Future of Adobe: Portable Document Format (PDF)
Michael Hankins
Department of Computer Science
University of Wisconsin Platteville
hankinsm@uwplatt.edu
Abstract
Portable Document Format (PDF) has been around for over twenty years. It was first thought of
by a man named John E. Warnock, co-founder of Adobe, back in 1991. [3] The original concept
behind the PDF was to make companies’ documents into a file format that could be sent
anywhere in the company, viewed on any machine, and on any operating system. [1] The
concept has evolved over time to incorporate new media and to adapt to the growing needs of
now-a-days corporate file and archiving systems. This paper will go over the history of Adobe
and its flagship creation the PDF. It will also talk about how the PDF has been adapted to the
needs of today’s corporate world and the general public. Finally, it will go over the development
processes of Adobe along with other sources to forecast the future of the PDF and its
competitors.
History of Adobe and the PDF
Adobe Systems, Inc. was founded by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. Before that
they had worked in Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). [2] There they were inspired to
start Adobe while they were researching device-independent graphic systems. When they created
Adobe they wanted to find a way to translate images and digital text so they could be printed on
to paper. Two years later they released Adobe Postscript and soon after they released Illustrator,
Photoshop and Type Manager. [1]
PDF 1.0
As time progressed through the 80’s into the early 90’s their products were revolutionizing the
print industry and began streamlining the print process. During this time they were refining their
Post Script language and with that they created a file format that that used Post Script, the PDF.
In June 1993 Adobe released this new file format along with software, code name ‘Camelot’, to
create and view PDF 1.0 files. They later renamed the software ‘Carousel’ and now-a-days it is
known as Acrobat. Back then on average you needed to pay around $1000 dollars to get Acrobat
and an extra $50 dollars to get Acrobat Reader. This pricing did not go over well so later Adobe
dropped the price of Acrobat and released a free version of Acrobat Reader. [1]
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PDF 1.1
In November 1994 Acrobat 2 came out along with a new file format, PDF 1.1. This new format
came with some new functionality such as adding notes to the file, adding external links and also
some security features were added. A little later Acrobat 2.1 was released which gave the user
the possibility of adding audio or video to a PDF. During this time the PDF had a few
competitors. The leading competitor to PDF was a product called Common Ground. Some other
competing products were called Envoy and DejaVu. [1]
PDF 1.2
November 1996 was the year that Acrobat 3.0 was released along with the first file format that
the print-media community could really use, PDF 1.2. Some functionality that was useful to this
community was the new ability to create forms along with support of the CMYK (Cyan Magenta
Yellow Key (or Black)) color palette. Also during this time the browser Netscape released a
plug-in that allowed users to view PDF files in their browsers. Along with this, Adobe added the
ability to link PDF files to HTML pages and for HTML pages to be linked to PDF files. [1]
In the next couple years, a variety of companies started adding plug-ins to their software to
support this emerging file format. Some companies of note were Enfocus with PitStop and
CheckUp and Global Graphics with the software named Harlequin RIP. This was a good thing
for Adobe but it also had a hindering effect on them as well. As these products hit the market,
customers were finding it hard to get into using PDF because it took know-how along with the
appropriate tools to make the files. Also, with all the companies jumping in to add functionality
to their software for this file format, a lot of ways were available to make valid PDF files but at
the same time not all of these ways were reliable. [1]
PDF 1.3
Acrobat 4.0 was released in April 1999 along with the new version of the file format, PDF 1.3.
This new PDF file came with support for annotations along with a new color space named
DeviceN. Also, this version had the ability to apply smooth shading which allows the user to
efficiently blend from one color/tint to another. Besides the file type coming with new features
the software came with new functionality as well. First of all, Acrobat 4.0 had support for pages
up to 200 in. x 200 in. Next, Acrobat Distiller came with preset configurations, which gave the
user a simpler way to make valid PDF files. Also, this software was able to easily integrate itself
into Microsoft Office. Finally, it was with this version that the old name Acrobat Exchange was
changed to version we know today, Acrobat, which coincidentally is also the name for the entire
suite. [1]
This version of Acrobat was released with a lot of bugs limiting its usefulness. When Adobe
released the patch to fix the bugs, they tried to charge the users for the patch, which did not go
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over well. Listening to their customers, Adobe released a free patch Acrobat 4.05 to registered
users. By the time this was released, PDF was already a widely accepted file format in the
information exchange market. Over 100 million copies of Acrobat Reader had been downloaded
online. In the printing world few people doubted the advantages of the PDF in the areas of file
exchange and troubleshooting. [1]
PDF 1.4
PDF version 1.4 was released in 2000 but it was not released with a new version of Acrobat or
the full specifications. Instead it was released with Illustrator 9 which came with some new
functionality; it had support for PDF 1.4’s transparency feature. A year later, in May 2001,
Acrobat 5 was released along with the full release of PDF 1.4 and its specifications. For the
printing community there were some nice features that Acrobat 5 offered. For instance, it offered
improved security with 128 bit encryption along with the option to set the quality of printing
such as high or low resolution. Another feature that this software offered is the ability to create
batch files which can be used to export folders filled with PDF files to other drives. Also users
were able to annotate files even better and could even do it across the internet. [1]
There were also some nice features for the general users as well. One feature was better support
for JavaScript including JavaScript 1.5 and also they added the ability to better integrate with
databases. They also added a new feature called ‘Tagged PDFs.’ These PDF files have
information on the structure of the data in the PDF (meaning that all the meta-data such as blocks
of text, titles and such can be a part of the PDF-document). This makes it so that the PDF-file
can adjust itself to the device it is being displayed on. This was brought about for ebooks which
were on the rise during that time. Also, since with this functionality PDF files could be adapted
to a large variety of systems, Adobe shipped a version of Acrobat Reader that is runnable on
PalmOS PDA’s. Along with this, the form-functionality was improved and the interface was
made to resemble Microsoft Office applications. Finally, Adobe added better export filters such
as PDF to Rich Text Format or RTF. This function allowed the appearance of the files to be
preserved when used in a word processor. [1]
PDF 1.5
Adobe announced Acrobat 6 in April 2003 and it was shipped out in May. PDF 1.5 came with
this release and had support for layers, had improved compression techniques including JPEG
2000 compression and it also had improved support for tagging PDF files. Acrobat 6
Professional came with a lot of new functions. Some of these were rulers and guides plus a PDF
optimizer. Others were a transparency flattener, a new measurement tool and a loop tool. Finally,
Adobe gave Acrobat 6 a new interface so that it was set up similar to their other Adobe
applications. [1]
PDF 1.6
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In January of 2005, Acrobat 7 was shipped out along with PDF 1.6. This new version of the file
format had a variety of advancements. For instance, PDF 1.6 had better encryption algorithms
along with a few additions to annotating and tagging. Also, they made it so that OpenType font
could be embedded into the PDF file instead of just PostScript Type or TrueType fonts. Another
thing they added was the ability to make the PDF file into a container file format so you could
embed other files into the PDF. Finally, a big feature that was added to this version was the
ability to embed 3D data into the file. This meant that architects, or anyone who knew how to
make 3D objects, could place CAD diagrams or other 3D data into the PDF. With this function,
it meant that you could take a 3D box and look at it from all angles from within the PDF file.
This could be used to check its design and the placement of symbols and such on the surface on
the box or whatever 3D object you placed in the file. [1]
PDF 1.7
The new version of this now well-known file format, PDF 1.7, did not have a whole lot of new
features: in fact, it was primarily an improvement on already established options. For example
Adobe added the ability to add comments to 3D objects and more control over the 3D animation.
They also added new options for printing such as being able to select the paper you are using, the
number of copies and the scale of the printed object. Acrobat 8, which was released in October
2006, came with a rather unique feature. Instead of having PDF 1.7 as its default file setting, it
used PDF 1.6. Also Acrobat 8 made it easier to save to older versions of PDF files. This was
implemented because even at that time, older versions such as PDF 1.3 and 1.4 were good
enough for printing and other markets that relied on PDF files. Along with that, Adobe also
organized the menus and toolbars better in Acrobat 8; plus they gave Adobe Reader 8 the
function to save forms. Finally in January 2008, PDF 1.7 became an ISO (International
Organization for Standardization) standard, ISO 32000-1:2008. Its official specifications were
released on July 1. [1]
Since PDF 1.7 is controlled by ISO’s PDF standard, Adobe was not able to release a new PDF
version with Acrobat 9. By this time, the PDF file had the ability to do some pretty impressive
things. For instance, it has an extension called Adobe Extension Level 3 which allowed
geospatial data to be embedded into the PDF file making it useful for maps. Since PDF is under
the ISO PDF standard, Adobe can make proposals for new ISO-certified releases. This also
means that other companies can make suggestions for new releases and even make requests to
change Adobe’s proposals. With all this going on the PDF is still evolving but because many
companies and organizations are getting involved, it is causing the committee to work much
slower. [1]
Acrobat 9 comes with a wide variety of options that are very useful for printing. These options
include the ability to place multiple files and data types into a Portfolio that acts like a ZIP file.
Along with that, it comes with a lot of built in tools. For instance, it comes with a Touch Up Text
Tool which can be hit-and-miss but does allow for word wrap. Another tool is the Crop Tool
which lets the user define an Artbox, BleedBox, CropBox, or a TrimBox. They also made their
Convert Colors faster and more powerful and can handle transparent objects well. Also they
added an option called Examine Document which gave you the ability to delete all objects that
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are completely outside of the page, (a CropBox issue) or outside the trim area (a TrimBox issue).
Another menu option they provided was called Output Preview which allowed you to simulate
the effects of a bunch of different printing conditions. Finally, a feature that is very useful in the
corporate world is the support Adobe placed in Acrobat 9 for AES-256 encryption. [1]
PDF/VT
In 2010, Acrobat X was released along with a new ISO standard called PDF/VT. The software
Acrobat X has the following functions and more. One thing it has is an improved Portfolio
function so that audio, video and other rich media sources could be embedded into the PDF
Portfolio. In the recent versions of Acrobat, there were a wide variety of security problems. To
solve this problem, Adobe put a Protected Mode into Acrobat X. This ability to place PDF files
in a ‘sandbox’ environment minimized the risk of opening possible infected PDF files by
confining them to a completely separate execution environment. Another feature that was
improved was the document comparison feature. This enhanced feature made it easier to bring in
many versions of the same PDF file to find out what the differences are between them. Finally,
Acrobat and Reader X are both still 32 bit applications but now 64 bit is supported. [1]
PDF/VT was released in the fall of 2010 as an ISO standard, ISO 16612-2. PDF/VT stands for
PDF Variable Transactional. This file format was built for variable data printing (VDP) in a
bunch of different environments including digital production presses and desktop printing. The
Variable part of this file format links to any time when something is printed and part of the
content is different for each person who receives the printed file. The Transactional part of
PDF/VT refers to printing business related documents such as invoices, statements and
something called a transpromo which is a document that combines billing information and
marketing information. PDF/VT files are a basic PDF 1.6 file but have a lot more advanced
features. For instance, transparency is allowed and all color data in the file can be one of many
palettes (grayscale, CMYK, RGB, and Lab along with others). The use of layers is also allowed
but they are not normal PDF layers which are called OCG (Optional Content Groups). They are
sophisticated OCCD (Optional Content Configuration Dictionary) layers which combine
multiple OCGs into a group. So if one PDF has a layer that has comments and another layer with
contact information they can be combined into a single ‘info’ OCCD layer. [14]
There are some limitations on this file format. One thing is encryption cannot be used. Another
limitation is all the fonts must be embedded into the file and OpenType fonts can be used. OPI
(the splitting of an image into a high resolution and low resolution version where the low
resolution image has a link to the high resolution image) is not allowed; instead, all of the image
data needs to be embedded into the file. Files inside of a PDF/VT file cannot have unprintable
annotations, movies or music. If the file does contain annotations, also known as sticky notes,
they must be located outside of the bleed area. Also, there are a limited amount of compression
algorithms available, JPEG 2000 being one of them. Finally, the file cannot contain forms or any
JavaScript code. [14]
One final comment on PDF/VT is that it was a “late bloomer” of sorts. What is meant by that
statement is that there are many other standards that have been on the market and are more
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widely used. The biggest one of these is PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language) which
was released in 2000. This standard is an XML (Extensible Markup Language) based printing
language that is in its 4th generation release already. [14]
Present Day Adobe Software and Development Procedures
Adobe Acrobat XI
Acrobat XI was released in 2012 and comes with a lot of new features that are tailored to the
needs of today’s users. [4] For instance, they have added the ability to edit images in a PDF file.
They have improved cropping, moving, resizing, and other image editing options so that it is as
easy as clicking on the image you want to adjust then clicking on the option you want to use.
Also, instead of having to search for the tools in the interface, as soon as you click on an image it
brings up the tools available to edit the image. The same point and click functionality applies to
text as well and all can be found in the Edit Text and Images option in the Right-click menu. [5]
Some other functionality that has been improved in Acrobat XI is the ability to convert your PDF
files to Word files. With this functionality, you can take an entire PDF file and save it as a Word
document and Acrobat XI will save all the formatting, font data and any other information and
directly port it to the Word document. Also, a new feature, similar to the one mentioned above, is
the ability to highlight the area of the PDF and save just that area as a Word file. Another thing
Adobe has done is they have sped up the process of copying and pasting parts of a PDF file into
a Word document fully formatted. Also you can make your PDF file into an editable Excel file as
well. This means that you have all the functionality as with converting to Word documents only
now you can apply that to spreadsheets. [6]
Another addition to Acrobat XI is an improvement on the Portfolio functionality that is found in
previous versions of Acrobat. For instance, you can merge information from projects and file
types such as spreadsheets, photos, web pages and others. Also, you can take all the files you
want to combine and preview them along with all the pages that makes them up. With that
preview mode you can drag and drop the individual pages and reorganize them in the order you
want before merging. [7]
All these features are an example of how Adobe is trying to create a user-friendly interface and
utilize that to adapt to the present day needs of the user. The new menu setup in the text and
image editing mode brings all the functionality needed to make the changes you want with just a
few simple clicks. The ability to take all the formatting, that is in the PDF file and to then save it
to a Word or Excel document along with the highlight then save option, plus the sped up copy
and paste functionality gives the user increased speed and flexibility to do what is needed with
their files. Finally, the new drag and drop organization for the Portfolio gives the user ease of use
and makes it simple to change the order of the documents instead of having to do all the moving
manually.
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Adobe Reader XI
This new version of Reader, Adobe Reader XI, once again comes with some interesting new
features. One feature it comes with is the ability to search multiple PDF files for words or
phrases that you wish to find. This version also comes with commenting tools like being able to
add sticky notes, highlight text, stamp, and type all the comments that you want anywhere you
want to place them on the file. [8] Another option that has been added to Adobe Reader XI is the
ability to get forms signed by first sending him/her the form to be signed. Then the user can open
it in the Adobe application called Adobe EchoSign and from there the user can sign and initial
the file either by typing in their initials, signing into a social networking site like facebook,
twitter, etc. or if you have a tablet or some sort of touch pad, manually writing it onto the file.
After that he/she can send it on to other people, print it or save it. [11]
All these features are made with the user in mind. For instance being able to search more than
one file at a time for a word helps the user find and fix their files quicker instead of doing them
one by one. Also, the commenting tools make it convenient to place your comments onto the
files instead of being limited to only certain places. Now the user can put the comment exactly
where she or he wants to put it. Finally, the EchoSign application really streamlines the business
process for all size businesses. Instead of faxing, they can just do all they need to do on the form
right at their personal computer. Also the options to use social networking sites as a way to
validate forms shows that Adobe is integrating itself into the social environment of the present.
Finally, the simplified manual signing of the form by using a touchscreen interface makes it
almost like the natural process of signing paper without needing the physical document.
Security Features of Adobe Acrobat/Reader XI
Acrobat XI and Reader XI were both created around the concept of security that is shown in the
variety of ways Adobe gave the user to protect their information. To put these security options
into general terms, Adobe implemented a Protected Mode for Reader XI and Protected View for
Acrobat XI. This is also partnered up with a closer integration into both the Microsoft Windows
and Mac OS X operating system architecture. Also, they have given their customers’ software
distributors, or IT team, improved deployment and administration tools along with other granular
controls. In addition to all this new functionality, Adobe’s Adobe Secure Software Engineering
Team (ASSET) along with Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) are
constantly working together to deliver newer and better ways to protect their user data. Also,
Adobe has partnered up the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP). This program
employs advance information sharing of vulnerabilities of many different brands and types of
software with security software providers that specialize in antivirus and intrusion detection and
prevention. This allows these companies more advance notice so they can get solutions out to
their clients quicker. [12]
To go into more detail about how these different security settings and features work the different
topics will be covered individually. The first topic covered will be the Protected Mode. Protected
Mode uses sandboxing technology to stop coders with devious intentions from using a PDF to
install malware and malicious programs. Adobe has achieved this by making Protected Mode
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enabled whenever you launch Adobe Reader XI and from there this mode limits the access that
the program has to the computers resources especially the operating system. With the access
level limited, it stops any ‘evil’ code from embedding into the file system and even deleting and
modifying the computer’s information. To get a better idea of what the sandboxing process
entails take a look at Figure 1 below. [12]
Figure 1: Adobe Protected Mode/Protected View Sandbox Process [12]
As you can see in the above figure, it shows the PDF inside the trust boundary with its restricted
access. Whenever this file needs to access something outside the sandbox it calls out to the
Reader software through IPC (Inter-process Communication). From there, Reader calls to the
necessary software through its API (Application Programming Interface) and then sends the PDF
file just the information or resource that it asked for so the file can perform the function it needs
to. [12]
The next topic will be Protected View. In Acrobat XI Protected View is similar to Protected
Mode in its basic setup and how it is always enabled but besides that, it has even more features.
This functionality does more than just protect from write-based attacks as described above. It
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also protects from read-based attacks that are used to steal data or other such property through
the use of PDF files. Also, Protected View works both when a PDF file is opened in Acrobat XI
and when they are opened within a browser. When a potentially threatening file is opened, a
yellow message bar (YMB) is displayed at the top of the window to remind you that you are in
Protected View. Besides the reminder, most of the Acrobat features are disabled in other words
placing the file in read-only mode. You can stop this from happening by clicking on the Enable
All Features option which will exit this view and adds the file to Acrobat’s list of allowed
locations stopping this from happening for this file on any future openings. [12]
Coupled along with the Protected View is the control of whitelisting and blacklisting the
activation of JavaScript files on both Windows and Mac machines. The whitelist option allows
you to place a trusted certificate on to individual JavaScript processes, placing them into the new
feature called the Privileged Zone. This feature also works on other files and folders that use
JavaScript to enable it for all the parts of your work area that you want. The blacklisting feature
lets you block specific JavaScript API calls without completely disabling JavaScript. Plus you
can also stop other users from reversing your settings to even further protect yourself and those
you work with from attackers. One last thing on the blacklist feature on a Windows machine the
list is maintained in the registry and on a Mac it is stored in the Mac OS X FeatureLockDown
file. [12]
Another topic, based in both Acrobat XI’s and Reader XI’s security arsenal is the use of crossdomain configuration. The need for this feature is because attackers can use PDF files with
multiple formats and files within it to access resources on a separate domain then the one that
opened the file. This is done by the use of a cross-domain policy file an XML based document
that is set in the remote domain that grants the user access to the source domain they are trying to
get to and continuing this domain interaction. To get a better idea of the steps that cross-domain
configuration takes take a look at Figure 2. [12]
You should enable cross-domain configuration if you are faced with situations similar to these:
First, if you need selective cross-domain access and want to use features like recognition based
off of a digital certificate. Also, if you want your cross-domain access to be centrally managed at
one server-based location. Finally, if you want to create a work environment that uses data
requests from a variety of domains that return data, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol,
refers to procedure calls and responses) requests, use streaming media and other requests. [12]
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Figure 2: Acrobat/Reader XI Cross-domain Configuration Example [12]
There are many more security features in Acrobat XI and Reader XI but there is not enough
space to go through everything in this paper. One thing to keep in mind is that all the security
described above is there because of the growing needs of the users. It is meant to protect and
grow along with all the threats that are continuously coming up to attain user data and other
information. Adobe’s security teams, ASSET and PSIRT, will continue to grow and adapt their
software to protect client data so the user will have a peace of mind while using their products.
To get more information on Adobe’s security policies and features go to:
http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/products/acrobat/axi/pdfs
/reader-acrobat-xi-security.pdf. [12]
Adobe Reader Mobile Application
There is another piece of software out there that has a slight difference from the two mentioned
above. This difference is the software is a mobile application that is meant to be used on today’s
mobile devices. This mobile app is a lot like the Adobe Reader only it is adapted to take
advantage of the built in functionality of the mobile device that is using it. This application can
only be run on an iPad, iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S or 5, and on an iPod touch 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation. It
can also be run on any Android product as long as it has Android 2.2 OS or later. [10] Some of
the features that are included in this app are the ability to open password-protected files and even
sign and send files. Also there are different viewing modes that allow the user to either view one
page at a time or have the files continuously scroll; this is to take advantage of the size of the
screen on the mobile device. Another thing the user can do is search through the content of their
PDF files by using bookmarks and even thumbnails to go to any marked part in the file. Along
with searching their files the user can also organize, find and wirelessly print their files. Plus the
user can share files using file storage online like Dropbox. Besides those features the user can
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also annotate with this mobile app. It comes with tools like those in Reader XI such as sticky
notes, typewriter, highlight and others. The user can also comment just by drawing on their
screen with the freehand drawing tool. Adobe EchoSign is also incorporated into this application
so the user can sign PDF files after filling them out by writing their name with the screen even
without a pen as described above. Finally, the user can also copy and paste text directly from the
PDF files to wherever they need to use it on their mobile device, for example onto their email
client. [9]
The above shows that there are a lot of tools available on the Adobe Reader mobile application.
Not only are these features useful but they also show how Adobe is placing itself into the
growing mobile market. By using the functionality of these devices to the fullest, Adobe has
taken advantage of the number of mobile devices that are in use today and are continuing to
grow in use. This way they are adapting themselves to grow with the times and continue to show
their leadership in the use of PDF files.
The Future of the PDF
There are a lot of challenges for big businesses in both the domestic market and the global
market. There is the need for improved productivity, there is constant need to automate the
company’s content lifecycle, plus there are requirements that companies must comply with and
the rise in global rivalries between corporations. With all these challenges, companies are
pushing to become quicker with the creation and usage of their documents while still complying
with regulations and being able to hold onto to the files for long periods of time. Coupled with
all this need for precision is the need for tighter lines of digital communications for companies
with a global reach. This digital communication is wrought with many forms of interference such
as differences in hardware or file creation tools that are incompatible and even the operating
systems used these days are unable to keep up with the growing global exchange of information.
Another problem companies face is the need to authenticate employees and clients who use their
files and do it in accordance to data privacy laws and by the rules of the different corporate
infrastructures. An example of this is the growing call for digital signatures in electronic files and
for those electronic files to be certified. Finally, as both governments and companies figure out
that the content tools they are using change so often that they do not promote a long life for the
associated trademarked company’s file format, they have begun to disown the proprietary
method. This means that in order for them to use an electronic filing system, the files need an
acceptable guarantee of longevity. [13]
Since PDF is an ISO standard it is separate from any one specific software company. This is
something that companies in both the public and private sectors have taken as a sign that an
investment in the use of PDF files is a good choice. The PDF standard is considered to be one of
if not the most versatile content file formats out there. As an example, some of the first PDF files
created were done so about fifteen years ago and are still usable electronic records to this day.
This is all despite the fact that none of the content creation tools used or any of the computers
used are no longer around today. [13]
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Unfortunately there are no files that are perfect for each stage of the content lifecycle. With that
said, there are some other file formats that can be used to replace some of the older authoring
formats. Two examples of these are ODF and OOXML which are primarily used by OpenOffice
and Microsoft Office respectively but they do not work at all stages of the cycle. Also, these two
file types cannot be considered direct substitutes for PDF and PDF is not a substitute for them
either. In fact they are complimentary. For instance, both pieces of software support creation of
PDF files to be used at later stages in lifecycle of the content being created. To wrap up, the
different stages in the creation of content in the corporate world require a broad range of file
types. But each file type is limited to the software that created it and what else may be
compatible with it. The PDF is a standard file format that works well at reviewing, publicizing
and archiving steps in the corporate process. Plus it can also nicely package structured data,
unstructured files and even media files at any step in the content creation process. Is it possible in
the distant future for another file type to come along and have exactly what business world
needs? Of course it is but as for the near future, the PDF standard has a pretty solid place in the
world of business. The fact that PDF is an ISO standard ensures a long life for it along with
protection from manipulation from any one company or government. In other words, as long as
the ISO standard is supported by the various software companies, corporations can use a plethora
of tools to create file architectures around the PDF to suit their various needs. [13]
Conclusion
As is shown, Adobe and the file format that it created, the Portable Document Format has a
broad and diverse history but it has an even greater user base and connection to both the
corporate world and the general public. With its broad range of functionalities along with all the
tools that Adobe has provided to interact with the PDF, it is no wonder why companies and
governments all around the world use this highly flexible file format in a variety of stages of
their work cycles. Also, with Adobe’s commitment to stay with, if not ahead of, the times in
terms of the needs of the user and the growing complexities of cultural trends, it is safe to say
that as long as they continue on as they are now, Adobe’s place in the future and that of their
creations (like the PDF) will have a solid seat in the world of electronic filing, both now and for
years to come.
References
[1] Leurs , L. (2011, September 17). The history of pdf. Retrieved from
http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/history
[2] PDF Solutions, I. C. (2006). A brief history of adobe systems inc.. Retrieved from
http://www.investintech.com/resources/articles/adobehistory/
[3] PDF Solutions, I. C. (2006). Who invented the pdf. Retrieved from
http://www.investintech.com/resources/articles/inventorofpdf/
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