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pdfToolbox Server

Automatic PDF preflight and corrections

callas pdfToolbox Server automates and standardizes the process of delivering and receiving files. Its advantages: automatic, high-quality preflighting and automatic, reliable correction of PDF files.

pdfToolbox

pdfToolbox offers powerful, dynamic and easy to integrate PDF processing, from quick visual inspection and fixing to fully unattended processing of thousands of files. Using rock-solid Adobe technology pdfToolbox provides checking and fixing of even very complex problems, color management, impositioning, conversion to and from PDF and more. pdfToolbox technology is used by small companies, large publishers and print providers as well as OEMs that integrate the technology in their own solution.

Hands off conversion to and from pdf

Hands off conversion to and from pdf

pdfToolbox server will convert any type of file to and from pdf, ranging from Office documents to PostScript or Images. In addition, the shapes technology embedded in pdfToolbox uses tracing technology, which allows you to add a correct die-cut line, an additional varnish or foil layer or an under-color white layer exactly there where needed.

Build pre-defined process plans for automation

Build pre-defined process plans for automation

You can also set up process plans with pdfToolbox Server. These plans define an automated flow that a file should be checked and processed through. Each step can be a preflight profile, a single preflight check or a fix or an action (such as saving images, transforming RGB to CMYK or, creating a booklet ….

Check point for manual intervention

Check point for manual intervention

Do you need someone to check the error files to decide whether or not they are a real production problem and, if necessary, to fix them? Then you can integrate manual parts in your automated workflow. This way, the operator can create added value for the client by using his knowledge, based on best practices to decide the best possible way to intervene in this error.

Quickly create standardized documents

Quickly create standardized documents

By using a preflight profile, you can easily identify and fix PDF problems. Many of those are based on international standards, such as ISO PDF standards or the Ghent Workgroup specifications. That way you are assured that the final document will be standardized and ready to print.

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Downloads

Version history

Showing the 5 most recent of 64 releases.

15.2.646.1

  • A free of charge update of pdfToolbox 15 Desktop for owners of a pdfToolbox 15 Desktop license
  • A free of charge update of pdfToolbox Server, pdfToolbox CLI or pdfToolbox SDK for owners of a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA)

Fixes

  • Process plans:
    • Data loss problem fixed that could occur when Process Plans with File Pickup in combination with “Do not save modified input file” were used

16.0.656

  • An upgrade to pdfToolbox Server 16, pdfToolbox CLI 16 or pdfToolbox SDK 16 from earlier versions of these products requires a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA). Please contact your reseller for further information

Features

  • Desktop
  • Process plans
  • New Fixups
    • Place file on path
    • Derive stroked from filled vector path
    • Replace barcode
    • Adjust Form XObject BBoxes to CropBox
    • Remove data: Removes data such as annotations, metadata or private data
  • Enhanced Fixups
    • Create spot color plate based on ink amount: New option to exclude certain spot colors from ink amount and support for Processing Steps
    • Create spot color plate based on ink amount using script variables: New option to exclude certain spot colors from ink amount and support for Processing Steps
    • Convert colors: Optimized processing of multipage PDFs and multiple referenced objects
    • Convert page content into image: Support for Lab color space
    • Flatten transparency: Filter to exclude objects from flattening
    • Generate bleed at page edges:
      • Automatically select the best bleed generation method specific to the content at the respective page edge
      • New predefined filter to repeat only "Visible page content except text"
      • Extended possibility to use filter "Except spot colors" independently from "Repeat only" selection
    • Generate bleed for irregular shapes: New predefined filter to repeat only "Visible page content except text"
    • Place barcode: New option to define the background color of a placed barcode
    • Place barcode: New section for advanced settings to define additional barcode generation parameters (JSON) [CA1033861]
    • Place Barcode|Text|Content: Improved reporting when processing results in an error, e.g. due to invalid barcode values or JavaScript issues
    • Arbitrary JavaScript controlled Fixups: Automatic fallback to default values if parameters are missing
  • New Properties
    • Bleed missing for irregular shape [CA1025888]
    • Bleed missing for page
    • Size of document XMP [FP59824]
    • Size of object XMP (on page level) [FP59824]
    • Processing Steps spot color used for print content
    • Custom Processing Steps key is second class name
    • Processing Steps spot color used for more than one Processing Step
    • Processing Step uses more than one spot color
    • TrimBox is landscape [FP78657]
    • TrimBox is portrait [FP78657]
  • Enhanced Properties
    • Find barcodes: Support for DataBar (RSS 14) codes
    • Find barcodes: "Color distance between barcode / matrix code and background” check works better for non-uniform colors [CA1033977]
    • Operators for text input fields: "is contained in list (ignore upper/lower case)" and "is not contained in list (ignore upper/lower case)"
    • Options to either use an existing Output Intent or a defined ICC profile for rendering [FP75854]
      • Effective ink coverage
      • Effective ink coverage in custom area
      • Effective ink coverage for registration color
      • Effective ink coverage for separated
      • Area effectively covered by ink amount above threshold
    • Option to define plates used for rendering
      • Effective ink coverage
      • Effective ink coverage in custom area
      • Effective ink coverage for registration color
      • Effective ink coverage for separated
    • Area effectively covered by ink amount above threshold
    • Text on page: RegEx capture groups are now reported in trigger values in XML, JSON and JSONv2 reports as well as in JS Variable "app.doc.result" objects
    • Various properties: Added Variable support for units [FP49194; FP77652]
  • New or enhanced predefined Profiles and Process plans
    • Library: Prepress, Color and Transparency:
      • Identify color pages: Returns a hit for every page that contains color and stores the result in variables
      • Generate 5mm bleed (autoselect bleed generation method)
      • All "GWG 2022 R1"-based Profiles: Improved ink coverage checks and of identifying empty pages
      • All "GWG 2015" & "GWG 2022" Profiles removed as they have been deprecated by GWG
    • New or enhanced predefined Fixups
      • Library: Prepress, Color and Transparency:
        • Generate 5mm bleed (autoselect bleed generation method)
        • Derive spot color for haptic print
        • Redraw cut line
    • New or enhanced predefined Checks
      • Library: Prepress, Color and Transparency:
        • Bleed missing for page
        • Bleed missing for irregular shape
  • New Library: Processing Steps
    • Profiles and Process plans:
      • Prepare PDF using technical colors with Processing Steps layers
      • Add Processing Steps layers
      • Verify compliance with Processing Steps (ISO 19593-1) for packaging and label (formerly part of the "PDF Standards" Library)
      • List Processing Steps metadata information (formerly part of the "PDF Standards" Library)
    • Fixups
      • Flatten transparency, keep Processing Steps layers
    • Checks
      • Is Processing Steps layer
  • New or enhanced Actions
  • New or enhanced Quick Fix
  • CLI
    • Extract and import images: New action --modifyimages to replace images in PDFs based on files referenced by JSON (e.g. created via --extract mode)
    • All "GWG 2015" & "GWG 2022" Profiles removed as they have been deprecated by GWG
  • Most recent version of Adobe PDF Library integrated (v18.0.5PlusP1g)
  • Most recent version of Adobe PDF Converter integrated (PostScript to PDF conversion; v3.2.0Plus1m)
  • Internal HTML converter updated to callas pdfChip (v2.6.095)

Fixes

  • Desktop
    • Workspace: Problem solved, where Process plan setting "Do not save modified input file" was not respected [FP79180, FP79968]
  • Process plans
    • Reports: Issue fixed, where a Variable defined for the PDF overview report template was not respected [FP79184]
    • Do not save modified input file: Problem solved, where files were not handled properly if loops existed in the Process plan [FP78802]
  • Fixups
    • Convert colors: Problem solved, where processing time increased due to non-optimal handling of shared resources [FP77936]
    • Convert colors using DeviceLink: Issue fixed, where processing using non-supported 3-channel CMY destination ICC profile resulted in an error [FP62718]
    • Convert page content into image: Improved handling of existing Output Intents for rendering if object filters are used
    • Convert page content into image: Improved handling of existing Output Intent when objects were excluded from bleed creation to ensure correct color values
    • Create bleed by upscaling: Problem solved, where scaling was not properly executed for portrait pages [FP79257]
    • Create spot color plate based on ink amount: Problem solved, where result was not as expected if a filter for object exclusion was used [FP79099]
    • Crop pages: Problem solved, where certain, unnecessary content stream operators were not handled properly and resulted in shifted content [CA1029279]
    • Derive page geometry box from crop marks: Problem solved, where certain black marks were not properly detected [CA1034036]
    • Generate bleed at page edges:
      • Problem solved, where no bleed was created for corners in "mirror page objects" mode for a certain PDF [FP77930]
      • Optimized analysis for "Derive offset" for improved bleed generation if only a single edge is requested
      • Problem solved, where objects which should be excluded by filter for Processing steps were taken into account for the bleed nonetheless [FP79624]
      • Improved handling of existing Output Intent when objects were excluded from bleed creation to ensure correct color values [FP79923]
    • Generate bleed for irregular shapes:
      • Problem solved, where yellow areas were created in certain cases [FP79590]
      • Improved handling of existing Output Intents for rendering if object filters are used
      • Improved handling of existing Output Intent when objects were excluded from bleed creation to ensure correct color values
    • Make document XMP Metadata compliant: Problem solved, where processing resulted in a failure [FP75276]
    • Map spot and process colors: Issue fixed, where not all occurrences were mapped if spot color was referenced by certain nested Form XObjects [CA1032306]
    • Map spot and process colors: Issue fixed, where a spot color library could no longer be used anymore (Windows only) [FP79117]
    • Optimize the PDF for fast web view: Issue fixed, where execution was not reported [CA1033960]
    • Place content on page: JavaScript errors are now reported if a failure occurs due to this error
    • Place file on page: New options to specify width and height for placed file [FP79673]
    • Remove invisible image data: Problem solved, where image visually disappeared due to a specific SoftMask usage [FP78665]
    • Remove objects: Problem solved, where Form XObjects used for bleed remained outside page area [CA1030462]
    • Set layer initial print state: Problem fixed, where initial state could not be set to "Never prints" in certain case [FP75601]
    • Place ... based Fixups: Issue fixed, where only one Fixup was reported, when several Fixups were executed
    • General font processing: Problem solved, where a double SPACE was inserted, although not necessary [FP78863]
    • General font processing: Problem solved, where unnecessary entries in the encoding of a CFF font caused problems on certain output devices [FP80291]
  • Checks
    • Is landscape: Changed behavior, now uses the CropBox to determine orientation (was BleedBox before) [FP78657]
    • Is portrait: Changed behavior, now uses the CropBox to determine orientation (was BleedBox before) [FP78657]
    • Image is not valid: Problem solved, where analysis could not be executed properly [CA1034104; FP79120; FP79636]
    • Find barcodes: Problem solved, where size of found "RSS Extended Stacked" barcodes was not determined correctly [CA1031990; CA1034117]
    • Find barcodes: Issue fixed, where a barcode was reported for a layer, although not assigned to this layer [FP78802]
    • Smallest distance from TrimBox: Problem solved, where certain font structures resulted in unusually long processing time [CA1033842]
    • Sifter-based properties: Issue fixed, where certain clipped smooth shades were incorrectly interpreted [FP78311]
    • General font analysis: Problem solved, where a certain unusually high value in Font CMaps resulted in unnecessary long processing and memory consumption [CA1033903]
  • Process plans
    • Action "Split and reorder": Issue fixed, where output filename was indexed instead of being derived from the page number
  • Actions
    • ToPDF:
      • Images: Issue fixed, where certain Tiff files could not be converted to PDF [CA1021439]
      • PostScript:
        • Problem solved, where clippings were not handled correctly in some cases [CA1030777]
        • Problem solved, where content was not handled properly when certain PostScript constructions were used [CA1030777]
        • Issue fixed, where not all page geometry boxes were retained after conversion [FP79432]
    • Extract images: Problem solved, where certain images were inverted when exported [CA1023745; PF34511; FP54115; FP59838]
    • Extract content: Problem fixed where certain combined UTF-16 code (to represent a UTF-32 character) was not handled correctly (Linux only) [FP80021]
    • SaveAsImage: Problem solved, where rendering could not be performed correctly for certain file dimensions at certain resolutions [FP80135]
    • SaveAsImage: Issue fixed, where exported multichannel TIFF files were inverted when created with high resolution [FP80148]
    • Spotify: Problem solved, where certain settings causing the application to hang with some PDFs [FP80049]
  • Reports
    • XML: Problem solved, where report creation failed in a certain case [CA1033809]
    • XML: Schema (XSD) adapted, as certain entries were not clearly defined [FP77546; FP79655]
  • CLI
    • Predefined Profiles: Issue fixed, where an incorrect destination ICC profile was used in "Convert to CMYK only (Coated GRACoL 2006)" from "Convert colors" [CA1033864]
  • General
    • Problem solved, were certain corrupt metadata could result in an unstable behavior [FP79956]
    • JavaScript Variables: Problem solved, where accessing invalid data could result in unstable behavior in certain cases [FP79116]

System requirements

  • Mac: macOS version 10.15 or newer, 64-bit-compliant


16.0.657

  • A free of charge update of pdfToolbox Server, pdfToolbox CLI or pdfToolbox SDK for owners of a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA)

Features

  • Internal HTML converter updated to callas pdfChip (v2.6.096)

Fixes

  • Desktop
    • Profile summary: Problem solved, where creating a summary was not successful if Profile contained JavaScript-based Checks or Fixups [FP80489]
    • Arbitrary JavaScript controlled Check: Issue solved, where "Open list of all base Checks" was no longer functional [CA1034235]
  • Fixups
    • Subset fonts: Problem solved, where certain supplement encodings were not handled correctly, resulting in incomplete rendering with certain viewers [FP80291]
  • Checks
    • Bleed missing for page: Issue fixed, where the "facing pages" option was not properly regarded
    • Bleed missing for page: Problem solved, where using a page filter resulted in an error in certain cases [FP80455]
    • Arbitrary JavaScript controlled Check: Problem solved, where the property "Create a hit (or not) for page areas" could not be used anymore [CA1034251]
    • Arbitrary JavaScript controlled Check: Issue fixed, where wrong value for Processing Steps setting was inserted when using a predefined Check as template [CA1034235]

16.1.661

  • A free of charge update of pdfToolbox Server, pdfToolbox CLI or pdfToolbox SDK for owners of a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA)

Features

  • Desktop
    • Testmode: A new "Cancel" button next to the progress bar, makes it easier to cancel the run when it takes too long, while keeping the Check results collected so far
    • ProcessPlan editor: Improved "snap to grid" functionality for steps and annotations
    • ProcessPlan editor: Annotations now support different text alignment options
  • Fixups
    • Remove invisible image data: New option "Duplicate multiple used images if necessary" [FP78688]
  • Actions
    • MergePDF: Pagelabels of input files will now be maintained [FP25579; CA1032557]
  • Server
    • Content from Sidecar files is now available in the app.context.sidecar object in JavaScript Variables
  • CLI
    • Support for cancelling a preflight run while keeping the results collected so far (e.g. for reports): --timeout_withresults
  • Reports
    • Quick Check: MD5 hash values of ICC profiles used in Output Intents are now also listed [FP80134]
    • Internal HTML converter updated to callas pdfChip (v2.6.098)

Fixes

  • Desktop
    • Object Inspector: Problem solved, where the position of an object was not properly transferred to the derived Check
    • Search Libraries dialog: Fixed an issue, where entries in the Libraries popup were not sorted alphabetically [CA1034247]
  • New Fixups
    • Remove broken link annotations and bookmarks [CA1034271, CA1034296]
  • New Properties
    • Link annotation uses broken destination [CA1034271]
    • Bookmark uses broken destination [CA1034271]
  • Enhanced Profiles
    • Library: PDF Standards:
    • Convert to PDF/X-1...: "Recompress JPEG2000 images as JPEG" has been added as an additional default Fixup
  • Fixups
    • Add missing layer / Put objects on layer: Issue fixed, where created layer structure contained an empty group entry
    • Convert colors: Problem solved, where certain smooth shade structures could result in an unstable behavior [CA1034560]
    • Convert colors: Problem solved, where certain Bitmap images using some special additional CCITT compression parameter were not converted properly [FP63608; FP80044; FP81119]
    • Convert SMask to image mask: Problem solved, where an incorrect decode array could result in corrupted content if transparency was flattened afterwards [CA1034191]
    • Convert TrueType to CFF: Problem solved, where glyphs were not properly handled due to some rare encoding entries [FP80875]
    • Create invisible text via OCR: Issue fixed, where text was created with an offset if the boxes were not properly nested
    • Derive page geometry boxes from crop marks: Problem solved, where certain dashed vector objects resulted in an incorrect box detection [FP80938]
    • Downsample/compress bitmap images: Problem solved, where certain CCITT-decoded inline images were not converted properly [FP81152]
    • Generate bleed at page edges: Problem solved, where processing was not successful if "derive offset from page" was used in certain cases [CA1034294]
    • Map colors using script variables: Problem solved, where using tabulators resulted in an error [FP60798]
    • Map spot and process colors: Issue fixed, where separation "All" was not handled if the "Convert to destination" method was selected [CA1025600; FP79797]
    • Place file on path: Issue fixed, where a file path could not be submitted as a variable [CA1034433]
    • Place rectangle: Problem solved, where the position differed if the rounded corner value was set [FP63057]
    • Remove from layer: Problem solved, where certain layer structures where not properly maintained and objects could become invisible [CA1034567, CA1034538]
    • Remove objects: Problem solved, where certain, non-painting vector fragments resulted in an error [FP79858]
    • Remove objects: Problem solved, where duplicated cut contours were detected but not removed [FP71479]
    • Remove objects outside page area: Problem solved, where page content was partly shifted in some cases [CA1033874]
    • Remove XMP metadata: Problem solved, where not all defined metadata was removed when multiple Fixup settings were defined [CA1034261; FP80252]
    • Remove XMP metadata: Issue fixed, where processing resulted in an error when "Set Title entry to filename" was executed in the same Profile [FP80106]
    • Subset fonts: Problem solved, where certain CID encoding for space characters could result in glyphs vanishing [FP80785]
    • General font processing: Problem solved, where certain, corrupt cmap structures were not properly detected or repaired [CA1034409]
  • Checks
    • Arbitrary JavaScript controlled Check: Problem solved, where defined "unit" value was not properly regarded [CA1034363]
    • Bleed missing for page: Accuracy of derived values for bleed improved [CA1034278]
    • Find barcodes:
      • Issue fixed, where the number of barcodes found varied from run to run in certain cases (Windows only) [CA1034117]
      • Improved recognition of QR code quiet zones when the surrounding background is just slightly different to the background of the barcode area
      • Improved barcode detection and more accurate dimension calculation [CA1034420]
    • Font is not valid: Improved recognition of certain font issues where glyphs were not listed correctly in the necessary tables [FP79973]
    • Rotation: Issue fixed, where the determined value was incorrect and not calculated counter-clockwise in certain cases [FP80598]
    • Object is completely obliterated: Issue fixed, where clipping was taken into account due to the way certain transparent objects and their painting areas were stacked [FP74804]
  • Actions
    • Extract Images: Issue fixed, where images used in FormXObjects were not being exported [FP55175]
    • Extract XMP metadata: Issue fixed, where images in Form XObjects with no dimensions were not handled properly [CA1030432]
    • JavaScript-based Impose: Issue fixed, where BleedBoxes could not be defined for sheets
    • JavaScript-based Impose: Problem solved, where shingling was not properly calculated in certain cases [FP80963]
    • Modify Structures: Problem solved, where bookmarks using the "Open" state were not inserted correctly [CA1032458]
    • Pre-separated pages: Problem solved, where two overlapping images with overprint were not regarded properly [FP80325]
    • To PDF: Problem solved, where certain 16-bit TIFF images could not be converted to PDF properly [FP81033]
    • To PDF: Problem solved where temporary, internal files being created during conversion to PDF were not being deleted even though the final PDF was saved
    • Visualizer: Issue fixed, where the TIFF image format did not use the defined compression settings [CA1034185]
  • CLI
    • List Variables: Issue fixed, where internal variables were listed as available input variables [CA1034331]
    • Profile processing: Issue fixed, where the types of input variables were reported als incorrect, even if they were later overwritten by a Profile script [CA1034331]
    • Problem solved, where placing content failed due to a missing "libatomic1" package in certain, Linux distributions [FP78872]
    • Merge PDF: Issue fixed, where attempting to merge a corrupt file resulted in an incomplete merge instead of triggering an error [CA1034337]
  • Reports
    • Quick Check: Problem solved, where certain vector/text objects were not taken into account when calculating used plates [CA1034270]
    • Quick Check: Issue fixed, where the analysis of used colors resulted in an error due to the use of LZW compression for the content stream in certain cases [CA1034287]
  • Reports
    • Profile processing: Discontinued creation of dedicated log files in the TEMP folder of the application if processing errors occur [CA1034227, FP80359]
    • Improved recognition and repair of certain invalid SMask definitions [FP79898]
    • Problem solved, where internal content stream optimization did not set the color space for used SoftMasks not correctly in some cases, which could result in display issues [CA1033297; CA1034118; FP79770]
    • Process plans: Problem solved, where temporary files that were marked for deletion after processing were still listed as created files in the output [CA1034179]
    • Process plans: Problem solved, where requesting an XML report including ink coverage for a step resulted in an error upon execution [FP80366]
    • Problem solved, where the application became unstable when OpenCV system libraries were installed on the same system (macOS only) [FP80669]

16.1.662

  • A free of charge update of pdfToolbox Server, pdfToolbox CLI or pdfToolbox SDK for owners of a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA)

Fixes

  • Actions
    • To PDF: Problem solved, where PNG files could not be converted anymore (Windows CLI only) [FP81819]
  • General
    • Process plans: Fixed issue, where page selectors were no longer regarded properly
    • Process plans: Problem solved, where new pages were not correctly taken into account when they were added in a process plan that was itself used in another process plan [CA1034656]
    • JavaScript Variables: Problem solved, where effective box sizes did not took offsets into account anymore [FP81790]
  • Distributed Processing
    • Problem solved, where distributing processes was not successful anymore
  • Updated signatures of audit trail for preflight certification