Acrobat 7.0 takes PDFs documents enterprise-wide

Intelligent documents – rendered both as viewable PDFs and machine-readable XML, and with a common set of services – just went one important step further, with Adobe’s introduction of Acrobat 7.0 bringing in CAD content and flexible online workgroup review. Adobe – the second largest provider of desktop software, and with PDF and PostScript standards to its credit – has already moved way beyond desktop publishing, but in Acrobat 7.0, firmly asserts its right to be a pivotal enterprise player. And the universality of PDFs and free readers guarantee acceptance. We’re talking about audit trails, collaboration and automatic management of unstructured data, with all the benefits of workflow and review tools. Workgroups, for example, can use Acrobat 7.0 and Adobe PDF to manage activities like assembling documents from multiple sources, creating intelligent forms, and co-operating on projects inside and outside the firewall. Virtually anyone can now be included in electronic reviews of PDFs, with tools managing multiple content types – from scanned paper to spreadsheets and presentations, as well as 3D CAD output. There’s also enhanced integration with Adobe LiveCycle software for document/business services, while the Adobe LiveCycle Designer (on the Professional version) form design tool means you can create XML and PDF forms to integrate with your corporate backbone systems. Also, Acrobat 7.0 Professional and Standard versions are integrated with LiveCycle Policy Server – the key to applying and managing document policies, access control, auditing and so on PDF documents. Acrobat 7.0 Professional lists at £395 for Mac and Windows platforms.