https://mapsoft.com/posts.html PDF automation, Adobe development, and document workflow guides from the Mapsoft team. en-gb info@mapsoft.com (Mapsoft) info@mapsoft.com (Mapsoft) Copyright 2026 Mapsoft Computer Services Limited Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://mapsoft.com/images/mapsoft-og.png https://mapsoft.com/posts.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/word-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/word-to-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Convert Microsoft Word documents (.doc, .docx) to PDF in Word itself, on macOS, online, or at the command line — preserving fonts, layout, and formatting. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/powerpoint-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/powerpoint-to-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Export PowerPoint (.pptx) slides to PDF for distribution, handouts, printing, or archival. Covers layout options, notes pages, multiple slides per page, and compression. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/remove-blank-pages.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/remove-blank-pages.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Blank pages creep into PDFs from scanning, duplex printing, and section breaks. Here is how to find and remove them — manually in Acrobat, automatically online, or at scale with scripts and plugins. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/jpeg-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/jpeg-to-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Combine JPEG photos, scans, or screenshots into a single PDF — in Acrobat, on Windows or macOS without extra software, or online for free. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/remove-pdf-pages.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/remove-pdf-pages.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Delete specific pages from a PDF — in Adobe Acrobat, online for free, or at the command line — with best practices for preserving bookmarks, links, and file size. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/add-headers-footers-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/add-headers-footers-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Apply page numbers, dates, document titles, and confidentiality markers to a PDF's top and bottom margins — in Acrobat, online for free, or via batch scripts. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/flatten-pdf-transparencies.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/flatten-pdf-transparencies.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Flattening PDF transparency converts translucent overlays into opaque content — essential for older printers, PDF/X-1a output, and compatibility with legacy workflows. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/unlock-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/unlock-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Remove PDF password protection — when you have the owner password, via Adobe Acrobat, online tools, or the command line. Covers the legal and technical limits of unlocking. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-images.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-images.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Extract PDF pages as PNG, JPEG, or TIFF images for web use, slide decks, thumbnails, or archival — in Acrobat, online, or via the command line. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-colors.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-colors.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Converting PDF colour spaces matters for print (CMYK), screen (RGB), and accessibility (grayscale). Here is how it works, which tools handle it well, and how to avoid colour shifts. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-pdfa.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-pdfa.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters PDF/A is the archival PDF standard. Converting an existing PDF requires embedding fonts, setting colour profiles, removing external dependencies, and adding XMP metadata. Here is how to do it and what to watch for. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/repair-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/repair-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A practical guide to repairing corrupted or damaged PDF files — what causes corruption, how Acrobat's recovery works, and how to fix a PDF online without installing software. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/extract-embedded-files.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/extract-embedded-files.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Embedded files (attachments) in PDFs can include spreadsheets, images, source data, TDMRep policies, and more. Here is how to list and extract them — in Acrobat, online, or from the command line. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/resize-pdf-page.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/resize-pdf-page.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A practical guide to changing PDF page dimensions — with Acrobat, free online tools, or Mapsoft's MediaSizer and ContentScaler plugins. Covers paper sizes, cropping vs scaling, and batch processing. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/analyze-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/analyze-pdf.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters What's inside a PDF? This guide covers what PDF analysis reveals (pages, fonts, objects, forms, security, version), why you'd inspect a file, and how to do it in Acrobat, online, or from the command line. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/hallmark-case-study.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/hallmark-case-study.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Mapsoft built Card Create, a custom PDF server solution that automated Hallmark's card production process — eliminating manual data entry, reducing errors, and streamlining 8,000 designs annually. Case Study https://mapsoft.com/posts/network-rail-case-study.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/network-rail-case-study.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Mapsoft built WONView, a custom Adobe Acrobat solution that automated the extraction and distribution of safety-critical Weekly Operating Notices for Network Rail's train operators. Case Study https://mapsoft.com/posts/smart-case-study.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/smart-case-study.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Mapsoft built a custom Adobe Illustrator plugin for SMART Technologies that enabled annotations and hand gesture control from SMART whiteboards directly within Illustrator. Case Study https://mapsoft.com/posts/ai-assisted-development.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/ai-assisted-development.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Mapsoft integrates AI tools like Claude Code and Codex into our development workflow while maintaining rigorous human oversight and quality standards. Company https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-word.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-word.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Convert PDF files to editable Word documents using Adobe Acrobat, free online tools, and programmatic methods. Preserve formatting, tables, and images. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-acrobat.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-acrobat.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Complete Adobe Acrobat version history from 1.0 in 1993 to 2026. Timeline of every major release, features, editions, and the PDF platform's evolution. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/germany-pdf-ua-mandate.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/germany-pdf-ua-mandate.html Fri, 28 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Germany has mandated PDF/UA (ISO 14289) for government digital documents. What this means for PDF accessibility, compliance requirements, and how to verify your PDFs meet the standard. Accessibility https://mapsoft.com/posts/edit-pdf-metadata.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/edit-pdf-metadata.html Mon, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Edit PDF metadata in Adobe Acrobat: change title, author, subject, keywords, and custom properties. Viewing, editing, and batch-processing PDF info. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-reduce-pdf-file-size.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-reduce-pdf-file-size.html Mon, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Reduce PDF file size in Adobe Acrobat using Save As Reduced Size, PDF Optimizer, and compression settings. Step-by-step guide to making PDFs smaller. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/linearized-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/linearized-pdf.html Mon, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Linearized PDF explained: how Fast Web View optimises PDFs for instant first-page display. Creating and checking linearized PDFs in Adobe Acrobat. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-table-of-contents.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-table-of-contents.html Mon, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Create a professional table of contents in PDF using bookmarks, TOCBuilder, or manual methods. Guide to generating, formatting, and updating PDF TOCs. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/photoshop-automation.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/photoshop-automation.html Mon, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Automate Photoshop with Actions, JavaScript scripts, and plugins. Step-by-step guide to recording Actions, batch processing, and extending Photoshop with UXP. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/64-bit-plugin-update.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/64-bit-plugin-update.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Mapsoft has updated its full product range with 64-bit support for Adobe Acrobat DC, while continuing to support 32-bit Acrobat installations. News https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-for-architects.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-for-architects.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How architects, engineers, and construction teams use Acrobat for reviewing drawings, markups, measurements, and document management on projects. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-javascript.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-javascript.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn the basics of Acrobat JavaScript for automating PDF workflows, manipulating documents, and building custom solutions in Adobe Acrobat. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-ocr.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-ocr.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to OCR in Adobe Acrobat: recognise text in scanned PDFs, choose the right output mode, batch process documents, and correct OCR errors. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sdk-plugin-tutorial.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sdk-plugin-tutorial.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how to develop an Adobe Acrobat plug-in that adds a custom menu item using the Acrobat SDK, C++, and Visual Studio. Step-by-step guide with code examples. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sign-workflow.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sign-workflow.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Adobe Acrobat Sign works for collecting legally binding e-signatures: sending documents, tracking status, and integrating with business workflows. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-vs-free-editors.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-vs-free-editors.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Comparing Adobe Acrobat Pro with free and low-cost PDF editors — what each can do, and where the paid version justifies its cost. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-acrobat-history.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-acrobat-history.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The full history of Adobe Acrobat from John Warnock's 1991 Camelot memo to today's AI-powered version. Every major release and PDF format milestone. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-history.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-history.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore the history of Adobe Inc. and how their work at Xerox PARC changed the multimedia software industry. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-inc.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-inc.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Overview of Adobe Inc: its founding, key milestones, major acquisitions, and recent developments in generative AI, Creative Cloud, and Document Cloud. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-products-guide.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-products-guide.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Discover the functionality of Adobe products. Explore the benefits and availability of these tools on Windows and Mac. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-ui-options.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-ui-options.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore ways to create user interfaces for Adobe products, including extensions and plugins for Creative Cloud and Document Cloud applications. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-xd-end-of-life.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-xd-end-of-life.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Adobe confirms it will no longer invest in Adobe XD design tool. Learn more about the implications of this decision for web and mobile app development. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/barcodes-modern-society.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/barcodes-modern-society.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore barcode types, their applications across industries, the encoding algorithms behind them, and how they are rendered using fonts, raster, and vectors. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/camelot-project.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/camelot-project.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The Camelot Project by John Warnock described the vision that became PDF and Adobe Acrobat - a universal way to communicate documents across platforms. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/cep-introduction.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/cep-introduction.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters An introduction to Adobe's Common Extensibility Platform (CEP) — how it works, how it integrates with ExtendScript, and how to structure a CEP extension. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-eml-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-eml-to-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Convert EML email files to PDF using Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, or batch processing. Preserve attachments, metadata, and formatting with free methods. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-excel-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-excel-to-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Convert Excel to PDF without losing formatting. Handle large spreadsheets, control page layout, and set print areas for clean PDF output. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-powerpoint.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/convert-pdf-to-powerpoint.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How to convert PDF files to editable PowerPoint presentations using Adobe Acrobat and other tools — with guidance on what converts well and what doesn't. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/creating-pdf-forms.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/creating-pdf-forms.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Create interactive PDF forms in Adobe Acrobat. A complete guide to adding text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, and other form elements to PDFs. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/creating-searchable-pdfs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/creating-searchable-pdfs.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How to make PDF documents searchable — using OCR on scanned documents, ensuring text is not rendered as images, and checking searchability in Acrobat. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/customizing-acrobat.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/customizing-acrobat.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How to configure and customise Adobe Acrobat — toolbars, preferences, custom stamps, keyboard shortcuts, and deploying custom settings across an organisation. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/datalogics.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/datalogics.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Overview of Datalogics Inc, a PDF technology pioneer since 1967 and the channel for the Adobe PDF Library SDK, which Mapsoft licenses for development. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/digital-certificates.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/digital-certificates.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How digital certificates work in the context of PDF signing — X.509 certificates, certificate authorities, trust chains, and obtaining a signing certificate. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/digital-signature-validation.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/digital-signature-validation.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How PDF digital signature validation works: certificate chains, trust anchors, revocation checking (OCSP/CRL), long-term validation, and troubleshooting. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/dogears-navigating-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/dogears-navigating-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how the DogEars plugin for Adobe Acrobat lets you mark pages for quick navigation and extract marked pages into a new document. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/extendscript-usage.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/extendscript-usage.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Adobe ExtendScript automates tasks in Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Creative Cloud apps. Learn its capabilities, use cases, and limitations. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/extendscript.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/extendscript.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how ExtendScript can automate tasks and create custom scripts for Adobe's Creative Cloud applications including Photoshop, Illustrator and more. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/future-of-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/future-of-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Where PDF is heading: PDF 2.0, AI integration, accessibility requirements, digital workflows, and the ongoing relevance of PDF in a cloud-first world. Accessibility https://mapsoft.com/posts/generative-fill-photoshop.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/generative-fill-photoshop.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters An introduction to Generative Fill in Adobe Photoshop — how it works, what you can do with it, and how it fits into a professional image editing workflow. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/hexachrome-colors.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/hexachrome-colors.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters An introduction to Pantone Hexachrome, the six-colour (CMYKOV) extended-gamut printing system, its advantages over standard CMYK, and its current status. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-illustrator.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-illustrator.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The complete Adobe Illustrator version history — from Illustrator 88 through CS, CC, and every major release to 2026. Timeline, features, and milestones. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-indesign.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-indesign.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore the history of Adobe InDesign and its evolution from a small project codenamed K2 to becoming a major player in the desktop publishing industry. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-pagemaker.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/history-pagemaker.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters History of Adobe PageMaker (originally Aldus PageMaker) — every version from 1.0 in 1985 to 7.0, the Adobe acquisition, and its replacement by InDesign. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-portable-is-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-portable-is-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters An honest look at PDF portability: what the standard promises, where Adobe and third parties add limitations, and what it means for document interchange. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-add-watermark-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-add-watermark-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Add text and image watermarks to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat: appearance settings, page ranges, saving configurations, removal, and JavaScript automation. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-compare-pdfs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-compare-pdfs.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Use Adobe Acrobat Pro's Compare Documents feature to spot differences between two PDF versions. Understand the comparison report and work with results. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-encrypt-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Step-by-step guide to password protection and encryption for PDFs in Adobe Acrobat: open passwords, permission passwords, and encryption strength. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-rotate-pdf-pages.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-rotate-pdf-pages.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How to permanently rotate individual pages or all pages in a PDF document using Adobe Acrobat, including saving the rotation correctly. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-extension-technologies.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-extension-technologies.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore how combining ExtendScript, C++ SDK plugins, and modern UI frameworks unlocks the full potential of Adobe Illustrator automation and extensibility. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-scripts-colors.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-scripts-colors.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Use Illustrator scripts to apply colour changes to artwork. Understanding RGB vs CMYK colour modes and automating colour transforms with ExtendScript. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-sdk-python-versions.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/illustrator-sdk-python-versions.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Switch between Python versions for Illustrator SDK plugin development on Windows and macOS. Includes batch scripts and pyenv setup instructions. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/image-formats-comparison.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/image-formats-comparison.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Comparing image formats in PDFs: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JBIG2, CCITT, and JPEG 2000. Compression methods, quality trade-offs, and best use cases. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/indesign-cc-2024-new-features.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/indesign-cc-2024-new-features.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore the new features in Adobe InDesign 2024 — Auto Style, searchable text in Publish Online, dynamic filename suffixes, and more. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/interactive-pdfs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/interactive-pdfs.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Create interactive PDFs with clickable buttons, form fields, multimedia, and navigation in Adobe Acrobat. Guide to building engaging, interactive PDF documents. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/modifying-pdf-files.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/modifying-pdf-files.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Practical guide to tools and approaches for editing PDF files, from basic Acrobat editing to custom development with the Adobe PDF Library. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/paperlessproofs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/paperlessproofs.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Overview of PaperlessProofs, the online PDF proofing service for reviewing and annotating documents without printing, with production workflow integration. Company https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-annotations.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-annotations.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to PDF annotations: types, how they are stored in the PDF format, review workflows, flattening, and scripting with Acrobat JavaScript. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-base-14-fonts.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-base-14-fonts.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The 14 standard fonts built into every PDF viewer — what they are, why they exist, and how Mapsoft products use them. Company https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-colour-management.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-colour-management.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How colour management works in PDF — ICC profiles, output intents, colour spaces, and ensuring consistent colour in print and digital output. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-compression.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-compression.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Technical guide to PDF compression: image algorithms, font subsetting, content stream compression, downsampling, and Acrobat PDF Optimizer. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-file-size.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-file-size.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn why PDF files can be larger than expected and how to reduce them. A technical guide to PDF file size, auditing, and optimisation. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-format-spec.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-format-spec.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Latest PDF format spec updates. The second collection of errata for PDF 2.0 features 265 corrections for enhanced interoperability. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-history.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-history.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The birth and evolution of the PDF format. How Adobe Acrobat shaped its growth, plus key features and advantages including document integrity and security. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-layers.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-layers.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters PDF layers (Optional Content Groups) explained: how OCGs work in ISO 32000, use cases in CAD and maps, creating layers, scripting, and printing. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-metadata.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-metadata.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to PDF metadata: DocInfo dictionary, XMP streams, reading and editing properties in Acrobat, custom schemas, PDF/A requirements, and scripting. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-optimization-for-web.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-optimization-for-web.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Reduce PDF file size and enable fast web viewing: linearisation, image compression, font subsetting, and removing unused resources. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-boxes.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-boxes.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Understanding the five PDF page box types — what they define, how they're used in professional print production, and how to view them in Acrobat Pro. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-labels.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-labels.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Set PDF page labels in Adobe Acrobat — roman numerals, prefixes, and section-based numbering. Step-by-step guide to custom page labelling. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-numbering.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-page-numbering.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how to use PDF page labels to number pages in Adobe Acrobat. Set Roman numerals, custom prefixes, and mixed numbering schemes across your documents. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-portfolios.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-portfolios.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters What PDF Portfolios are, how to create them in Acrobat Pro, and when to use them over merged PDFs. Covers layout themes, searching, and printing. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-printing.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-printing.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to printing PDFs: print dialog options, page scaling, N-up and booklet printing, PostScript drivers, overprint preview, and batch printing. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-redaction.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-redaction.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Discover what PDF redaction is, its significance, and how it works in protecting sensitive information in documents. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-security.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-security.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to PDF security: password types, permission flags, encryption algorithms, certificate security, and best practices for protecting PDF documents. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-structure.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-structure.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How PDF files are structured internally — the four sections (header, body, cross-reference table, trailer), PDF objects, and content streams. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-versions-comparison.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-versions-comparison.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters PDF 2.0 vs 1.7 compared: key differences, new features, deprecated elements, and what the changes mean for your document workflows. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-web-links.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-web-links.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how to use PDF web links for seamless access and better navigation through your files, including page navigation, named destinations, and zoom levels. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdfs-in-academic-research.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdfs-in-academic-research.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How PDF is used in academic publishing: journal distribution, preprint servers, accessibility requirements, and challenges of extracting research data. Accessibility https://mapsoft.com/posts/scanning-to-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/scanning-to-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Scan documents to PDF using Adobe Acrobat. Covers resolution, colour modes, OCR after scanning, presets, and PDF/A archival compliance. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/spectrum-uxp-guide.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/spectrum-uxp-guide.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Explore Spectrum UXP components and design guidelines, including buttons, checkboxes, pickers, sliders, text fields, tooltips, and typography. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/spot-colors.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/spot-colors.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters What spot colours are, how they differ from process colours, how Pantone spot colours work, and how spot colours are represented in PDF documents. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/table-of-contents-guide.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/table-of-contents-guide.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The table of contents is crucial for navigating large documents, giving quick access to chapters. Learn how to construct and use a TOC effectively. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/tagged-pdf-guide.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/tagged-pdf-guide.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn what tagged PDFs are, why they matter for accessibility, and how to create them. Includes practical examples and best practices. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/troubleshooting-acrobat.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/troubleshooting-acrobat.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Fix Adobe Acrobat problems: slow performance, PDF display issues, plugin conflicts, printing errors, and update failures. Tested solutions. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/type-1-fonts.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/type-1-fonts.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The history of PostScript Type 1 fonts, how they work technically, their role in PDF, and Adobe's end-of-support for the format. History https://mapsoft.com/posts/understanding-colour-models.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/understanding-colour-models.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A practical guide to RGB and CMYK colour models: how they work, their differences, and why colour management matters for screen-to-print conversion. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/uxp-indesign-workflow.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/uxp-indesign-workflow.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how UXP extensions can enhance your Adobe InDesign workflow. Includes code examples for custom panels, contextual menus, and event listeners. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/uxp-vs-cep-photoshop.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/uxp-vs-cep-photoshop.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Compare UXP and CEP extensions in Photoshop. Differences in performance, compatibility, and security between the old and new extension platforms. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/variable-data-printing.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/variable-data-printing.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Creating personalised documents like direct mail and event tickets? Explore variable data printing standards including PDF/VT, PPML, and more. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/what-is-acrobat-plugin.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/what-is-acrobat-plugin.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How Acrobat plugins enhance Adobe Acrobat with added features, from interactive forms and annotations to advanced document processing tasks. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/what-is-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/what-is-pdf.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A clear explanation of what PDF is, why it was created, how it works, and why it remains the world's most widely used document format. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/64-bit-release.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/64-bit-release.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Mapsoft has released a 64-bit Windows version of TOCBuilder to support Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Acrobat 2020 64-bit versions. News https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-standard-vs-pro.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-standard-vs-pro.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Compare Acrobat Standard and Pro to find the right edition for your workflow. Key differences, platform availability, and who benefits from each version. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-alternatives.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-alternatives.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters The best Adobe Acrobat alternatives for PDF editing in 2026. Compare Foxit, PDF-XChange, Nitro, and free open-source options for your needs. Adobe https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-action-wizard.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-action-wizard.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Acrobat Action Wizard guide - create automated multi-step PDF workflows for OCR, redaction, watermarking, and custom JavaScript actions. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/fda-pdf-compliance.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/fda-pdf-compliance.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Step-by-step guide to creating FDA-compliant PDFs with Acrobat, Mapsoft Bookmarker, and TOCBuilder. Covers fonts, bookmarks, searchability, and TOC. Compliance https://mapsoft.com/posts/batch-processing-acrobat.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/batch-processing-acrobat.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Batch process PDFs in Adobe Acrobat using Action Wizard, JavaScript sequences, and automation techniques to handle repetitive tasks at scale. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-merge-pdfs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-merge-pdfs.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how to merge PDF files in Adobe Acrobat using the Combine Files tool, Insert Pages, and JavaScript. Covers bookmarks, form fields, and PDF/A compliance. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-edit-pdfs.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-edit-pdfs.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A practical guide to editing text, images, and pages in PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat's Edit PDF tools. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-split-pdf.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/how-to-split-pdf.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Learn how to split PDF files in Adobe Acrobat - extract pages, split by page count or file size, split by bookmarks, and automate splits with JavaScript. How-To https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-bookmarks.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-bookmarks.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters A complete guide to PDF bookmarks: what they are, how they work in the PDF specification, how Acrobat generates them, and how to automate their creation. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-pdfa-standard.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-pdfa-standard.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters In-depth guide to PDF/A, the ISO 19005 standard for long-term archiving. Covers conformance levels, requirements, prohibited features, and conversion. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sdk-overview.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/acrobat-sdk-overview.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Adobe Acrobat SDK guide - build plugins, automate PDF workflows, and extend Acrobat using C++ and the Acrobat SDK APIs. Development https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-accessibility.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-accessibility.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters Guide to PDF accessibility: tagged PDF, WCAG 2.1, PDF/UA (ISO 14289), logical structure, alt text, table markup, reading order, and remediation. PDF https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-digital-signatures.html https://mapsoft.com/posts/pdf-digital-signatures.html Mon, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Michael Peters How PDF digital signatures work: cryptographic signing, PKI certificates, approval vs certification signatures, long-term validation, and PAdES. PDF