Adobe Unveils New Document Server For Dynamically Generating Adobe PDF Files; Automated Adobe PDF Document Production Helps Increase Efficiencies and Reduce Costs

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 21, 2002 -- Adobe Systems Incorporated, the leader in network publishing, today announced the Adobe Document Server, which enables enterprise customers to automatically generate and customize Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files and forms. Adobe Document Server helps reduce document production and form processing costs by allowing customers to dynamically generate customized one-to-one business communications.

Large organizations including financial institutions, manufacturers and government agencies need to speed production of business documents, but most solutions are not robust enough to support enterprise applications. Adobe Document Server -- part of the new Adobe server and solutions product line announced today (see separate announcement) -- enables organizations to integrate document workflows with business critical data.

"Stellent has worked with Adobe for years to automate the process of creating, managing and publishing content to the Web and Adobe PDF," said Dan Ryan, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Stellent, a global provider of content management solutions to customers such as Procter & Gamble and Merrill Lynch. "The enterprise architecture of Adobe Document Server software supports the scalability and performance our customers need in high-traffic server environments. At the same time, its advanced features enable our customers to further leverage existing repositories of materials in Adobe PDF, and transform content into new business documents for electronic delivery to employees, partners and customers."

Adobe Document Server is built on an open architecture for easy integration with existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Content Management Systems (CMS), document management systems, and industry-standard databases. The server software lets companies automate document creation and assembly for technical manuals, brochures, proposals and policies, as well as create custom electronic forms with pre-populated fields, and produce business reports that contain charts and graphs dynamically generated from data in a database.

How Adobe Document Server Works

Adobe Document Server integrates with existing workflows and web interfaces via a simple command structure based on eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to enable end-users to initiate the document creation and assembly process. For example, an investment manager can generate customized information to send to a client. This document could include a personalized cover letter, up-to-the-minute information on the client's current investments, and a prospectus on a recommended mutual fund for the client. The customized Adobe PDF document is then sent to the manager for review, and then emailed to the client.

Adobe Document Server is built on proven Adobe application document and imaging libraries, including Adobe PDF, Acrobat Distiller(R), FrameMaker(R), Photoshop(R) and Illustrator(R). Organizations can create document and form templates in these formats, from which Adobe Document Server dynamically generates new Adobe PDF documents. Adobe has distributed nearly half-a-billion copies of the Acrobat Reader, enabling easy viewing and printing of PDF files, anywhere, anytime, on virtually any device.

With support for Application Program Interfaces (APIs) for Java, Perl, COM and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) environments, programmers can develop scripts for automating the creation of Adobe PDF documents using tools they already know. Adobe Document Server also accepts XML commands, and supports Extensible Style Language Formatting Objects (XSL-FO), an industry standard for describing how an XML document should be formatted for a variety of media.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Document Server is expected to be available by the end of 2002, with pricing starting at US$20,000 per CPU. More information is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/server/documentserver/main.html.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems, Incorporated (www.adobe.com), the leader in network publishing, offers a comprehensive line of software for enterprise and creative professional customers. Its products enable customers to create, manage and deliver visually rich, compelling and reliable content. Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe is one of the world's largest software companies.

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat Distiller, FrameMaker, Photoshop and Illustrator are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.



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