How to programmatically convert documents into adobe PDF

[gasparuben]

Hello,

I would like to know how would you recommend me to invoke programmatically e.g. from a Microsoft Office application, the "Save as Adobe PDF" functionality? Which programmatic languages are available? Has Adobe a command line? I guess it doesn't

I mention Microsoft office as many of our users tend to convert office docs to PDF but I wouldn't exclude any other method to convert to PDF by-passing the application that generated the original document, e.g. using some kind of COM object for example.

Ultimately we would like to have a kind of conversion service where users submit there documents and we just send them back converted e.g. similar to neevia.com product.

Thank you,

Ruben

[Test Screen Name]

1. Adobe isn't a specific product, but the company. Adobe Acrobat Reader can't make PDFs. Adobe Acrobat does have an API (not a command line) for conversion, though it's not ideal.

2. Save as PDF in Word is NOTHING to do with any Adobe software. It is part of Word and any programmatic access is down to Microsoft. Adobe's PDF creator add on puts the Acrobat ribbon into Word - and does a better job.

3. For the long term, Acrobat cannot be used on a server/as a service. Technically unsuitable and license forbids it. Look instead for Adobe's product "LiveCycle PDF Generator" (that specific name, not any other LiveCycle product).

[gasparuben]

1. Ok.

2. Yes, I meant the ribbon functionality that it's also accessible in our case, once we have Adobe Acrobat pro installed on the desktop, as a "Save As Adobe PDF" bottom once you click on "File" on a Ms Office application. Indeed the native to PDF conversion is not as complete as the Adobe one.

3. I have read that the LifeCycle product uses the native embedded in a particular office application conversion to PDF not the Adobe one (Adobe LiveCycle ES4 * Generate PDF Service ) which will not help here. It does use the Adobe functionality to convert from PDF to an office format.

Thank you!

Ruben

[Test Screen Name]

That's an interesting observation. You may need to contact support for this product to find what it really does. I had assumed (bad thing) that it used PDFMaker. PDFMaker is a complex add-on for Word which uses both Word features AND Acrobat features to make good PDF. The Office app is always needed, but it seems to say more than that. Certainly, if this does not do it, Adobe do not offer any alternative either.

[maxwyss]

As Adobe does not really have something you are looking for, you might have a look at the products of PDF-Tools AG . They definitely have solutions in PDF creation from Word (and other MS Office products).