PDFlib 8.0.0 Beta 1

PDFlib is a development tool for PDF-enabling your software, or generating PDF on your server. PDFlib offers a simple-to-use API for programmatically creating PDF files from within your own server- or client-side software.

PDFlib doesn't require any other tools and doesn't make use of third-party software for generating PDF.

Here are some key features of "PDFlib":

· PDF/A for archiving: PDFlib can generate output according to the PDF/A-1a and PDF/A-1b standards, formally known as ISO 19005-1. PDF/A specifies a standardized subset of PDF for long-term preservation and archiving of PDF documents.
· Table formatting: new table formatter which automatically places rows and columns, and splits tables across multiple pages.
· 3D animations: 3D animations in the U3D format can be embedded in the PDF output. Actions can be defined to interact with 3D animations
· AES algorithm: PDFlib supports 128-bit encryption with the AES algorithm (Advanced Encryption Standard)
· Integrated pCOS: PDFlib+PDI now includes the pCOS 2.0 interface. It can be used to query arbitrary properties of an existing PDF document via a simple path syntax.
· XMP metadata: PDFlib automatically creates XMP metadata from document info fields.
· XMP extension schemas for PDF/A-1 with full validation
· Layers: important for CAD and engineering applications; all layer control features available in PDF 1.5;
· Text formatting: automatic multiline formatting; Unicode text, ragged or justified text, arbitrary font changes, multi-line body text or large tables. Blocks with multi-line text and reflow.
· Tagged PDF: accessible PDF according to section 508
· Linearized PDF: also known as web-optimized PDF (byteserving); page-at-a-time download when viewing PDFs in the Web browser.
· Form fields: All types of PDF form fields can be generated and enhanced with JavaScript and other actions.
· PDF/X for Prepress: supports 2003 editions of the ISO PDF/X standards for prepress (PDF/X-1a:2003, PDF/X-2:2003, and PDF/X-3:2003).
· OPI for Prepress: options for adding OPI information to imported images.
· Fonts: full Unicode and CJK support; kerning, subsetting, Type 3 fonts
· Images: BMP and JPEG2000 support, image formatting options, soft masks
· Personalization: block plugin for adding personalization info to PDF pages
· Prepress: PDF/X support, color management with ICC profiles, CIE L*a*b* color, built-in Pantone and HKS spot color
· Graphics: smooth shadings, transparency, blends, overprint control
· Hypertext: named destinations, bookmark targets, improved coordinate handling

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· External graphical content (Reference XObjects)
· Layer variants (also called layer configurations)
· PDF Portfolios
· Georeferenced PDF
· AES-256 encryption and Unicode passwords
· PDFlib+PDI and PPS can import and process Acrobat 9 documents.
· Font Handling and Text Output
Quite a number of new typographical features can be found in PDFlib 8. Please see here for details of these features:
· Complex script shaping and bidirectional formatting
· Fallback fonts
· OpenType layout features
· Retain fonts across documents
· SING fonts for CJK Gaiji characters
· Redesigned font engine
· Wrap text around image clipping paths
· Text on a path