Adobe Acrobat

In Adobe Acrobat, a group of programs is summarized, which are used to create, manage, annotate and share PDF files. This fee-based program package of the software company Adobe Systems includes an application program to create and edit PDF documents. Adobe offers extensive support of digital signatures ( signatures ) and fundamental support of encryption technologies in its Acrobat family.

Naming

Adobe has repeatedly slightly changed the name of its programs. In summary - Limitations - Hold:

  • Programs for viewing PDF documents generally called " Acrobat Reader ", later " Adobe Reader". In newer versions restricted commenting, form and Signiermöglichkeiten are included. Some features such as the " measurement tool " is only available when a PDF file with Acrobat has been given the appropriate release.
  • Programs to create, edit and sign PDF documents are usually refered Acrobat, depending on skills with names additives such as Standard, Professional, or Pro. The creation of 3D PDF was possible in Acrobat 8 3D and Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, Acrobat 10 only with additional plug-in.
  • (Auxiliary) programs and drivers only to create PDF documents, but not for viewing or editing, are PDFMaker, PDFWriter and Distiller. These programs and drivers are included, especially in newer versions usually in Acrobat.
  • Other programs of the Acrobat product family usually wear Acrobat behalf ( one of the exceptions: PDFWriter ).

Product history

( The product history relates primarily to the U.S. versions. )

Version 1 (Release: June 15, 1993 )

  • PDF version 1.0
  • Acrobat Reader 1.0 for MS- DOS, Windows 3.1 and Macintosh. Version 1 was not separately acquire and originally not available for free. After some time bought by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ( ie financial management ) 1.0 to distribute the right Acrobat Reader free of charge.
  • Acrobat Exchange 1.0 ( included the " PDFWriter " printer driver and Acrobat Exchange)
  • Acrobat Distiller 1.0. For generating PDF files from PostScript files ( At this time there is no printer driver yet).

Version 2 (Publication: September 1994)

  • PDF version 1.1 ( and prior ) supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 2.0 for Windows and Macintosh. From this version on generally available free of charge.
  • Acrobat Exchange 2.0
  • Acrobat Professional 2.0 ( included Acrobat Exchange and Acrobat Distiller ).
  • Acrobat Catalog: Software for indexing PDF documents. Browse the so- indexed documents was only possible with a special, paid version of Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange.

Version 3 ( Release 1996)

  • PDF version 1.2 ( and prior ) supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 3.0. For the first time it is possible to display PDF documents in Internet browsers. In addition, filling out forms now possible.
  • Additional free version of Acrobat Reader 3.0, which allows you to browse files, available as a separate package ( Download).
  • Name change: Acrobat 3.0 is the successor of Acrobat Professional 2.1. Acrobat Catalog and Acrobat Distiller ( with driver) are included.
  • Adobe performs the update to version 3.0.2 a run in PDF embedded JavaScript.
  • For the first time 32 -bit support for Windows 95 and Windows NT - last-time support for Windows 3.1.

Version 4 ( Release April 1999)

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

Version 5 ( Release May 2001)

  • PDF version 1.4 ( and prior ) supported.
  • Acrobat Reader 5.0.
  • Acrobat 5.0. ( PDFWriter available only for Windows. )
  • Acrobat 5.0.5 introduces support for native Mac OS X, but remains Mac OS 9- compatible.
  • Distiller Server 5.0.
  • Acrobat Approval 5.0: A restricted, paid version of Acrobat that allows you to sign documents and save filled out forms.
  • Acrobat Reader 5.1: Support for Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions ( allows owners of Adobe LiveCycle, users of Acrobat Reader certain functions such as saving forms to allow ).

Version 6 ( publication April 2003)

  • PDF version 1.5 ( and prior ) supported.
  • Name Change: Adobe Reader 6.0 (instead of Acrobat Reader, the first time any Unix and Linux versions )
  • Re name change: Acrobat Professional 6.0 Acrobat 5.0 is the successor: PDF writer finally abolished. The release includes a preflight tool for checking PDF / X files for pre-press, which was developed by the Berlin callas software GmbH of the PDF expert Olaf Drümmer. Adobe Catalog ( for indexing of PDF documents ) is updated and is no longer compatible with its predecessors.
  • New product: Acrobat Standard 6.0: limited version of Acrobat Professional ( no indexing of documents, not designing forms, no support prepress )
  • Windows 95 and Windows 98 (first version) are no longer supported. Acrobat Professional for Windows NT, 2000 and XP.
  • Pure Mac OS X support for the first time (Mac OS 9 is no longer supported )
  • Adobe Acrobat Distiller 6
  • New product: Acrobat Elements 6.0: to create PDF files, designed for large companies ( minimum purchase 1000 licenses, Windows only )
  • Acrobat Elements Server 6.0: Client - server version of Acrobat Elements
  • OCR support

Version 7 ( publication January 2005)

  • PDF version 1.6 ( and prior ) supported.
  • Adobe Reader 7.0 ( again next to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X and Linux, Solaris, HP- UX, and AIX)
  • Acrobat Professional 7.0: now includes Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0, allowing new XML - based form design ( incompatible with previous forms), only for Windows. Capability to embed 3D object information based on the Universal 3D format (. U3d ). First time product activation for the operation necessary.
  • New product: Acrobat 3D ( Windows only): such as Acrobat Professional, but more extensive 3D support
  • Acrobat Standard 7.0
  • Acrobat Elements 7.0 ( Minimum order now only 100 licenses)
  • Expansion of the Adobe LiveCycle product line

Version 8 (to be published November 2006)

  • PDF version 1.7 ( and prior ) and PDF / A (for long-term archiving ) are supported.
  • Adobe Reader 8.0: Permits reading of PDF files and limited circumstances under correction, commenting and signing functions.
  • Acrobat 8 Elements was set
  • Acrobat 8 ​​Standard ( Windows only): Contains, among other capabilities for encryption and file merging
  • Acrobat 8 Professional
  • Acrobat 8 3D (Publication 2007): tools to create 3D PDF
  • New Product: Acrobat Connect and Acrobat Connect Professional ( formerly Macromedia Breeze ) allows collaborative editing of PDF documents in real time and performing video conferencing
  • The Mac OS X versions (but not as a universal binary, but in separate versions for PowerPC and Intel processors ) running for the first time natively on Intel Macs
  • ( Update ) support ( "core support" ) was granted until November 3, 2011

Version 9 ( release June 2008)

  • Acrobat 9: Basic Version
  • Acrobat 9 Pro: with tools for multimedia integration
  • Acrobat 9 Pro Extended: with tools to create 3D PDF (successor of Acrobat 3D 8 )
  • Distiller Server has been replaced by the new products Adobe LiveCycle PDF Generator ES, the Distiller Server 8.0 is the last version available.
  • ( Update ) support ( "core support" ) was granted until June 26, 2013

Version X ( publication November 2010)

In October 2010, the 10 version was launched 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 is set, requires the creation of 3D PDF, the fee-based plug- in Tetra 4D
  • Acrobat X Suite: with other multimedia tools
  • ( Update ) support ( "core support" ) is granted until November 2015

Version XI ( published Oct. 2012)

On 1 October 2012, the 11 version was launched under the name Acrobat XI.

  • Adobe Reader XI: Allows now also encrypted PDF files, the storage of completed forms and comments
  • Acrobat XI Standard: basic version
  • Acrobat Pro XI: Export function to Word, Excel, and ( new) PowerPoint, easier editing of text and images into PDF files, faster evaluation forms, improved access to cloud services like Office 365 and Acrobat.com.
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