com.itextpdf.kernel.PdfException: Append mode requires a document without errors, even if recovery is possible

[jmarxuach]

Searching in google I found this that suggest there is a bug in itext7, but im not sure.

I have a PDF that throws this error, but i can't attach because is confidential.

[jmarxuach]

That's the exception

[main] ERROR com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader - Error occurred while reading cross reference table. Cross reference table will be rebuilt.
com.itextpdf.io.IOException: Error at file pointer 46,820.
at com.itextpdf.io.source.PdfTokenizer.throwError(PdfTokenizer.java:686)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXrefSection(PdfReader.java:1011)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXref(PdfReader.java:929)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readPdf(PdfReader.java:677)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.open(PdfDocument.java:1871)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.(PdfDocument.java:324)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.initDocument(PdfSigner.java:306)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.(PdfSigner.java:288)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.(PdfSigner.java:271)
at BatchPDFSign.lib.BatchPDFSign.signFile(BatchPDFSign.java:73)
at BatchPDFSign.portable.Main.main(Main.java:48)
Caused by: com.itextpdf.io.IOException: file position {0} cross reference entry in this xref subsection.
... 11 more
Exception in thread "main" com.itextpdf.kernel.PdfException: Append mode requires a document without errors, even if recovery is possible.
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.open(PdfDocument.java:1918)
at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.(PdfDocument.java:324)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.initDocument(PdfSigner.java:306)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.(PdfSigner.java:288)
at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.(PdfSigner.java:271)
at BatchPDFSign.lib.BatchPDFSign.signFile(BatchPDFSign.java:73)
at BatchPDFSign.portable.Main.main(Main.java:48)

[Jocomol]

I've tried it with the sample file supplied by the OP of the question, found here. Can you the file or some similar file?

The version of iText7 the OP used was 7.0.4, we use 7.1.11. So I think the bug would be fixed already.

[jmarxuach]

I've tried it with the sample file supplied by the OP of the question, found here. Can you the file or some similar file?

The version of iText7 the OP used was 7.0.4, we use 7.1.11. So I think the bug would be fixed already.

I agree. Look, if I try to with following code

StampingProperties properties = new StampingProperties();

instead of

StampingProperties properties = new StampingProperties().preserveEncryption().useAppendMode();

It works !

I think useAppendModemode and preserveEncryption requires a document without errors, even if recovery is possible in itext7.

[Jocomol]

#7

[Jocomol]

I'll have to test if removing preserveEncyription() still works with PDF/A

[Jocomol]

@jmarxuach can you try out if version 1.0.5.1 works, because I only removed .useAppendMode().

[jmarxuach]

@jmarxuach can you try out if version 1.0.5.1 works, because I only removed .useAppendMode().

It Works !! Even if prints the exception

[main] ERROR com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader - Error occurred while reading cross reference table. Cross reference table will be rebuilt.
com.itextpdf.io.IOException: Error at file pointer 46,820.
        at com.itextpdf.io.source.PdfTokenizer.throwError(PdfTokenizer.java:686)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXrefSection(PdfReader.java:1011)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXref(PdfReader.java:929)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readPdf(PdfReader.java:677)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.open(PdfDocument.java:1871)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.<init>(PdfDocument.java:324)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.initDocument(PdfSigner.java:306)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.<init>(PdfSigner.java:288)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.<init>(PdfSigner.java:271)
        at BatchPDFSign.lib.BatchPDFSign.signFile(BatchPDFSign.java:75)
        at BatchPDFSign.portable.Main.main(Main.java:48)
Caused by: com.itextpdf.io.IOException: file position {0} cross reference entry in this xref subsection.
        ... 11 more
[main] ERROR com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader - Error occurred while reading cross reference table. Cross reference table will be rebuilt.
com.itextpdf.io.IOException: Error at file pointer 46,820.
        at com.itextpdf.io.source.PdfTokenizer.throwError(PdfTokenizer.java:686)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXrefSection(PdfReader.java:1011)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readXref(PdfReader.java:929)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfReader.readPdf(PdfReader.java:677)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.open(PdfDocument.java:1871)
        at com.itextpdf.kernel.pdf.PdfDocument.<init>(PdfDocument.java:324)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.initDocument(PdfSigner.java:306)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.<init>(PdfSigner.java:288)
        at com.itextpdf.signatures.PdfSigner.<init>(PdfSigner.java:271)
        at BatchPDFSign.lib.BatchPDFSign.signFile(BatchPDFSign.java:79)
        at BatchPDFSign.portable.Main.main(Main.java:48)
Caused by: com.itextpdf.io.IOException: file position {0} cross reference entry in this xref subsection.
        ... 11 more
[main] INFO com.itextpdf.signatures.TSAClientBouncyCastle - Timestamp generated: Thu Jul 23 14:54:01 CEST 2020

[Jocomol]

@jmarxuach your pdf file is probably damaged, can you try with a similar file?

[jmarxuach]

@jmarxuach your pdf file is probably damaged, can you try with a similar file?

My Pdf file is 1,4 version and is created with https://wkhtmltopdf.org/ I can open it with acrobat reader DC and the signed PDF too.

Anyway, now BatchPDFSign works even if prints the exception. My PDF file is a worst case test. I have created a release v1.0.5.1

To me, issue is solved. May be I will open a new one to remember to solve the exception print.