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Server-side PDF Moving beyond one at a time

Server-side PDF Moving beyond one at a time. Tim Sullivan activePDF, Inc. So why are you here today?. You have nothing better to do at 8:30am You have to go back with something interesting to your boss. You’re kind of interested in server PDF technology

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Server-side PDF Moving beyond one at a time

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

  2. So why are you here today? • You have nothing better to do at 8:30am • 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

  3. What’s going to be covered? • This is not a product “shoot out” • The how’s and why’s of going to server-based 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

  4. So…why server-based PDF? • “I can do that with Acrobat” • “That’s cool and all, but out 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”

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

  6. Desktopaholic #1“George”

  7. TMDPS Too Much Damn Paper Syndrome

  8. George’s Obstacles • Disparate input document sources • Statutory requirements for document retention • Legislative requirements for document availability • Current workflow is entirely paper-based

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

  10. How it will work

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

  12. PDF Technologies Used • Conversion Server • activePDF DocConverter • Adlib eXpress Server • Document Markup • Adobe Acrobat • Stamping & Signing • Appligent FDFMerge, StampPDF Pro & SecureSign • activePDF Toolkit

  13. Desktopaholic #2“Judy”

  14. DSD Data Storage Disorder

  15. 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

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

  17. How it will work

  18. PDF Technologies Used • Form Design • Adobe Acrobat • Amgraf OneForm Designer • Form Entry • Adobe Reader • 3rd Party Data Storage • FormRouter.Net • Repurposing Data via Form Fill • activePDF Toolkit • Appligent FDFMerge • PDFLib Personalization Server

  19. Desktopaholic #3“Lisa”

  20. DAH Document Assembly Hysteria

  21. 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)

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

  23. How it will work

  24. PDF Technologies Used • Form Design & Entry • Adobe Acrobat • Conversion Server • activePDF DocConverter • Adlib eXpress Server • Adobe Elements Server • Document Assembly • activePDF Toolkit • Appligent AppendPDF Pro • Automated Repurposing • PDF Sages/Apago PDF Enhancer • Enfocus PitStop Server

  25. Desktopaholic #4“Paul”

  26. FGC Form God Complex

  27. 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

  28. Paul’s Solution “Round Tripping”

  29. How it works

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

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

  32. Set TK = Server.CreateObject(“APToolkit.Object”) R = TK.OpenOutputFile(“MEMORY”) R = TK.OpenInputFile(Request.Form(“Template”) For each FieldName in Request.Form TK.SetFormFieldData FieldName, Request(FieldName), 1 Next TK.CloseOutputFile Response.BinaryWrite(TK.OutputByteStream)

  33. Desktopaholic #5“Peter”

  34. ADP Acrobat Distribution Phobia

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

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

  37. How it works

  38. PDF Technologies Used • Centralized PDF Server • Adobe Distiller Server • Global Graphics Jaws PDF Server

  39. Desktopaholic #6“Ted”

  40. PCHS PDF Creation Hostility Syndrome

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

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

  43. 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

  44. 5 Ways to tell that a program is really just a desktop application running on a server. • 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 ) • Last week they only had a desktop version…this week viola!

  45. 5 Ways to tell that it’s really a server program. • It doesn’t care who’s logged in because it installs as a service. • Benchmarks include thousands, if not tens of or hundreds of thousands of documents. • The company’s webpage actually lists a phone number. • Last year they only had a server version…now they are just starting to thinking about desktop. • It costs more than lunch (Open Source excluded )

  46. Desktop or ServerHow 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…

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