This document discusses embedding files in PDFs using FrameMaker to Acrobat. It provides information on:
1. A PDF can serve as a container that embeds related content like source files, data files, other PDFs, and media files for readers.
2. Embedded items appear as file comments or document attachments in the PDF. Readers can open or save embedded files.
3. With FrameMaker to Acrobat TimeSavers, features like file embedding can be defined once in the FrameMaker source and will be automatically included when distilling to PDF.
Embedding Files in PDFs (with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers)
1. Embedding Files in PDFs
With FrameMaker-to-Acrobat
TimeSavers + Custom Shortcut
Shlomo Perets microtype.com
2. 1
A PDF file as a Container
A PDF can serve as a container – a single file
that contains a wealth of related content
(live data that your readers can unpack and use):
■ Source programming files
■ Data files (e.g. spreadsheet)
■ Other PDFs
● Purchase order / Feedback form /Search form
■ Media files (audio/video) to be played
using local players (not as part of the page)
3. 2
Embedded items
Embedded files in PDF appear as a
■ File Comment on a specific page
● Visible as an icon
■ Document attachment
● Always available, but with a lower profile
● The Attachments panel can be shown
initially as the PDF is opened
4. 3
End-users with Adobe Reader
End-users with the free Adobe Reader
can view the PDF and
■ Open the embedded files, or
■ Save them locally
6. 5
Enhancing PDFs in Acrobat
■ Labor-intensive, repetitive process
■ Features added in Acrobat “disappear”
next time you distill / Save as PDF,
and must be recreated and tested again
7. 6
With TS: define once, use many!
■ All features described in this webinar
can be defined in your source FM
files using custom hypertext markers
■ Upon distilling with FM-to-Acrobat
TimeSavers, corresponding features are
automatically present in the PDFs
produced
■ Update content in FrameMaker source
as needed, then distill or Save as PDF
8. 7
Embedding source code files
■ With copying code listed as text in PDFs,
different text selection tools in Acrobat/
Reader produce variations with respect
to white space characters, line breaks or
special characters
■ This is further complicated when the
code listing is split between pages
(running header/footer text copied too)
9. 8
Embedding data files
For example:
■ Excel files
■ Images
■ Template files
10. 9
Embedding PDF files in PDF
■ Embedded items may optionally have
different security settings or require a
password before they can be opened
■ Can optionally add links/bookmarks to
specific locations in embedded PDFs
● Named destinations
● Page numbers
■ PDF attachments can be searched
through Acrobat/Reader Search
11. 10
Sample custom markers
■ alert ~CommentAttach (c:/temp/
Industrial-Strength XML.pps) (PowerPoint
slide show) (Use this as a basis for
presentations) /B0 (XML Overview
Slideshow)
■ alert ~DocAttach (C:/temp/
MuseumRoof.jpg) (Museum Roof)
12. 11
Additional info and examples
■ “36 Ways to Improve Your PDFs
with TimeSavers/Assistants”
microtype.com/ImprovePDF.html
■ TimeSavers/Assistants Showcase
(where all PDFs demonstrated in
this webinar are available)
microtype.com/showcase.html
■ TimeSavers/Assistants order form
microtype.com/TimeSavers.html
13. 12
Related live online training
■ Building a PDF Front-End Interface to
Document Collections
■ Visually-Oriented Documentation
■ Rich Media in PDFs with FM-to-Acrobat
TimeSavers+Multimedia Assistant
■ FrameMaker-to-PDF Advanced Tech