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shawntp
Participant
August 25, 2022
Question

Can you use the Acrobat SDK/Javascript without the Adobe Acrobat Product?

  • August 25, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 340 views

I am a developer and work with a documentation team that generates PDFs and then a set of PDX/idx files to seach all the documents.  I see there seems to be a way to rebuild the index (idx) from the javascript console/SDK.  Is the SDK portable to the point where I can call/use this on a remote build server without a licensed version of Adobe Acrobat or does use of the SDK/Javascript console require a licensed version of the Acrobat desktop application?

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2 replies

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
August 25, 2022

Pretty sure that you're right; never seen any reference to PDF index files anywhere outside Acrobat. Don't think it's in the Adobe PDF SDK.

    Thom Parker
    Community Expert
    Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 25, 2022

    The JavaScript model is specifically for Acrobat. The Acrobat license does not allow it to be used on a server.

    However, I'm pretty sure that the stand-alone Adobe PDF SDK, which can be used on a server, also implements the non-UI parts of the JS model. You can purchase a license for this tool through DataLogic. 

     

    That said, the Acrobat JS model provides a way to build catalog files because it's a feature of Acrobat. I don't think this is a general part of the PDF SDK.  Although Datalogics or some other third party developer may provide a tool for doing this. I think you would be better served by looking in that direction.  

     

    Just a note, I don't use idx files so I'm not up to date on the status of this technology, but I'm not sure they are still in use.

     

    Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
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