Adobe acrobat 7.0.5 sdk User Manual
Deciding Which Acrobat SDK Technology to Use
Deciding Between Plug-ins and JavaScript
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Subsequent chapters of this document discuss specific tasks you can do using the
Acrobat SDK and which technologies you can use to perform those tasks.
Acrobat SDK and which technologies you can use to perform those tasks.
General Issues
The table below lists other general issues that are relevant to deciding between plug-ins
and JavaScript.
and JavaScript.
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3.2
Plug-ins vs. JavaScript - General Issues
Scope
●
A plug-in affects all PDF documents viewed by Acrobat.
●
JavaScript can affect either a single document or all PDF
documents in a particular folder.
documents in a particular folder.
Installation/
Distribution
Distribution
●
Plug-ins must be placed in the
Plug_ins
folder or directory by
an installer or by the user.
●
Document-level JavaScripts are easier to distribute since they can
be included directly within the PDF file and do not require an
installer. Folder-level JavaScripts must be placed in the Acrobat
application JavaScript folder or the user’s JavaScript folder.
be included directly within the PDF file and do not require an
installer. Folder-level JavaScripts must be placed in the Acrobat
application JavaScript folder or the user’s JavaScript folder.
Low-level Access
●
Plug-ins can access and manipulate low-level objects in the PDF
object model, such as the Cos layer.
object model, such as the Cos layer.
●
JavaScript scripts can only access a limited set AV and PD layer
objects.
objects.
Execution Speed
●
Plug-ins are compiled and loaded when Acrobat initializes.
●
Execution of JavaScript code is generally slower than plug-in code
because it is interpreted instead of compiled. The difference is
noticeable only in very computation-intensive applications, such
as a full-text search in a large PDF file.
because it is interpreted instead of compiled. The difference is
noticeable only in very computation-intensive applications, such
as a full-text search in a large PDF file.
Ease of
Implementation
Implementation
●
Plug-ins are developed in C or C++ and are compiled and linked in
the appropriate development environment. You must be careful to
include all necessary header files for your application.
the appropriate development environment. You must be careful to
include all necessary header files for your application.
●
JavaScript scripts are easier to write and implement since they are
developed using the editor and debugger that come as part of
Acrobat Professional. Developers can also use an external editor to
create and edit JavaScripts.
developed using the editor and debugger that come as part of
Acrobat Professional. Developers can also use an external editor to
create and edit JavaScripts.
Cross-platform
compatibility
compatibility
●
Plug-ins must be built on different platforms to handle certain
platform-specific issues.
platform-specific issues.
●
JavaScript is cross-platform compatible.