PDF24 Creator
| PDF24 Creator
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|---|---|
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| Basic data
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| developer | geek Software GmbH |
| Current version | 9.2.0 (August 13, 2020) |
| operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| programming language | C ++ |
| License | Freeware |
| German speaking | Yes |
| de.pdf24.org | |
PDF24 Creator is application software from geek Software GmbH for creating PDF files from any application. The program is released under a proprietary freeware license.
The software has been developed in Germany since 2006. It is available in 34 languages, including German and English.
A distinction to be made between the PDF24 Creator are the paid programs with a similar name, PDF Creator and Jaws PDF Creator, and the freeware programs PDFCreator and PDF Creator Pilot .
Features and special features
PDF24 Creator is installed as a virtual printer via a device driver in the operating system. This means that PDF files can be created directly from any application that provides a printing function. The data sent to the supposed printer is used to create a PDF file. For this purpose, PDF24 Creator uses the free PDF interpreter Ghostscript , which is automatically installed as a private instance for PDF24 Creator.
During the conversion, i.e. the virtual printing of the document into a PDF file, an assistant is automatically opened, which can be used to make settings. A special feature of PDF24 Creator is the merging of several documents into one PDF. Further features are:
- Combine multiple PDF files
- Multiple PDF printers with different tasks
- Extract, remove, insert, rotate pages
- Integrated preview for PDF editing
- Sign PDF, encrypt and remove password
- Change PDF information (author, title, etc.)
- Compress and reduce PDF files
- Integrate and stamp a watermark
- Connect with a digital letterhead
- Convert to and from PDF
- Recognize text using OCR
- Slim PDF reader for viewing PDF
Distribution and areas of application
Chip Online's PDF24 Creator is in third place in the “PDF Software” category with currently (January 2, 2017) over 5 million downloads. In the Computer Bild download portal, PDF24 Creator is fourth in the “Edit PDF” category with almost 400,000 downloads & convert". From this it can be concluded that PDF24 Creator, together with PDFCreator, is one of the most popular PDF printers in German-speaking countries.
The manufacturer geek Software GmbH is not only addressing the product to private individuals, but also to companies and offers an MSI package , which should simplify the distribution of the software in Windows networks. Installation on terminal servers has also been supported since version 2.6.2 (2009) .
Major versions
The following overview only contains the most important versions with significant changes from the PDF24 Creator. A detailed list of all published versions can be found in the official changelog of the software.
| version | Notes and relevant changes |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | Contains the PDF printer with which PDF files can be created using a virtual printer. An installer installs the version together with Ghostscript on the operating system. |
| 2.0 | Extends the software with an editing interface with which PDF files can be merged, split, pages extracted and moved. An improved update mechanism and an improved PDF printer driver installation are also part of this version. |
| 2.5 | Brings support for various output profiles with properties for saving files. The function for signing PDF files has been integrated. The settings area has been expanded. An e-mail function has been added to the wizard. Support for Windows 7 has been improved. |
| 2.6 | Expands the software and makes it suitable for multiple users . Another innovation is the PDF screen capture function. A Windows tray icon has been integrated. New PDF printer drivers for Windows Vista and Windows 7 are used. The settings area has been expanded. The program settings have been separated from the user settings. |
| 2.6.2 | Support Windows Terminal Server |
| 2.6.3 | Can import images via the TWAIN interface and read data from the scanner or camera. |
| 2.7.0 | Support for alternative output formats such as PS, EPS , PNG , JPEG , TIFF . |
| 2.8.6 | Improves the rendering of some surfaces of the software. The wizard has been redesigned. |
| 2.8.7 | Improves the installation of the PDF printer driver and the software can be installed without user interaction. |
| 2.9.0 | Support for PDF / X and PDF / A . PDF output profiles can be selected directly in the wizard. |
| 3.3.0 | Extends the software with PDF watermarks and a stamp feature. |
| 3.4.0 | Can combine a PDF file with a digital letterhead. |
| 4.0.0 | Supports an optional fax printer and a fax tool that can be used to send faxes via the PDF24 fax service. |
| 6.7.0 | The PDF24 PDF Online Converter was linked to the software, with which files can be converted to PDF via the Internet if local conversion is not possible. |
| 7.0.0 | The assistant has got a new user interface. There is also an integration of the context menu for files in Windows Explorer. |
| 7.4.0 | New tool for compressing PDF files |
| 7.8.0 | Optional PDF24 mail interface , for users who have not set up an e-mail client |
| 8.0.0 | pdf24.exe as a Windows system service and cloud printing function |
| 8.1.0 | Among other things, automatic page numbering |
| 8.2.0 | Supports high resolution displays and DPI scaling on Windows. All graphic interfaces have been revised. |
| 8.3.0 | Major update with many new features, improvements and bug fixes |
| 8.4.0 | Crop feature to add bleed to pages in the PDF |
| 8.5.0 | Supports 256-bit AES encryption |
| 8.7.0 | Fully-fledged resource-saving PDF reader integrated |
| 8.8.0 | OCR component for recognizing text in scanned files |
literature
- Andrea Trinkwalder: Portable Documents. PDF generator: Office export, Office add-ins and universal PDF printer. In: c't. 25/2014, p. 140 ff. ( Heise.de )
Individual evidence
- ↑ PDF24 Creator Changelog. geek Software GmbH, accessed on August 15, 2020 .
- ↑ a b License conditions for the PDF24 Creator from www.pdf24.org (Version 1.0 - June 2006)
- ↑ PDF24 Creator Language File Translation . Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ↑ http://www.pdf24.org/products/pdf-creator/getLangPack.php
- ↑ PDF24 Creator Features . Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ↑ PDF24 PDF Creator . In: Gizmo's Freeware , April 23, 2016. Accessed January 17, 2017.
- ↑ CHIP: Top 100 PDF software downloads of all time
- ↑ ComputerBild: Edit & convert PDF
- ↑ PDF24 Creator Changelog. In: pdf24.org. geek Software GmbH, February 27, 2018, accessed on March 28, 2018 .