Creating: output as XML or hybrid PDF

The last section of the form — and what comes after it.

XML or hybrid PDF

For eight formats the target is fixed and merely displayed. Only with ZUGFeRD is there a choice:

• “XML (ZUGFeRD/CII) – machine-readable”
• “PDF with embedded invoice (ZUGFeRD/Factur-X)” — a PDF/A-3 with a visual layer and embedded CII XML

The visual sources below only take effect for PDF output; the note says so: “Logo, your own invoice PDF and a Word template only take effect with PDF output.”

Visual source	Available
Invoice language of the visual layer (eight languages to choose from, default “Same as page language”)	always
Your own invoice PDF — your XML is embedded in it instead of in the automatic layout	always
Company logo (PNG/JPEG, top right in the automatic layout)	with an account only
Word template — one of the supplied ones (“Header”, “Sidebar”) or your own .docx	with an account only

Without signing in it reads: “A company logo and Word templates are available with a free account.”

Templates and accessibility

The supplied templates Header and Sidebar can be redrawn by the in-house renderer — the invoice is then taggable and needs no additional licence. This route is off by default, because the typeface and line breaks change with it. Your own uploaded templates always go through the Word detour and need a licence; without one, the page reports “Creation failed”. The automatic layout without a template is unaffected by all of this.

The result page

Element	When
the format marker, or the ZUGFeRD / Factur-X marks with the PDF/A-3 level	always; PDF/A-3 is only claimed when it is true — otherwise a warning box names the reason
Download	…_zugferd.pdf, or the language-specific XML name (rechnung.xml, facture.xml, …; with FatturaPA the SdI name IT{VAT}_{seq}.xml)
“Compliance check” or “Embedded XML — EN 16931 validation”	always — the generated invoice is re-validated
the XML preview	with XML output
“Correct entries”	returns to the form with everything you entered
“Save to archive” and “Finalise legally”	with an account only

Two formats with their own block

Facturae (Spain). There the download is explicitly labelled “download without signature”, and below it sits “Sign electronically (Spain)”: “Facturae requires a XAdES signature for public sector and B2B. Sign locally with AutoFirma and your certificate or token – your private key never leaves your device.” If the application is missing: “AutoFirma required. Please install it from autofirma.es and try again.”

FatturaPA / SdI (Italy). Only there does a separate, expanded block appear: a switch for public administration (B2G, FPA12), the recipient code (CodiceDestinatario) with seven characters, the recipient PEC and the document type (TipoDocumento) with the self-billing codes TD16 to TD20. All fields are optional and concern only transmission to the SdI.

With an account: prefilling and the format gate

• Seller and payment details come from the invoice-issuer record: “Seller and payment details were taken from your master data.”
• The invoice number is pre-suggested as a placeholder: “Leave empty → automatic: …” — left empty, only finalising draws the gap-free number.
• A quick-start block above the form takes the invoice issuer (from two profiles onwards), the customer and an article as the first line item from the master data.

The quick start resets the form

It overwrites your entries with the selected master data — use it before filling the form in, not afterwards.

Format gate. The Free and Startup plans allow two self-selected creation formats; Team, Business and Enterprise allow all of them. While a slot is free, the first creation in that format claims it automatically; once the list is full, the page shows “This target format is not enabled on your plan” instead of the form. An explicit change is possible once per calendar month on the plan page.

The hybrid PDF does not claim a second slot — it counts as ZUGFeRD.

If the invoice quota is exhausted: “Your plan’s monthly limit (10 invoices) has been reached. …” If generation fails after the booking, the unit is refunded.