobat Pro Preflight on the same machine converts these files cleanly to PDF/A-2b, ruling out font availability as the root cause

Samples

Six affected input files see attached nullref.zip

Thanks,
Mark

2

@markmanley.adlib
We have opened the following new ticket(s) in our internal issue tracking system and will deliver their fixes according to the terms mentioned in Free Support Policies.

Issue ID(s): PDFNET-62323

You can obtain Paid Support Services if you need support on a priority basis, along with the direct access to our Paid Support management team.

Thanks — the stack trace and the Acrobat cross-check make it clear this is a defect on our side: an unhandled NullReferenceException thrown inside the PDF/A conversion
pipeline (Document.Convert(PdfFormatConversionOptions)) on specific valid inputs, rather than anything to do with your environment or fonts. We’re logging it for engineering.

On a workaround: since this is an unhandled null-deref reached deep in the converter, there isn’t a reliable in-product flag to bypass it, and we’d rather not suggest a
guess that masks the real issue — we’ll prioritize the fix against your samples and follow up with either a corrected build or a concrete mitigation once we’ve identified
the trigger. We won’t ask you to downgrade (you’re on the current release).
Thanks for the precise report and the reproducers.