Although we tend to think of PDF as the final destination for published information, in the real world many users want to re-purpose the data contained in a PDF file. With Acrobat 5.0, you can now save a PDF file in rich-text format (RTF). Although the results can vary, depending upon the structure of the PDF format, in our tests the text and tables remained editable and were properly formatted. However, when generating RTF files, Acrobat does not preserve embedded images or multiple-column layouts. You can reuse images from a PDF file in other applications and even convert a PDF file (text and all) into a picture, but you'll have to use a separate function and export the images in JPEG, TIFF, or PNG format. Acrobat provides modest but useful controls over compression levels and resolution for the images that it generates. Acrobat can also pull double duty as an image viewer, thanks to its ability to open a wide range of graphics formats directly--including BMP, GIF, JPEG, HTML, PNG, and TIFF.
Many of Acrobat's existing features are even more powerful because they now support industry-standard protocols. This is especially true for PDF forms, which can now submit data in XML format or link directly to an ODBC-compliant database. Acrobat 5.0 forms are can be powered by JavaScript, so developers proficient with custom coding can make PDF forms more functional on the Web. All of this gives PDF forms the potential to act as a front end for e-commerce systems and back end databases.
The focus of this new release is clearly on the corporate user. However, there are a few new features targeted at the graphics community. The PDF file format now supports layered, transparent images. You can, for example, reposition a transparent object within Acrobat, with complete confidence that all of the overlapping colours will print correctly. Behind the scenes, Acrobat now uses the same colour engine as Photoshop and Illustrator, providing more consistent colour display and output across the applications.
There have also been substantial changes to the Print dialog box, where you can disable embedded instructions that may cause output problems at a service bureau (such as ICC Profiles, halftone screens, trapping instructions, and transfer functions). And for the adventurous graphics professional that uses PDFs as soft proofs, Acrobat now has the ability to display overprinting ink colours on screen. One of the most useful new features is the tile-printing function, which allows you to image an oversized document onto multiple sheets of standard-size paper. Our only gripe is that this feature is available only for PostScript devices.
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