Glossary | Talking PDF

Acrobat JavaScript - Acrobat JavaScript is a cross-platform scripting language. Through its JavaScript extensions, Acrobat exposes much of the functionality of Acrobat and its plug-ins to the document author. Acrobat JavaScript objects, properties and methods can also be accessed through Visual Basic or C#. Note that you cannot access the actual page contents via JavaScript. Use Plug-ins if […]
Acrobat plug-ins - Acrobat Plug-ins are dynamically-linked extensions to Acrobat or Adobe Reader. They can hook into the user interface in a number of ways and can register to be called when a variety of events occur in the application. An Acrobat plug-in is a program written in ANSI C or C++.
Acrobat SDK - The Acrobat Software Development Kit (SDK) is a set of tools that help you develop software that interacts with Acrobat technology. There are really three separate SDK’s that make up the Acrobat SDK: 1. Acrobat JavaScript—Script embedded directly into the document. See Acrobat JavaScript. 2. Plug-ins for Acrobat and Acrobat Reader—Written using the C or C++ […]
Adobe Acrobat - Adobe Acrobat consists of a family of products for creating, modifying, indexing, searching, displaying, and manipulating PDF (Portable Document Format) files. Adobe Reader is for viewing, navigating, and printing PDF documents. Adobe Reader is free software that lets anyone view and print Adobe PDF files on all major computer platforms, as well as fill in […]
Adobe Reader - Adobe Reader software is the standard for PDF (Portable Document Format) document sharing. It is the only PDF file viewer that can open and interact with all PDF documents. Adobe Reader is for viewing, navigating, and printing PDF documents. Adobe Reader is free software that lets anyone view and print Adobe PDF files on all […]
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) - The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) was adopted by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to replace the Data Encryption Standard (DES). With regard to PDF; Adobe added 128 bit AES to PDF 1.7; and, 256 bit AES to PDF 1.8.
Annotation - In PDF, an annotation is an item separate from the page content which is located in a layer above the page content. For example, like a Post-It® note is located over the text of a page. Annotations can take many forms. The following is a list of the most common annotations used in PDF: Markup […]
Application Programming Interface (API) - A set of tools and/or calling conventions typically developed by a group which allows other programmers or advanced users to alter or enhance the capabilities of an application developed by the group. For example with regard to Acrobat, Adobe makes available an API for the C programming language which allows developers to build plug-ins for […]
Bitmap Image - One of two major graphics types, also called a raster image. (The other type is a vector image). Bitmap graphics are made up of individual pixels or dots, each of which is assigned a color. Digital photographs and scanned images are examples of bitmap graphics.
Bookmarks - The Acrobat user interface uses the term “Bookmarks” for a collection of document placeholders. In the Acrobat user interface the Bookmarks are displayed in separate window pane located to the left side of the document window. Note: In the PDF Reference and ISO-32000; the term used is “Outlines”.
Certified Mode - Certified mode is in Acrobat 8.0 and later. Certified mode is set in Acrobat Preferences, and insures that only Adobe-certified third-party plug-ins are loaded. This option is used only when there is reason to prevent third-party plug-ins to interact with your PDF documents.
Cipher - A message written in secret code. or A secret method of writing. See Encryption.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) - Title 1 of the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 restricts the legal use of software with respect to modifying encrypted documents. Appligent Document Solutions software will only permit the modification of encrypted documents when the owner password is supplied. Implementers should be aware that not all PDF modification software complies with the DMCA. […]
Digital Signature - A digital signature is a process performed on a data stream that is based on the use of public key cryptography and cryptographic message digests. The purpose and function of a digital signature is twofold: Determine the data “signed” has not been altered Determine the person or entity who signed the data has been authenticated. […]
Encryption - “To alter (a file, for example) using a secret code so as to be unintelligible to unauthorized parties.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. See Cipher.
Exemption Code - A word or group characters that indicates the reason for redacting a specific piece of information.
eXtensible Metadata Platform (XMP) - eXtensible Metadata Platform is an XML grammar for representing document metadata. XMP is a subset of Resource Description Format (RDF).
Form Field - A PDF form field is a type of “Widget” annotation whose purpose is to allow an end user to interactively enter data in a manner similar to filling in a paper based form. Following is the list of available field types: Text Button Check Box Radio Button Choice Signature Form fields within PDF are extensible; […]
Form Flattening - Form Flattening is a technique developed by Appligent in 2001; whereby, the data contained within a PDF form field is drawn directly to the page as page content; and, the original form field is removed from the document. PDF form fields; sometimes referred to as AcroForms, are a type of PDF annotation similar to hyperlinks […]
Forms Data Format (FDF) - A Forms Data Format (FDF) file is a formatted ASCII file which contains key:value pairs defining the ﬁeld names and associated values that are used to populate a form. Forms Data Format (FDF) is defined in the international stand for Portable Document Format; ISO-32000. See ISO-32000-1:2008 Section 12.7.7. Following is an example of a simple FDF file: […]
ISO 32000 - Portable Document Format (PDF) is now ISO 32000-1:2008 based on the PDF Reference 1.7., an International Standard and a publication of the International Standards Organization (ISO). The document is managed by a democratically organized and open committee of subject matter experts through ISO’s Technical Committee TC 171, Administered by ANSI and AIIM. The official document may be purchased from the ISO website: ISO […]
Message Digest - A message digest is a mathematical function that creates a fixed length data item, also known as a one-way hash, in a PDF document when it is digitally signed. Any tampering or changes in the document will result in a different message digest alerting Acrobat or the Reader that the document has been changed.
OCR – Optical Character Recognition - Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the process of reading printed, typed or handwritten text (usually by scanning) and translating it into an electronic format that can be manipulated by a computer.
PDF – Portable Document Format - There’s so much to PDF it is difficult to define precisely. Following is the official definition from the PDF Reference 1.6 Chapter 2: “THE ADOBE PORTABLE DOCUMENT FORMAT (PDF) is a file format for representing documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system used to create them and of the output […]
PDF Association - The PDF Association is a key independent organization working for the understanding and adoption of International Standards for PDF by vendors, customers and governments. Their mission is to “promote Open Standards-based electronic document implementations using PDF technology through education, expertise and shared experience for stakeholders worldwide.” Visit pdfa.org for more information.
PDF/A – PDF Archive - PDF/A is an ISO standard that specifies the use of PDF for the long-term preservation of compound documents as electronic data. The key requirement for PDF/A documents is complete self-containment such that all information necessary for consistent long-term display is embedded in the file. PDF/A-1 is currently based on Adobe’s PDF 1.4. PDF/A-2 and PDF/A-3 are based on […]
PDF/E – PDF for Engineering - Proposed ISO standard tailored for complex engineering documentation used in manufacturing, AEC, and geospatial; subset of Adobe PDF 1.6. Addresses primary areas of concern: Accurate and predictable document behavior Review and commenting support Including complex 3D and metadata in PDF Participants include Adobe, Bentley, Solidworks, Autodesk, Hewlett Packard, Océ, Intel, US Army Corps, NGA, UGS, […]
PDF/UA – PDF for Universal Accessibility – ISO 14289 - PDF/UA is the ISO standard, ISO 14289-1 published in 2012, that provides a set of guidelines for producing universally accessible PDF documents as well as specifications for compliant assistive technology (such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, or joysticks) and PDF reading software. If the PDF/UA technical and semantic requirements are followed, universally accessible files can be created […]
PDF/VT – PDF for Variable and Transactional Printing - PDF/VT is an ISO standard published in 2010 as ISO 16612-2. It is a PDF file format designed for variable data printing (where content changes for each recipient, e.g., direct mailings) and transactional printing (e.g., invoices, statements and transpromotional communications). See PDF/VT for more information.
PDF/X - PDF/X is a subset of the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) specification that is intended to reflect best practices in graphic arts file exchange. PDF/X-1a restricts the content in a PDF document that does not directly serve the purpose of high-quality print production output, such as annotations, Java Actions, and embedded multimedia. See PDF/X for […]
Postscript - Postscript is a page description language developed by Adobe Systems, Inc. Documentation for Postscript can be found on the Adobe site at the following URL: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/postscript/ Additional information on Postscript can be found on the Fermilab site: http://www-cdf.fnal.gov/offline/PostScript/AdobePS.html
Public Key Cipher - Public key is also known as public-private key. A cryptographic algorithm which uses two different keys to encrypt and decrypt information. Data encrypted using one key can be decrypted using the other key. The mechanism works in reverse as well. Typically, one key is kept private; while the other key is distributed to the public.
RC4 Stream Cipher - RC4 is the name of a symmetric key stream cipher algorithm.
Recto Verso - Recto Verso is the process of printing or stamping on one side of odd-numbered pages and the other side of even-numbered pages, a typical practice for bound documents. All Appligent Document Solutions’ software that performs stamping can support Recto Verso stamping and numbering.
Redaction - “Redact – to obscure or remove from a document prior to publication or release” Source: Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary Redaction is a daily process for any organization which possesses, distributes or selectively releases classified, sensitive or private information. For example, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) mandates public access to many documents once sensitive content is […]
Software Development Kit (SDK) - A software development kit is a set of programming tools which allow third party developers access to enhance or modify the behavior of an application or library. Typically, this is done without giving the third party developers access to the original source code of the application or library. See Acrobat SDK.
Vector Image - One of two major graphic types. (The other type is a bitmap image). Vector graphics are made up of paths — mathematically defined lines and curves with specific start and end points. Line drawings and animations are examples of vector images.