Acrobat User Forum

At last, a 'Mars attacks' graphic

2007-01-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

It turns out that Michael Jahn will be on a panel later this month that will discuss XPS printers. He is also looking at Mars, as shown in the graphic. There may be more in his blog so the meeting on thursday is just a start in an area we know not much at the moment.

Mars, XML, Global Graphics

2007-01-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Ahead of an informal meeting next week, this is to invite comment if anyone knows about Mars or Global Graphics and XML paper.

So far there is not a lot known about Mars or what Global Graphics is doing. They have done something with HP and there are Japanese printer companies doing something but details are scarce.

XML info please.

PDF on Server, XML, Flex, Open Source

2006-01-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

This blog could start up again with contributions from people who have been involved with the Acrobat User Forum so far. Please contact if you would like to be added as a contributor.

auf2004@gmail.com

One issue that strikes me is the apparent gap between desktop Acrobat for 'knowledge workers' and the LiveCycle server products for the enterprise. I can't see why they are not part of the same discussion. They are in different business units as part of marketing segments but i think a user group can cover both aspects.

It is not clear how Macromedia Flex approach will fit with Adobe. It seems to be another way to work with XML data. I think a user group scope should cover XML including open source options.

Meeting at Slug and Lettuce Thursday after Adobe Live

2005-05-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Starting this blog up again. I think it is ok for comments but can't remember.

Another AUF meeting coming up. This could be the last time that pre-press is an issue. It will continue of course but probably not as something people will go out of their way for an evening meeting. The AUF can move on to 'intelligent documents' etc.

One new development is that there is a form on the Defra site using Reader Extensions. Most examples on the Adobe websites are from the US. So it is a new phase for there to be a UK example actually working.

More on affordability

2004-06-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

There is a report at PDFzone

Targetting Fortune 500 companies implies a price level that is a bit difficult for most people.

Can Adobe server software be afforded?

2004-05-31T01:45:00.000-07:00

Cost is one aspect of software. There is an impression that Reader Extensions can be expensive. Is this still true? Possibilities change but remain fairly complicated.

Long ago the Reader started out as a $50 charge. A few people tried it out.

Is server software at a similar stage? Some governments and large financial companies are starting projects. Will there be a time when most companies use similar software? Will this be at a different level of prices?

At Seybold Amsterdam the wish genie was asked this question yet again. Stephan Jaeggi mentioned collaboration as a particular aspect that could be widely useful if it could be afforded. Comment on text would contribute to learning. At the moment educational budgets cannot afford full Acrobat on every desk, or the server equivalent.

PHP possibility

2004-05-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

I have come across a PHP sort of way to create PDF

http://www.ros.co.nz/pdf/

Seems stuck at version 0.9 so there may be a similar problem as with Apache.

Still, the test works ok.

Any experience with open source and PHP as a route to PDF?

PDF archive standard

2004-05-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.aiim.org/pdf_a/

Is there any UK site where the archive standard is being used or studied?

It seems to be a limited form of PDF that will cause fewer problems, similar to PDF/X for pre-press. But what happens to PDF that fails to conform? Can this be archived somewhere else?

Apache and SVG

2004-05-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

At Seybold it was generally agreed that the Apache software to create PDF from XML needed much more work. This whole area was new to me. Can anyone explain a bit more about 'XSL-FO' . At the software parc drupa there was more in this area but i didn't have time to look at it. Any ideas?

Sending JDF with PDF over the web

2004-05-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

At drupa there are many possible ways on show that combine a PDF with JDF online. Courier is available now. The Enfocus approach is interesting in using the data within the PDf for transport. What else is happening?

Is Adobe PDF Jobready being used anywhere. Not much sign of this at drupa. I don't think Datalogics was there. The demo of JDF in Acrobat or InDesign made no mention of what happens on the server, so far as I could discover.

UK case studies

2004-05-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

defra is one uk case study using Reader Extensions.
Are there any others?
Are there some forms that can be looked at?

SVG

2004-05-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Comparing David Brailsford's keynote this year with his slides from Digital Solutions last year, it seems that SVG is getting more support. Why is this?

test post

2004-05-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

This is a first post to see if this is working.

The AUF will meet on June 2nd so there could be some discussion online around this.

There will be different posts for the main issues. The comment feature is new in Blogger as such.