# Convert ASiC-E to PDF: printing, sharing and archiving scenarios

> The wish to convert ASiC-E to PDF usually has a concrete reason: a printer, a partner abroad, an upload form that only accepts PDF. Each reason has its own best answer.

Source: https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/convert-asice-to-pdf/
Published: 2026-11-10 · Digixy

## In short

- For printing: extract the PDF and print it. Mention that the original is digital.
- For a partner who cannot open containers: send the container plus a link to a viewer.
- For archiving: keep the container; a PDF alone is not the signed original.

## Scenario 1: you need a paper copy

1. Open the container in [ASiCE Viewer](https://asiceviewer.com/en/#tool) and download the PDF.
2. Print it from your PDF reader.

A printout of a digitally signed document is a copy. If an office asks for a "signed original", explain that the original is the `.asice` file and offer to e-mail it. Many authorities accept or even prefer the digital original.

## Scenario 2: the recipient cannot open .asice

This happens with partners outside the Baltics. Options, best first:

| Option | Signature preserved? | Effort for the recipient |
| Send the `.asice` with a link to asiceviewer.com | Yes | Open a web page and drop the file |
| Send the `.asice` and a PDF copy together | Yes, in the container | None for reading |
| Send only the PDF | No | None |

The second option is the most considerate: they can read immediately, and the proof is attached.

## Scenario 3: a form accepts only PDF

Upload forms for visas, tenders or universities often accept PDF only. Extract the PDF and upload it. If the form has a comment field, state that the document was signed digitally and the container is available on request. Where it helps, export from the [Android app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dasiceviewer.com%26utm_medium%3Dblog-md): the PDF then shows the signer and signing time in the page header.

## Scenario 4: long-term archiving

Do not convert for archiving. Store the container unchanged. For records kept many years, PDF/A copies are useful for reading, but the evidential original remains the container, ideally at a signature level with embedded time stamp and revocation data.

## Mistakes to avoid

- **Renaming `.asice` to `.pdf`.** This converts nothing.
- **Screenshots of the viewer.** A picture of a signature card proves nothing.
- **Deleting the container after extracting.** You would keep the copy and throw away the original.
- **Using upload-based converters** for confidential contracts.

## A wording that helps

When forwarding a copy, a line such as "Attached is a PDF copy for reading; the digitally signed original (.asice) is attached as well" avoids most misunderstandings. The mechanics of extraction are covered in [ASiC-E to PDF](https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-to-pdf/).

## Frequently asked questions

**Is a printed copy of a digitally signed document valid?**

The printout is a copy. The legally signed original is the container file, which can be validated at any time.

**Can I merge the documents of a container into one PDF?**

Extract them and combine them with any PDF tool. The merged file is an unsigned working copy.

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Open your .asice file now: https://asiceviewer.com/en/
ASiC-E Viewer on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer