2015/10/12

Through the years, I have tried to make my AeB software (The AcroTeX eDucation Bundle - see this Adobe Flash Animation, a shameless advertisement) compatible with pdftex and dvipdfm; however, during that time, I've developed a number of techniques that require the use of Acrobat and distiller. Therefore, I have set off in a new direction and will be publishing a new line of LaTeX packages, ones that require the use of Acrobat.
I will, however, continue to develop the original AeB, never fear!

The AeB Pro Bundle ("Pro" indicates the use of Acrobat Pro and supported Distiller)
I am happy to announce the AeB Pro Bundle. AeB Pro is primarily aimded at users of Acrobat Pro 7.0 or later. Features are

  1. AeB Central (this can be used by non-distiller users)
  2. Complete support for set up the initial view of the document
  3. Extensive support for document actions: document level JS, set document actions (willSave, didSave, etc.) and open document actions
  4. Complete support for page actions
  5. Complete support for full screen mode, and all the current transition effects through version 8
  6. Methods to easily attach documents
  7. Document assembly methods, methods used immediately following distillation
  8. Methods for linking to attachments and launching attachments
  9. Support for creating PDF Packages
  10. Initializing fields using unicode
  11. Basic support for layers, rollovers and animations

Package files

  • aebpro_pack.zip For the package files and documentation. (2015/10/12)
  • aebpro_man.pdf The documentation can also be viewed online.
  • aebpro.zip This file contains the original demo files of this package, subsequent demo files are posted on my AcroTeX Blog web site.
AeB Pro assumes you are using the latest version of the The AcroTeX eDucation Bundle (AeB). You can go to the package web page, The AcroTeX eDucation Bundle, or download the zip file acrotex_pack.zip (package files and documentation) and (optionally) acrotex_exdoc.zip (demo files and additional documentation).

Demo files
Below are some of the demo files that illustrate the capabilities of AeB Pro. Some files are best viewed outside a browser:

  • aebpro_ex1.pdf: Illustrates the document and page open/close actions and fullscreen support of AeB Pro.
  • aebpro_ex2.pdf: Demonstrates the features of the pro option of the web package, including enhanced control over the layout of section headings and the title page.
  • aebpro_ex3.pdf: Highlights the attachments options and the doc assembly methods.
  • aebpro_ex4.pdf: A discussion of layers, rollovers and animation.
  • aebpro_ex5.pdf: Linking to attachments: The \ahyperlink and the \ahyperextract commands
  • aebpro_ex6.pdf: Learn how to create a PDF Package out of your attachments
  • aebpro_ex7.pdf: Fun with initial view
  • aebpro_ex8.pdf: Demonstrates how to create form fields using unicode string values: initialize the value of a text field, create buttons with unicoding as a button caption, define a combo box with unicode strings.
Other members of the AeB Pro Family are listed below.

Announcing
(02/21/10) AeB Builder utility is now in beta testing. AeB Builder is an application designed to process one or more LaTeX files by converting them to PDF files. Used for converting a whole collection of tutorials, a book with many source files, or a collections of online quizzes or tests, to PDF files. There are special switches for setting AeB package options, and a method of using one source file to create any number of different versions, or renditions.

AeB Pro Packages
These packages require Acrobat 7.0 or later, the aebXMP package requires Acrobat 8 Pro. All packages, except the AeB Slicing batch sequence require the AeB (The AcroTeX eDucation Bundle). Pick it up at the AeB base.

  • annot_pro (02/10/08) A package for creating text (or sticky notes), stamp, and file attachment annotations. See the annot_pro home page for more details.
  • rmannot (07/06/08) Acrobat version 9 introduces the rich media annotation, in which SWF, FLV and MP3 files are played. This package provides support for this new annotation. See the rmannot home page for more details.
  • AcroFLeX (07/06/08) An application of the rmannot package, this package is a graphing package. Users can interactively enter functions and have them graphed. A link system is also created to pre-populate the AcroFLeX graphing screen. Details of this package may be found at the AcroFLeX home page.
  • aeb_mlink (03/25/08) A package that implements multi-line links. Acrobat 7.0 or later requires to create the links, and Adobe Reader 7.0 or later required for the links to work properly. Read the documentation aebmlink_man.pdf, view a demo file (mlink_tst.pdf), and download the distribution aeb_mlink.zip. aeb_mlink requires the latest version of the AeB distribution, go to AcroTeX eDucation Bundle, or download the zip files acrotex_pack.zip or acrotex.zip.
  • Opacity_Pro (12/29/07) The opacity_pro Package offers support for transparency (Chapter 7 of the PDF Reference) for those who use Distiller, version 6.0 or later to produce a PDF. The download is opacity_pro.zip. There are four sample files:
    • oppro_tst.pdf: General demo file with minimal packages (does not require AeB, for example)
    • oppro_tst1.pdf: Uses some web features (get the latest acrotex_pack.zip) and graphicx package.
    • oppro_tst2.pdf: Demos transparent color boxes and uses PStricks to draw circles with a transparent fillin. This file contains a patch to pstricks-add that enables the fillstyle=transparent for distiller users.
    • oppro_tst_tk.pdf: Demonstrates "text knockout" and transparent verbatim text.
    The documentation is opacity_pro_man.pdf, it is included in the .zip file.
  • GraphicxSP (09/01/07) The GraphicxSP package is an extension of the graphicx package. GraphicxSP embeds the graphic in the PDF document once, and allows the document author to use and re-use that same graphic without significantly increasing the file size. Additionally, GraphicxSP supports Adobe transparency imaging model.
    GraphicxSP is useful for repeated graphics like backgrounds, watermarks, company/universit logos and so on. The graphics produced by GraphicxSP appears to be clearer at high zoom factors than the same graphic produced by the classic graphic package.
    This major package has it s own page, see the GraphicxSP Package home page.
  • The AeB Pro eEnvelope System (APES) (05/17/07) This is a LaTeX package that uses the concept of an eEnvelope to attached files. The sysetem uses any one of four eEnvelope templates, or can use a custom designed template. The documentation can be viewed, aebenv_man.pdf, to view the four eEnvelope templates and to see the markup for this package. The package download is aeb_envelope.zip. As with all the packages in the AeB Pro family, Acrobat Pro and distiller are requied, and you need the latest Aeb Pro package, aebpro.zip, and it wouldn't hurt you to have the latest AeB package, acrotex_pack.zip, as well.
  • The aebXMP Package: A LaTeX package that fills in the advance metadata. Requires Acrobat 8 Professional, and uses E4X, the xml parser that is built into version 8 JavaScript engine.
    • Version 0.2: Added support for unicode in copyright and url info fields.
    • The documentation, aebxmp_doc.pdf, has the package and the test file attached to it.
  • TheAcroSort Package: A novelty package for importing an image that has been sliced into rows and columns and randomly rearranged. The JavaScript does a bubble sort on the picture.
    • Documentation and demo file: acrosort_test.pdf
    • Package file and sample images: acrosort.zip
    • To slice your photos into rows and columns, you will need my AeB Slicing batch sequence.
  • AeB Slicing batch sequence: This is a batch sequence for Acrobat Pro that takes the image open in Acrobat and slices it into a specified number of rows and columns, and saves the slices to a designated folder.
  • The AcroMemory Package: A LaTeX package that implements two variations of a memory game: (1) a single game board consisting of a number of tiles, each tile has a matching twin, the object is to find all the matching twins; (2) two game boards, both identical except one has been randomly rearranged, the object is the find the matching pieces in each of the two game boards. The AeB Slicing batch sequence is used to slice the image into a specified number of rows and columns.
    Two demo files illustrate the two games:
    • The Documentation
    • Documentation:acromemory_doc.pdf
    • Package and demo files: acromemory.zip
    • To slice your photos into rows and columns, you will need my AeB Slicing batch sequence.
  • AcroRobot man speaks, just for laughs. Turn on your speakers. The source file is attached to the PDF document.
    New: Here is another example, Robot Man Verbalizes Logarithm Properties (created for my College Algebra students).

Regards,

dpstory@uakron.edu

Now I simply must get back to my retirement!

Other Sights at this Site