Server-side PDF Moving beyond one at a time

Server-side PDF Moving beyond one at a time Tim Sullivan active. PDF, Inc.

So why are you here today? • You have nothing better to do at 8: 30 am • You have to go back with something interesting to your boss. • You’re kind of interested in server PDF technology • You have a real need that you think server PDF technology will fix

What’s going to be covered? • This is not a product “shoot out” • The how’s and why’s of going to serverbased PDF • Server products for creating & re-using PDF • Discovery of new and different ways to do things • Some things to watch out for when going to a server-based solution

So…why server-based PDF? • “I can do that with Acrobat” • “That’s cool and all, but of my price range. ” • “I don’t own a server” • “I have to do what to get it to run? • “I hate Windows/Microsoft” • “I just don’t get it”

Desktopaholics Anonymous • Have a real need, know it, but insist on using a desktop application anyways • Afraid of “server technology” • “Forest for the Trees” • active. PDF Marketing “Personas”

Desktopaholic #1 “George”

TMDPS Too Much Damn Paper Syndrome

George’s Obstacles • Disparate input document sources • Statutory requirements for document retention • Legislative requirements for document availability • Current workflow is entirely paperbased

George’s Solution • • Redesign workflow to be paperless Require known input document sources Retain documents electronically Make documents available online for retrieval purposes

How it will work

Procedural Changes • Require attorneys to file with “standard” formats (e. g. Word, RTF, Word. Perfect) • New case “cover sheet” for judges decision and signature

PDF Technologies Used • Conversion Server – active. PDF Doc. Converter – Adlib e. Xpress Server • Document Markup – Adobe Acrobat • Stamping & Signing – Appligent FDFMerge, Stamp. PDF Pro & Secure. Sign – active. PDF Toolkit

Desktopaholic #2 “Judy”

DSD Data Storage Disorder

Judy’s Obstacles • • • Data is retrieved offsite Manual re-entry is the rule Cannot be 100% paperless Data needs to be shared with lenders No technology in-house to manage information

Judy’s Solution • Design PDF version of loan application • Store data offsite using 3 rd party • Repurpose data into appropriate lender forms • Take advantage of technologies for date/time non-repudiation

How it will work

PDF Technologies Used • Form Design – Adobe Acrobat – Amgraf One. Form Designer • Form Entry – Adobe Reader • 3 rd Party Data Storage – Form. Router. Net • Repurposing Data via Form Fill – active. PDF Toolkit – Appligent FDFMerge – PDFLib Personalization Server

Desktopaholic #3 “Lisa”

DAH Document Assembly Hysteria

Lisa’s Obstacles • • • Multiple types of input documents PDF output required for different media “Intelligent” PDF Dependence on her for conversion Order placement specific Distribution (& re-distribution)

Lisa’s Solution • Centralized automated conversion with bookmark, hyperlink, etc. support • Automated document assembly • Repurpose PDF documents automatically • Send via email distribution list

How it will work

PDF Technologies Used • Form Design & Entry – Adobe Acrobat • Conversion Server – active. PDF Doc. Converter – Adlib e. Xpress Server – Adobe Elements Server • Document Assembly – active. PDF Toolkit – Appligent Append. PDF Pro • Automated Repurposing – PDF Sages/Apago PDF Enhancer – Enfocus Pit. Stop Server

Desktopaholic #4 “Paul”

FGC Form God Complex

Paul’s Obstacles • • • Too many to mention? Local Save for intermediate storage Obvious solution is Reader Extensions Or is it? No budget OK, he can have $2, 000

Paul’s Solution “Round Tripping”

How it works

PDF Technologies Used • Form Design – Adobe Acrobat • Form Entry – Adobe Reader • Form Fill for Round Tripping – active. PDF Toolkit – Appligent FDFMerge

Getting it to work 1. Create a hidden form field called “Template” and set the value to the name of the PDF 2. Set the click action for the Submit button to do an HTTP POST. 3. For active. PDF Toolkit create the following script:

Set R = For TK = Server. Create. Object(“APToolkit. Object”) TK. Open. Output. File(“MEMORY”) TK. Open. Input. File(Request. Form(“Template”) each Field. Name in Request. Form TK. Set. Form. Field. Data Field. Name, Request(Field. Name), 1 Next TK. Close. Output. File Response. Binary. Write(TK. Output. Byte. Stream)

Desktopaholic #5 “Peter”

ADP Acrobat Distribution Phobia

Peter’s Obstacles • • Creation from the Desktop mandated Standardized settings “Intelligent” PDF Ease of installation

Peter’s Solution • Centralized PDF Creation • Acts as a Printer Driver • Seamless to the user

How it works

PDF Technologies Used • Centralized PDF Server – Adobe Distiller Server – Global Graphics Jaws PDF Server

Desktopaholic #6 “Ted”

PCHS PDF Creation Hostility Syndrome

Ted’s Solution • Talk to Peter • Createpdf. adobe. com • www. primopdf. com

Common Underlying Threads • • • One “go to” person Cost reduction Standardization Repetitive tasks Data collection and repurposing

What about those $39 programs that run on a server • You get what you pay for • Is the vendor dedicated to PDF or are they looking for a quick buck? • Is it really designed to run on a server

5 Ways to tell that a program is really just a desktop application running on a server. 1. 2. 3. 4. Requires that someone always be logged in. Runs as a tray icon. Benchmarks are based on 10 documents Price list includes desktop and server (excludes programming API’s ) 5. Last week they only had a desktop version…this week viola!

5 Ways to tell that it’s really a server program. 1. It doesn’t care who’s logged in because it installs as a service. 2. Benchmarks include thousands, if not tens of or hundreds of thousands of documents. 3. The company’s webpage actually lists a phone number. 4. Last year they only had a server version…now they are just starting to thinking about desktop. 5. It costs more than lunch (Open Source excluded )

Desktop or Server How do you choose? • Decide if it’s what you really need or want. With power comes headaches. • If you don’t have the people resources to implement a server solution, hire them, learn it yourself or stick with the desktop. • You can always use our method…