Adobe Acrobat

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Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat logo
Basic data

developer Adobe Inc.
Publishing year June 1993
Current  version 19.012.20036
( August 13, 2019 )
operating system Microsoft Windows , Mac OS X
programming language C ++
License proprietary
German speaking Yes
Adobe Acrobat

Under Adobe Acrobat , a group of programs together, to create, manage, annotate and distribute PDF used files. This paid program package from software company Adobe Inc. contains an application program for creating and editing PDF documents. In its Acrobat family, Adobe offers extensive support for digital signatures and basic support for encryption technologies.

Naming

Adobe has changed the names of its programs slightly over and over again. In summary - with some restrictions - it can be stated:

  • Programs for viewing PDF documents were usually called " Acrobat Reader ", later Adobe Reader . As of version 12, the term Adobe Acrobat Reader plus DC (for “Document Cloud ”) is used again. In newer versions, limited commenting, form and signing options are included. Some functions, such as the "measuring tool", are only available once the corresponding approval has been given in a PDF file with Acrobat .
  • Programs for creating, editing and signing PDF documents are usually called Acrobat , with suffixes such as Standard , Professional or Pro depending on their capabilities . The creation of 3D PDF was possible in Acrobat 8 ​​3D and Acrobat 9 Pro Extended , in Acrobat 10 only with an additional plug-in.
  • (Auxiliary) programs and drivers only for creating PDF documents, but not for displaying or editing them, are PDFMaker , PDFWriter and Distiller . These programs and drivers are mostly contained in Acrobat, especially in newer versions.
  • Other programs in the Acrobat product family usually have Acrobat in their name (one of the exceptions: PDFWriter).

Product history

(The product history primarily refers to the US variants.)

Version 1 (released June 15, 1993)

Version 2 (released September 1994)

  • PDF version 1.1 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 2.0 for Windows and Macintosh. Generally available free of charge from this version on.
  • Acrobat Exchange 2.0
  • Acrobat Professional 2.0 (included Acrobat Exchange and Acrobat Distiller).
  • Acrobat Catalog : software for indexing PDF documents. Searching the indexed documents was only possible with a special, paid version of Acrobat Reader or with Acrobat Exchange.

Version 3 (released 1996)

  • PDF version 1.2 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 3.0. For the first time, it is possible to display PDF documents in Internet browsers . It is also now possible to fill out forms.
  • An additional, free version of Acrobat Reader 3.0, which enables files to be searched, is available as a separate package (download).
  • Name change: Acrobat 3.0 will be the successor to Acrobat Professional 2.1. Acrobat Catalog and Acrobat Distiller (with printer driver) are included.
  • When updating to version 3.0.2, Adobe introduces the execution of JavaScript embedded in PDF .
  • First 32-bit support of Windows 95 and Windows NT - last time support of Windows 3.1.

Version 4 (released April 1999)

  • PDF version 1.3 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 4.0.
  • Acrobat 4.0.
  • Acrobat Business Tools 4.0 (limited version of Acrobat)
  • Introduction of Distiller Server 4.0 (still identical to Distiller, but with a multi-user license) for Windows, Linux and Solaris

Version 5 (released May 2001)

  • PDF version 1.4 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 5.0.
  • Acrobat 5.0. (PDFWriter only available for Windows.)
  • Acrobat 5.0.5 supports macOS natively for the first time , but remains Mac OS 9 compatible.
  • Distiller Server 5.0.
  • Acrobat Approval 5.0: A limited, paid version of Acrobat that allows you to sign documents and save completed forms.
  • Acrobat Reader 5.1: Support for Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions (allows Adobe LiveCycle owners to allow Acrobat Reader users certain functions such as saving forms).

Version 6 (released April 2003)

  • PDF version 1.5 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Name change: Adobe Reader 6.0 (instead of Acrobat Reader; for the first time no Unix and Linux versions)
  • Renewed name change: Acrobat Professional 6.0, the successor to Acrobat 5.0: PDF-Writer, is finally abolished. The version contains a preflight tool for checking PDF / X files for prepress , which was developed by the Berlin callas software GmbH and run by PDF expert Olaf Drümmer . Adobe Catalog (for indexing PDF documents) is being updated and is no longer compatible with its predecessors.
  • New product: Acrobat Standard 6.0: limited version of Acrobat Professional (no indexing of documents, no design of forms, no support for prepress)
  • Windows 95 and Windows 98 (First Run) are no longer supported. Acrobat Professional for Windows NT, 2000 and XP only.
  • for the first time pure Mac OS X support (Mac OS 9 is no longer supported)
  • Adobe Acrobat Distiller 6.
  • New product: Acrobat Elements 6.0: for creating PDF files, designed for large companies (minimum purchase 1000 licenses, only available for Windows)
  • Acrobat Elements Server 6.0: Client-server version of Acrobat Elements
  • OCR support, here called »Paper Capture« (under »Document«)

Version 7 (released January 2005)

  • PDF version 1.6 (and earlier) are supported.
  • Adobe Reader 7.0 (again in addition to Windows and macOS also for Linux , Solaris , HP-UX and AIX )
  • Acrobat Professional 7.0: now contains Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0, enables new, XML- based form design (incompatible with previous forms), only for Windows. Ability to embed 3D object information based on the Universal 3D format (.u3d). Product activation required for operation for the first time.
  • New product: Acrobat 3D (Windows only): like Acrobat Professional, but more extensive 3D support
  • Acrobat Standard 7.0
  • Acrobat Elements 7.0 (minimum purchase now only 100 licenses)
  • Expansion of the LiveCycle product line

Version 8 (released November 2006)

  • PDF version 1.7 (and earlier) and PDF / A (for long-term archiving) are supported.
  • Adobe Reader 8.0: Allows the reading of PDF files and, under certain circumstances, limited correction, commenting and signature functions.
  • Acrobat 8 ​​Elements has been discontinued
  • Acrobat 8 ​​Standard (Windows only): Contains, among other things, encryption and file merging capabilities
  • Acrobat 8 ​​Professional
  • Acrobat 8 ​​3D (2007 release): Tools for creating 3D PDF
  • New product: Acrobat Connect and Acrobat Connect Professional (formerly Macromedia Breeze ) enable the joint editing of PDF documents in real time and the implementation of video conferences. It was discontinued on June 15, 2010.
  • The macOS versions run natively on Intel Macs for the first time (but not as universal binary , but in separate versions for PowerPC and Intel processors)
  • (Update) support ("core support") was granted until November 3, 2011

Version 9 (released June 2008)

  • Acrobat 9: basic version
  • Acrobat 9 Pro: with tools for multimedia integration
  • Acrobat 9 Pro Extended: with tools for creating 3D PDF (successor to Acrobat 8 ​​3D)
  • Distiller Server has been replaced by the new product Adobe LiveCycle PDF generator ES; Distiller Server 8.0 is the last available version.
  • (Update) support ("core support") was granted until June 26, 2013

Version X (released November 2010)

In October 2010 the 10th version was presented under the name Acrobat X.

  • Adobe Reader X
  • Acrobat X Standard: basic version
  • Acrobat X Pro: with tools for multimedia integration and creation of PDF portfolios
  • Acrobat Pro Extended has been discontinued, the creation of 3D PDF requires the paid Tetra 4D plug-in
  • Acrobat X Suite: with additional multimedia tools
  • (Update) support ("core support") was granted until November 2015

Version XI (released October 2012)

On October 1st, 2012 the 11th version was presented under the name Acrobat XI.

  • Adobe Reader XI: Allows you to save completed forms and comments in encrypted PDF files
  • Acrobat XI Standard: basic version
  • Acrobat XI Pro: Export function to Word, Excel and (new) PowerPoint, easier editing of texts and images in PDF files, faster evaluation of forms, improved connection to online services such as Office 365 and Acrobat.com .
  • Support for Adobe Acrobat XI ended on October 15, 2017.

Version DC (released April 2015)

On April 7, 2015, the 12th version was presented under the name Acrobat DC (for "Document Cloud ").

Version DC 2017 and Classic 2017 (released April 2017 and June 2017)

On April 11, 2017, the updated version of Acrobat DC with a new major version number was presented. Acrobat 2017 followed on June 6, 2017, which can still be purchased as a permanent license and is not subject to the update cycle of the DC version.

See also

Web links

Commons : Adobe Acrobat  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Driving Adobe: Co-founder Charles Geschke on Challenges, Change and Values . September 3, 2008 (accessed on October 16, 2019): " In June 1993, Adobe shipped the first version of its Acrobat software for creating and viewing electronic documents. "
  2. ↑ ftp.adobe.com .
  3. ↑ www.lextrait.com . (accessed on August 24, 2016).
  4. ↑ Acrobat Connect (Hosted) FAQ. Adobe, July 30, 2013, accessed May 9, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b c http://www.adobe.com/support/products/enterprise/eol/eol_matrix.html#86
  6. ↑ LiveCycle PDF Generator ES and Distiller Server ( English ) Adobe.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  7. ↑ Adobe introduces new server-based software ( English ) Itworldcanada.com. November 18, 2003. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  8. ↑ Acrobat X: PDF portfolios with just a few clicks on heise online from October 18, 2010
  9. ↑ Adobe 3D solutions
  10. ↑ Difference between Adobe Acrobat X Reader, Standard, Pro and Suite on prodesigntools.com from November 10, 2010.
  11. ↑ Adobe announces Acrobat XI on heise online from October 1st, 2012
  12. ↑ Johannes Haupt: Adobe Acrobat XI with simplified PDF editing, cloud support & more. (No longer available online.) In: t3n magazine . October 1, 2012, archived from the original on October 5, 2012 ; Retrieved October 2, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / t3n.de
  13. ↑ End of support for Adobe Acrobat XI and Reader XI
  14. ↑ PDF in the cloud: Adobe publishes new Acrobat, Reader and Document Cloud on heise online on April 7, 2015