How open is the pdf format? was: Re: pdf speed (Re: Acrobat reader 7.0 is out

[Art Alexion]

Eric Feliksik wrote:

> However, I don't know why the free (as in free speech, open source)
> pdf readers I have seen can not select text by line (instead of by
> block), and whether the new pdf format with editable fields is open.
> Anyone who know is very welcome to enlighten me.
>
Editable fields in PDF files have existed since the 1.1 spec (Acrobat
2.x)  I have never been able to find a non-Adobe reader that allows
filling the fields and saving the form data.  Actually the fields are
not only data storage, but can provide formulae and action buttons,
too.  Likewise, I have not found a non-adobe product that allows the
limited editing of PDFs, such as adding fields, comments, etc. 
ExtendPDF for OOO was supposed to do this, but I have never been able to
get it to work at all.  Unfortunately, after version 3 of Acrobat, Adobe
stopped making a Unix version of its Distiller and editor.

-- 

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Art Alexion
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