callas software, which develops automated PDF quality control and archival solutions, released a version 1.1 update for its pdfChip product line. pdfChip converts HTML into standards-compliant PDF documents. callas explains the pdfChip 1.1 update adds features that were identified in projects customers realized with pdfChip, especially when it was used to create long, dynamic documents.
The updated pdfChip 1.1 allows users to control the maximum number of pages in the generated PDF file. That makes it possible, for example, to create single page PDF files in a single operation instead of one PDF file with many pages. Since the destination PDF can now be defined in the Javascript code it is possible to start a new PDF whenever needed.
During development it can be critical to understand, explains callas, what errors occur and how to adjust the HTML template. In pdfChip 1.1 error reporting, specifically for Javascript and when placing bar codes, has been improved in order to make it easier to develop complex PDF publishing applications.
pdfChip 1.1 also allows for passing command-line variables straight to the HTML template, where Javascript can pick it up and use it to shape the resulting PDF file. callas explains the ability to pass this kind of small information to an HTML template adds more flexibility to PDF publishing; compared to what was already possible with the highly dynamic HTML/Javascript architecture.
In pdfChip 1.1, callas implemented the new concept of a “list collector” for long documents that need to include lists of references such as a list of figures, tables or simply a table of contents. This new feature allows content to be marked using CSS and stores information about this content in a JSON (Javascript data) file. This information can then be used to automatically create a table of content with page numbers for the generated PDF document for example.
pdfChip 1.1 also adds support for the Device-N colour space, which is essential for content where a number of different spot colours or a combination of CMYK and spot colours are used for page objects like images or vector graphics.
callas also explains in pdfChip 1.1 placing of PDF files has been improved. pdfChip provides information about PDF files that are placed in the HTML template, such as their trimbox or bleedbox. This information can then be used in Javascript to modify the placement.
The various flavours of pdfChip include S (€ 5,000), pdfChip M (€10,000), pdfChip L (€15 0000) and pdfChip XL/Enterprise (€ 25 000). pdfChip 1.1 is a free update for customers using pdfChip 1.0.
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