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Should We Add Another Format To The PDF-Killer List?

An interesting tidbit for this week. There’s a new format on the block and it looks like it’s drumming up some buzz as the next PDF-Killer.

The last one to hit the industry, if I remember correctly, was the XML Paper Specification (XPS) format  about 4 years ago when Microsoft Office 2007 was being released with XPS creation capabilities.  This time around, it’s the CDF format—Computable Document Format, a newly innovated open format that puts “interactive documents” on another level.

Having been developed by the team over at Wolfram.com, the CDF format uses mathematical computation technology to render the live interactive element of its content. The company is known for its computing software program and platform, Mathematica, which, in a nutshell, is used for computing data visualizations needed in fields dealing with complex data, information analysis, and mathematical formulae.

What is the CDF format?

According to the site, the CDF is “as everyday as a document, but as interactive as an app.”  Instead of simply viewing static text, images, and tables, with a CDF document you can manipulate them through inputting data, clicking on controls, and moving sliders. If you have a graph with data calculated and projected over time, you can modify those values and see the changes visualized–on the spot.

Looking at the CDF files they have on-site, you can see why it’s being called a PDF-Killer. From a user point of view, the CDF format shares a lot of the same basic similarities and uses as the PDF: it requires a file viewer (CDF Player), can contain different types of content, and is only editable in Mathematica or other CDF content creators (creating an interactive CDF actually requires a bit of coding rather than a one click creation method, though).

The PDF already has interaction capabilities with the ability to play videos, Flash games, and manipulate 3D objects. But so far, as Conrad Wolfram (strategic & international development director of Wolfram) points out, those types of interactivity are pre-generated for you.

The CDF format provides a unique way of creating, consuming, and understanding informational content.  As it is with all formats, though, each has its own strengths and uses, some of which are necessary, some not. Simple resumes and articles, for example, are still perfectly fine as a PDF. Live data and textbooks, however, may be better in CDF.

Rather than a question of will the CDF replace the PDF, I think the question facing PDF users is how the CDF format will interact with PDF files over the long run. The format was just launched, so it’s still in the early stages of adoption. So far, as per the FAQ, you can import content from PDFs and the CDF Player plugin is only supported by web browsers (no embedding CDF files in PDF, for instance).

Download the CDF player and take look at a few CDF examples in action for yourself.

The New Able2Extract 7 Is Here!

Now, it isn’t often that PDF conversion gets associated with simplicity. PDF converters are often too complex that only PDF experts can make full use of the software, leaving you stuck with using only the basic features for complex documents.

But, today we’re proud to announce the release of the latest version of our flagship product which eliminates that issue:Able2Extract 7.

In this new version, we’ve got enhanced conversion performance, a newly designed interface, and new and improved conversion capabilities.So whether you have a complex PDF to convert or a presentation due in the next hour, Able2Extract 7 can simplify and improve that conversion process.

This latest version of Able2Extract is the greatest improvement in our PDF conversion products to date.What’s new? What can it do? Read on.

First off, for those who have already used previous versions of Able2Extract, you’ll notice a newly designed user interface. The simple clean design makes it easier to navigate, search and convert your document.Open a file, select your data, and click to convert– all can be done from the toolbar.

Able2Extract Interface

One major feature of Able2Extract7 is that it’s the first PDF converter which can convert to all major Microsoft Office formats: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.

Able2Extract Formats

Here’s a sneak peek at the new conversion improvements.

PDF to PowerPoint conversions are faster and more accurate. For those who need a better PDF to PowerPoint output, this conversion feature has been rebuilt with custom options that offer better control over your content.

Improved Excel custom conversion options. As great as the custom Excel conversion options were in the previous version, Able2Extract 7 gives you even more control over the row and column structure of table data being converted.You can tweak your conversion right from the Excel conversion toolbar.

Able2Extract XLS Toolbar

Enhanced PDF to Word graphics and text manipulation features. We all know that as easy as a PDF to Word conversion may sound, it isn’t always the case. Thus, this latest version offers better conversion output and more precise graphics and text handling features.

New PDF to Publisher conversion. You’ve asked for it and here it is. Anyone needing a professional and cost effective publishing solution can now use Able2Extract 7 for PDF to Publisher conversions!

Able2Extract Publisher Conversion

And just as you can custom convert with Word, PowerPoint and Excel, you can also choose to custom convert with Publisher.

Performance wise, Able2Extract 7 can a lot more in a lot less space than most converters.In addition to all the conversion improvements, Able2Extract 7 can now support non-unicode font types.

This means users can convert PDF files in their native language: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arab and Greek. And despite these new features, the overall size of Able2Extract 7 has been reduced!

So check it out. The software is compatible with Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2007. You can download Able2Extract 7 as a 7-day free trial to test out for yourself.

Are You Ready for Able2Extract 6.0?

A

Investintech users, get ready.

Today we release a brand new version of our Able2Extract flagship product– and have we got the features for you!

Able2Extract v.6.0 gives you more conversions, more control and more functionality. Here’s a peek at what the brand new features can do for you:

*Conversion to OpenOffice formats: If you’re a fan of software alternatives to Microsoft, this feature is exactly what you’re looking for.  Able2Extract v.6.0 will let you convert your PDF to Open Office formats like Writer and Calc.

*Batch conversion: Convert hundreds of PDFs at once with our batch PDF conversion interface and save yourself the time and money usually spent on converting one PDF at a time.

*Improved Vector Image Handling: By improving our existing image to Word conversion, you automatically gain more control over handling vector images once the PDF is in MS Word.

*Outlook Integration: Able2Extract v.6 can now help you with your PDF email attachments by converting them into Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats. All it takes is  a simple right click within your MS Outlook client.

*PDF to AutoCAD conversion: Our new PDF to AutoCad conversion will let you recover and then edit vector images by converting them into complex multilayer CAD files.

Sound like the tool for you? If you’re ready to convert your PDF files on a whole new level, you can start downloading your copy of Able2Extract v.6.0 today.

PDF, A De-Facto Standard No More

While you’re all excited about the upcoming holidays and can’t think of anything else but that gift list to get through, you can add one more thing to get excited about.

The de facto standard of information interchange, aka the PDF, just got one step closer to being adopted as a standardized format. Last week, the PDF 1.7 specification gained the approval votes it needed from ISO committee voting members as it reached the Enquiry “Close of voting” stage in the standardization process.

Before this certification happens though, the comments included with the votes need to be addressed before the format gets its official ISO standard tag—ISO 32000 (lovely name, no?). Even with those last few hurdles, the PDF’s standardization process is looking good.

Jim King, PDF architect and Senior Principle Scientist at Adobe Systems Inc. will serve as technical editor for the international working group meeting in January where the submitted 205 comments will be resolved.

On his blog he states, “If the group can address all the comments to the satisfaction of all countries, especially the ones voting negatively, it is possible to finish at that meeting and publish the revised document.”

So Is It Still An Adobe-Microsoft Showdown?

In the face of impending success, you can’t help but wonder about OOXML and where its standardization is headed.

OOXML was also submitted and fast tracked for an official ISO standard, but rejected in September. Alongside that rejection was the controversy over Microsoft’s active influence over committee members and their votes. The OOXML proposal then went back to the drawing board for revisions to take the negative votes and comments into account.

Boxing AnimalsNow, three months later, as its Ballot Resolution Meeting (BRM) draws near in February, OOXML’s standardization is still up in the air as its interoperability, the OOXML hot topic of the day, will be a major factor in the decision to approve it as such.

Making it even harder is that OOXML is constantly held up against ODF, the poster child of open source solutions. It’ll be interesting to see how “open” and how much “interoperability” a Microsoft format can possess in general.

While that issue unfolds, the PDF will more than likely get the ISO standardization without much drama. Has Adobe won this round already without even trying?

These are exciting times for the PDF format indeed.

Able2Extract v.5.0 Is Here!

We are proud to announce that we have officially launched the upgraded version of our flagship products, Able2Extract and Able2Doc. It’s a whole new version on a whole new level with a whole new look!

New Able2Extract 5.0 Features

This latest 5.0 version is sporting newer, more advanced features that lets you convert your PDF into more formats than ever before. We’ve managed to pack this upgrade with a lot more conversion options. Like what?, you ask. Read on.

First off the list, Able2Extract v.5.0 now offers PDF to Image conversions. Our new PDF to Image converter can generate popular image file formats, such as JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, and TIFF. You can designate the output directory, set image DPI and perform black and white conversions.

Second, with Able2Extract v. 5.0, you can now view and convert Microsoft’s new XPS document format. Convert XPS with all the same output features and conversion settings by simply opening and converting the format as you would a regular PDF file.

Third, this latest upgrade can support PDF Forms conversion. You can convert interactive PDF forms to editable Word Documents which you can fill out, save and modify later on. This conversion feature has the ability to retain form elements, such as text fields, radio buttons, and checkboxes.

Our Able2Doc v.4.0 can perform the same PDF Forms to Word conversion, and can also support XPS to Word conversion capabilities. Ideal for those who are only looking to convert to Word and TXT file formats.

Go ahead and sample these new features for yourself. You can download the free trial, in either the Standard or Professional versions, and take it for a test run. For ordering, product , and pricing details, check out our site—it, too, has undergone a bit of remodeling.