Guide · E-invoices
Open a ZUGFeRD invoice
A ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice looks like an ordinary PDF, but carries a machine-readable XML file inside it — and that XML is the part that counts. MSGView finds it, shows its data as a readable invoice, and lets you save the XML, all in your browser.
Open a ZUGFeRD invoice in 3 steps
- Drop the PDFDrag the ZUGFeRD / Factur-X PDF — or the email it came in — onto msgview.app.
- See the embedded dataMSGView reads the embedded XML (factur-x.xml, zugferd-invoice.xml or xrechnung.xml) and shows seller, line items, VAT and totals, with a plausibility check of the amounts.
- Save what you needOpen the original PDF, save the extracted XML, print a PDF of the data or export the line items as CSV.
What is ZUGFeRD / Factur-X?
ZUGFeRD 2.x (Germany) and Factur-X (France) are the same hybrid format: a PDF/A-3 that people can read, with the invoice embedded as XML for software (EN 16931 in the main profiles). MSGView reads ZUGFeRD 2.x / Factur-X and the older ZUGFeRD 1.0.
Why look at the XML?
The PDF and the embedded XML can differ — and for an e-invoice the XML is what counts. Seeing the XML data next to the PDF shows what your accounting software will actually import.
Profiles MINIMUM and BASIC WL
These profiles carry totals but no line items. MSGView shows them and notes that the line items are missing by design of the profile.
FAQ
How do I see the XML in a ZUGFeRD PDF?
Drop the PDF on msgview.app. The embedded XML is shown as a readable invoice and can be saved as its own file.
My PDF shows no invoice data. Why?
Usually the PDF has no embedded invoice XML — it is an ordinary PDF, not ZUGFeRD or Factur-X. Password-protected (encrypted) PDFs cannot be read either.
Does it work with Factur-X?
Yes. Factur-X and ZUGFeRD 2.x are the same format.
Is the invoice checked for validity?
No. MSGView runs a plausibility check of required fields and amounts, which is not an official validation.