Applying usage rights to PDF documents using a watched folder

This Quick Start describes how to use the Reader Extensions service to apply usage rights to a PDF document. Applying usage rights to a PDF document allows Adobe Reader users to use interactive features that are available in Adobe Acrobat. Interactive features, such as commenting and the ability to save files locally, are not available in Adobe Reader. For more information about the Reader Extensions service, see Services Reference for Adobe LiveCycle ES4.

For example, an organization has a process to gather feedback about the content of PDF documents. Using Adobe LiveCycle ES4 - Reader Extensions 10, additional usage rights can be applied to the PDF document so that users can provide comments using Adobe Reader. Users copy their PDF document to a folder and then retrieve the PDF document with usage rights applied to it from another folder.

An application, named enablePDFApp, implements the service for the organization. To use the service, users copy the PDF documents to a network folder named \\LiveCycleES4Server\SendForReview\input. Users retrieve the PDF document with usage rights applied to it from a network folder named \\LiveCycleES4Server\SendForReview\readyForReview. Both folders reside on the LiveCycle Server and are configured as shared folders. This configuration used to invoke the service is called a watched folder. A user ID of readadmin configured with the Services User role is used to invoke the service using watched folders. (See Configuring watched Folders endpoints in LiveCycle ES4 Administration Help.)

The enablePDFApp application includes a process, named applyREPDF, that includes the following items:

  • An input and output document variable, named reOuputPDF, that stores the PDF document. The process is invoked with the PDF document as input. The PDF document is fetched from the \\LiveCycleES4Server\SendForReview\input folder. The service saves the output PDF document to the \\LiveCycleES4Server\SendForReview folder.

  • The credential alias, named REEXTEND, is used to apply the usage rights to the PDF document.

  • A Watched Folder start point.

  • An Apply Usage Rights operation (Reader Extensions service).

The process diagram for the applyREPDF process looks like the following illustration:

generatePrintedOutput and sendtoPrinter operations.

    Configuration

    For the Apply Usage Rights operation, the following properties are configured:

    Input

    • Input PDF Document: The reOuputPDF variable that specifies the PDF document to apply usage rights to.

    • Credential Alias: A value of REEXTEND is provided. A developer or an administrator must import the credential to the server. (See Configuring credentials for use with Reade r Extensions in LiveCycle ES4 Administration Help.)

    • Usage Rights Options: The Commenting option is selected. The option permits users to add comments to a PDF document using Adobe Reader.

    • Reader Message: The value You can use AdobeReader to add comments to this document is typed. The value specifies the message users see when they open the PDF document using Adobe Reader.

    Output

    • Output PDF Document: The reOuputPDF variable that stores the PDF document that has usage rights applied to it.

      For the Watched Folder start point, the following properties are configured to invoke the process:

    General

    • Path: A value of \SendForReview is typed. The value specifies the location of the watched folder on the LiveCycle Server.

    • Domain Name: A value of DefaultDom is typed. The value specifies the domain name to which a user belongs. The domain for a user is configured in User Management on the LiveCycle Server. (See Setting up and managing domains in LiveCycle ES4 Administration Help.)

    • User Name: A value of readmin. The value specifies the user ID that is assigned the Server User role. The user ID must be part of the same domain configure for the Domain Name property. (See Creating and configuring roles in LiveCycle ES4 Administration Help.

    Server Configurations

    • Result Folder: The value of readyForReview is typed. The value specifies the name of the folder to which to save the processed PDF document.

    Inputs/Outputs

    • Input data filter: The value of *.pdf is typed. The value specifies to process only files with the PDF extension.

    • Document: The value of %F_review.%E is typed. The value specifies to use the original name of the file and add the string _review to the end of the filename.

    Other considerations

    Before using the Apply Usage Rights operation, configure a credential for applying usage rights to the PDF document on the LiveCycle Server. (See Configuring Reader Extensions in LiveCycle ES4 Administration Help.)

    When the watched folder resides on the LiveCycle Server, configure it as a shared folder with proper read and write permissions for the users. Users can only use a shared folder when it is configured correctly.