The Munich-based software developer PDFlib GmbH announced the PDFlib 7 suite today, including PDFlib, PDFlib+PDI and PDFlib Personalization Server (PPS). A public beta version of the suite is now available for testing.
The new release offers a variety of new and improved functions, including a new table formatter, PDF/A output for longtime archiving, AES encryption, integrated pCOS analyzing tools, a repair and optimization mode for input PDFs, and numerous other new features.
Table formatting. The new table formatter in PDFlib 7 creates complex tables automatically. The function spares the programmer the painful process of placing rows and columns manually, and automatically fits the table according to the contents of the table cells. Tables can be split across multiple columns or pages. Table cells can contain single- or multi-line text, images, or PDF pages, and may be formatted according to a variety of options (e.g. border color, background, cell ruling). The size of table rows and columns is calculated automatically subject to a variety of user preferences. The new table formatter simplifies the process of generating PDF documents with tables on the fly, such as catalogs, invoices, or database reports.
PDF/A for archiving. PDFlib is one of the first tools worldwide to generate output according to the PDF/A-1a and PDF/A-1b standards, formally known as ISO 19005-1. PDF/A specifies a standardized subset of PDF for long-term preservation and archiving of PDF documents. As PDF archives are replacing classical paper- or image-based archives, the long-term preservation of PDF documents becomes more and more important.
Existing PDF/A documents can be imported by PDFlib and combined or split; images (any color space) can be converted to PDF/A. While PDF/A-1b preserves the visual appearance of PDF documents, PDFlib users can also create the advanced variant PDF/A-1a which in addition preserves the semantics of the document, by using features of Tagged PDF.
Integrated pCOS. PDFlib+PDI now includes the pCOS 2.0 interface. pCOS was previously only available as a separate product. It can be used to query arbitrary properties of an existing PDF document via a simple path syntax. This can be utilized to list fonts, images, and color spaces; query page- or document-related properties, PDF/A or PDF/X status, document info fields or XMP metadata, and many more.
AES encryption. PDFlib supports 128-bit encryption with the AES algorithm (Advanced Encryption Standard) as supported by Acrobat 7. AES encryption is considered much more secure than earlier crypto schemes.
Repair and Optimize. PDFlib+PDI implements new a repair mode with workarounds for importing damaged PDF data. Furthermore a new optimization step can remove redundant objects, for example when multiple documents with the same embedded fonts or color profiles are imported.
More. PDFlib 7 comes with a wide range of other new features, such as enhancements to the Textflow formatter, improved font and Unicode handling and special new features for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text.
PDF 1.6 (Acrobat 7) features are implemented, such as UserUnits which allow better document scaling and a wider range of possible page sizes. New document open modes are supported (e.g. attachment pane visible), as well as setting a default print scaling for the document.
The clipping path in TIFF and JPEG images will be honored, so that placed images automatically retain the separation of foreground and background without any additional clipping or transparency operations.Annotations (Web links) can be placed on a specific layer so that they are visible only when the corresponding layer is visible. 3D animations in the U3D format can be embedded in the PDF output, controlled by a variety of options. Actions can be defined to interact with 3D animations.
Availability and pricing
PDFlib 7 will be available at the end of Q3/2006 for all common platforms and with numerous language bindings. At www.pdflib.com a public beta is provided.The licensing model will change from CPU-based licensing to a scheme based on the number of machines. The new model facilitates licensing for modern hardware which supports multi-threading and muli-core processors.
About the PDFlib product family
PDFlib is the leading developer toolbox for generating and manipulating files in Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF). PDFlib’s main targets are dynamic PDF creation on a Web server or any other server system, and to implement "Save as PDF" in existing applications. PDFlib has proven itself in a wide range of other use cases as well.
The PDFlib is available in three different versions: PDFlib, PDFlib+PDI (PDF Import), and PDFlib Personalization Server (PPS) with the PDFlib Block Plugin for Adobe Acrobat.
About PDFlib GmbH
Munich-based PDFlib GmbH, founded in 2000, develops leading edge development tools for server-centric generation and processing of PDF documents. Customers of PDFlib GmbH are using the software for automated and high volume generation and processing of PDF documents in business and prepress workflows or for online billing systems. The development tools of PDFlib GmbH are readily available for all common environments of operating systems and programming languages. PDFlib GmbH operates worldwide with main markets in North America, Germany and Japan. PDFlib GmbH is led by Thomas Merz, internationally renowned expert on PDF.
This article was last modified on January 18, 2023
This article was first published on August 18, 2006
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