Introduction

The PDF Prep Tool Suite enables you to create PDF documents and manipulate PDF documents based on existing PDF files or parts thereof, controlled by a simple API. The PDF Prep Tool Suite is the most versatile PDF manipulation tool available and can merge, split, stamp, fill forms, encrypt, extract, annotate, optimize for fast web viewing and much more.

The PDF Prep Tool Suite includes the 3-Heights™ Image to PDF Converter for image import capability. Practically all PDF creation and processing functions are supported.

Brief Description

Performance Characteristics

• Fully programmable PDF processing: merge, split, stamp, fill forms, encrypt, extract, annotate, optimize for fast web viewing and much more 
• Extensive flexibility and individuality
• Easy to control
• Easy integration
• High throughput
• Versatile in use

Areas of Use

• Document workflow
• Web-based form management
• Output management and publishing 
• Archiving

Functions

• Merge PDF pages from existing documents (Combine)
• Extract PDF pages from existing documents (Split)
• Add content such as logos, watermarks and page numbers to PDF documents in foreground and background layers
• Add a new PDF page and create its content such as text, images or graphics from scratch
• Extract text from a PDF page's content including font and position information
• Add and fill in form fields
• Retrieve form fields
• Flatten form fields
• Add and retrieve PDF link and text annotations
• Add outlines (bookmarks)
• Retrieve bookmarks
• Set and retrieve document level information such as the author, title, etc. as well as custom entries 
• Read encrypted PDF files
• Encrypt a PDF file using passwords and permission flags
• Optimize a PDF file for fast web viewing (linearize) 

Sectors

• Software manufacturers / OEM
• IT service providers
• Public sector
• Energy providers
• Telecommunications
• Banking and insurance
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Industrial and high-tech companies

Functions

The PDF Prep Tool Suite is a versatile programming toolkit that contains practically all of the functions used in the processing of PDF documents. The PDF Prep Tool Suite can create new PDF documents based on exisiting PDF files or parts thereof, can import images into the PDF, and can perform a wide range of processing functions.

Functions

• Merge PDF pages from existing documents (Combine)
• Extract PDF pages from existing documents (Split)
• Add content such as logos, watermarks and page numbers to PDF documents in foreground and background layers
• Add a new PDF page and create its content such as text, images or graphics from scratch
• Extract text from a PDF page's content including font and position information
• Add and fill in form fields
• Retrieve form fields
• Flatten form fields
• Add and retrieve PDF link and text annotations
• Add outlines (bookmarks)
• Retrieve bookmarks
• Set and retrieve document level information such as the author, title, etc. as well as custom entries 
• Read encrypted PDF files
• Encrypt a PDF file using passwords and permission flags
• Optimize a PDF file for fast web viewing (linearize) 

The PDF Prep Tool Suite includes the 3-Heights™ Image to PDF Converter, allowing you to import raster images into PDF documents.
 

Formats

Input Formats

• PDF
• Images (JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, BMP...) 

Target Formats

• PDF 

Benefits

Properties and Benefits

The PDF Prep Tool Suite does not require any third-party software. It enables you to create PDF documents and manipulate PDF documents based on existing PDF files or parts thereof, controlled by a simple API. The PDF Prep Tool Suite is the most versatile PDF manipulation tool available.

Performance Characteristics

• Fully programmable PDF processing: merge, split, stamp, fill forms, encrypt, extract, optimize for fast web viewing....
• Extensive flexibility and individuality
• Easy to control
• Easy integration
• High throughput
• Versatile in use
• Thread-safe (high performance server based multi-threaded computing)

Areas of Use

Document Workflow

Using the PDF Prep Tool Suite in document workflow processes enables you to create and manipulate PDF documents based on your needs. Files can be created, merged, split, combined, optimized for fast web viewing, encrypted, enhanced, commented, watermarked, stamped and much more.

Web-based Form Management

The PDF Prep Tool Suite can support the automated creation of personalized PDF forms into which database content such as customer address details or article details is filled directly.

Areas of Use

• Document workflow
• Web-based form management
• Output management and publishing
• Archiving

Output Management and Publishing

Using the PDF Prep Tool Suite in the field of output management enables you to effortlessly mark files with specific properties, for instance as a copy or a confidential document, without having to change the actual basic content. It is also possible to apply logos and watermarks automatically and in accordance with your specific requirements.

Files can be optimized for fast web viewing and merged together to reduce the number of files that have to be handled. Annotations can be added to include visible or invisible information for further processing steps (e.g. printing and packing machines), and the files can be encrpyted to restrict access and manage permissions.

Archiving

The PDF Prep Tool Suite can be used to prepare files for archiving, for example extract content for indexing, optimize for quick viewing, encrypt files to restrict access.

Sectors

• Software manufacturers / OEM
• IT service providers (e.g. Output Management)
• Public sector
• Energy providers
• Telecommunications
• Banking and insurance
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Industrial and high-tech companies

Technical Details

Architecture and Application Options

The PDF Prep Tool Suite is available as a programming interface for integration in existing applications (Application Programming Interface, API)

Product Variants

• API (application programming interface) 

Formats

Input Formats

• PDF 1.x
• Images (JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, BMP...)

Target Formats

• PDF 1.x

Platforms

Operating Systems

• Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7 – 32 and 64 bit
• FreeBSD 4.7 for Intel
• HP-UX 11i – 32 bit
• HP-UX IA64 (Itanium)
• IBM AIX (4.3: 32 Bit, 5.1: 64 bit)
• Linux (SuSE and Red Hat on Intel)
• Mac OS X
• Sun Solaris (2.7 and higher)

Interfaces and Languages

Interfaces

• API (SDK): C, Java, COM

Programming Languages

• C and C++ via native C
• Java via JNI
• MS Visual Basic, C++ and MS-Office products (VBA) such as Access via COM
• .NET languages (C#, VB, J#, etc.) via COM
• Borland Delphi via COM 

Product Code

PTS

Related Products

• PDF Command Line Suite

Further Product Details

The PDF Prep Tool Suite enables you to create PDF documents and manipulate PDF documents based on existing PDF files or parts thereof, controlled by a simple API.

The 3-Heights™ Image to PDF Converter is included in the suite, providing image import capability. Java support is also included by default in the product.