In short: The Aloaha ZUGFeRD PDF Viewer (also Aloaha PDF Editor) is a Windows program for viewing, editing and signing PDF files and hybrid e-invoices. It displays ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices as a normal PDF, opens the embedded invoice data in the built-in Aloaha ZUGFeRD GUI and signs documents – with a local certificate or, from version 11.0.0.2, also via CodeB remote signing (PAdES).
Features at a glance
- View ZUGFeRD: open PDF/A-3 invoices; Document > Show ZUGFeRD Data shows the embedded invoice data in the ZUGFeRD GUI, where you can also edit and save it again.
- Create ZUGFeRD: embed invoice XML into a PDF – with all tabs of the ZUGFeRD GUI.
- Opens many formats: PDF as well as images (BMP, JPG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, WMF, EMF), RTF, TXT, XML and DOCX; a new document can also be created from the clipboard.
- Edit pages: append or insert documents, insert new pages, delete, move and rotate pages, place images and text, insert file attachments.
- Share: print, send as an Outlook e-mail, upload, save individual pages as images, copy text or have it read aloud.
- Sign: sign PDFs with a visible signature, Save digitally signed, sign finished ZUGFeRD PDFs (new) and sign many files with the PDF Batch Signer.
- Portable: the portable version runs without installation, e.g. directly from a USB stick.
Signing PDFs and ZUGFeRD invoices
The viewer offers three ways to sign digitally:
| Menu | Purpose |
|---|---|
| File > Save digitally signed | Saves a signed copy of the open PDF under the chosen name – using the method from the signature settings. The original stays unchanged (from 11.0.0.3). |
| Tools > Sign PDF / ZUGFeRD PDF… (new) | Signs a finished ZUGFeRD, Factur-X or XRechnung PDF file. The open document is preselected, the target is <Name>_signed.pdf. The viewer first checks whether an invoice XML is embedded; the XML stays unchanged when signing. |
| Tools > PDF Batch Signer | Signs many PDFs at once. |
Signature settings
Under Settings > Signature settings (German interface: Signatur-Einstellungen) you choose the method. The viewer shares these settings with the Aloaha ZUGFeRD GUI (per Windows user).
- Local certificate: certificate from the Windows certificate store or from a smartcard; optionally with a timestamp server (RFC 3161). Without saved settings the viewer signs locally as before.
- CodeB remote signing (signing service of the CodeB EUID Wallet software): server URL of your production CodeB server (
https://phone.codeb.iois only CodeB's test server and not intended for production environments), user name, password and signature level PAdES B-B to B-LTA plus a minimum level (if the service delivers less, nothing is signed) – no local certificate needed. Test connection has a small test PDF signed. During remote signing a progress window shows the elapsed time so that it is clear the editor is working. On request, the password is stored encrypted with Windows (DPAPI). - Reason, location, contact: optional details in the signature.
Important for e-invoices: embed the XML first, then sign. A signature is not required for e-invoices in Germany, but it secures authenticity and integrity in a verifiable way.
Download
| Variant | Download | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Portable version | aloahapdfviewer.zip | Unzip and start aloahapdfviewer.exe – no installation needed. |
| Windows Installer | aloaha_pdfeditor.zip | Contains Aloaha_PDF_Editor_Setup.msi for a permanent installation. |
Requirements: Windows with .NET Framework 4.7.2. For remote signing, an account with the CodeB Remote Signature Service and internet access via HTTPS.
If you use the Aloaha PDF Suite, the PDF Editor is already installed. Further features are described on the product page of the Aloaha PDF Editor.
Licence
The PDF Viewer needs no additional licence if an Aloaha product is already licensed on your computer – for example the Aloaha ZUGFeRD GUI (EUR 199 excl. VAT). You can get a trial licence via info@aloaha.com.
Video
A short demo of the ZUGFeRD PDF Viewer:
Playing connects to YouTube (Google) – privacy · watch on YouTube
Related tools
- Aloaha ZUGFeRD GUI – create, edit and sign ZUGFeRD invoices.
- SignPDFRemote – remote signing as an SDK function for your own programs.
- zugcmd – ZUGFeRD processing from the command line.
- Downloads – all installers of the Aloaha ZUGFeRD SDK.
Frequently asked questions
How do I view the XML data of a ZUGFeRD invoice?
Open the ZUGFeRD PDF in the Aloaha ZUGFeRD PDF Viewer and choose Document > Show ZUGFeRD Data. The embedded invoice data appears in the ZUGFeRD GUI and can be edited there.
Can I sign a ZUGFeRD invoice with the viewer?
Yes. Via Tools > Sign PDF / ZUGFeRD PDF or File > Save digitally signed – with a local certificate or via CodeB remote signing (PAdES B-B to B-LTA). The embedded XML stays unchanged.
Do I need a smartcard to sign?
No, not with CodeB remote signing: a user name and password with the CodeB Remote Signature Service are enough. Local signing needs a certificate in the Windows certificate store or on a smartcard.
What does the Aloaha ZUGFeRD PDF Viewer cost?
It needs no licence of its own if an Aloaha product is already licensed, e.g. the Aloaha ZUGFeRD GUI for EUR 199 excl. VAT.