Adobe takes PDF to the enterprise

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 23 Oct 2002 at 10:52

Adobe has unveiled two new server products designed to automate the production of PDF documents and forms.

The Adobe Document Server enables the automatic generation and customisation by combining pre-designed templates with data and graphics submitted by the end user. Working with templates created in any one of a number of Adobe applications the end user submits the information to be included in document, or dynamically generates the content from a database, and the server builds the PDF file or files.

This process can be integrated with existing enterprise workflows, with ERP, CRM and CMS systems and with Web interfaces via XML commands. Access to APIs enables the use of scripting.

Adobe Document Server is expected to be available by the end of the year for around £12,900 per CPU.

Adobe Document Server for Reader Extensions adds the ability to assign custom usage permissions to PDFs.

Exploiting features in the newly released Acrobat Reader 5.1, it allows additional features - such as commenting tools, digital signatures and the ability to fill in electronic forms offline for later submission or archiving - to be added to a PDF.

Adobe Document Server for Reader Extensions will be available by the end of the year for around £47,800.

The products are in part a response to calls for an increased role for electronic documents in eGovernment schemes. The aim is to reduce the consumption of vast volumes of paper and increase ease of access to government services.