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Set up Acrobat Distiller Server

Set up Acrobat Distiller Server (5.0.5 for Windows XP, 2000, or NT and UNIX)

What’s covered

Set up the server

Set up the client

Create PDF documents

This document describes how to set up Adobe Acrobat Distiller Server workflows in Windows and UNIX, and how to create PDF documents using that workflow.

Set up the server

Adobe recommends that you set up watched folders on a host server and associate job options with each folder. Depending on your workflow, you can have one watched folder for each job option (for example, if you want to output the same PostScript file as an eBook or print job), or one watched folder for each user if you need to control the output for each user independently.

To set up Acrobat Distiller Server

Use the following procedures to get Distiller Server up and running.

— Windows

1. Create a watched folder . For instructions, see the Acrobat Distiller Server online Help.

2. Share the Out folder for all users who will be creating PDF documents.

3. Create a local printer port with the definition ” [drivename] :/ [watched folder name] /in/newPDF.ps.” This is done in the Server Properties dialog box in the Windows Printer panel:

a. Install an Adobe PostScript driver (AdobePS) with the Acrobat Distiller PPD file as the printer connected to the new port. The Acrobat Distiller PPD file adist5.ppd is located in the Program Files/Adobe/Acrobat 5.0/Distillr/Xtras folder that is created when you install Acrobat Distiller Server.

b. Share the port for general use: right-click the printer, choose Properties, click the Sharing tab, and then click the Share this printer option.

c. During installation, you will be prompted to select Windows versions that will need to be supported. Note those Windows versions here.

4. Move the Distiller application file (or a shortcut to it) into the Startup folder so that it automatically loads when the system is started.

You can download the latest version of the Adobe PostScript driver from the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com/products/printerdrivers/main.html .

— UNIX

In UNIX, watched folders are managed by using scripts. For guidelines on what these script should do, please see document 327022 , “Creating Scripts to Enable Non-UNIX Users to Access Acrobat Distiller Server 5.0.5 for UNIX.”

Set up the client

Adobe does not advise setting up the watched folders on the client side. Each client system is expected to be generating PostScript (*.PS) files and then accessing watched folders on the network in order to convert the PostScript files to PDF. For the greatest compatibility, each client system can install its own PostScript printer instance. The Adobe PostScript driver (AdobePS) in combination with the Distiller PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file is recommended for optimal PostScript-to-PDF generation.

To set up each client or end-user system in Windows:

1. Use My Network Places to browse to the computer or server where the new printer is installed for the client (one printer port/printer per client is needed to avoid confusion).

2. Double-click the printer driver that the client will use.

3. Install the printer on the client computer when prompted.

4. Use My Network Places to browse to the Out folder for this client (shared in Step 3 of Set up the server in Windows above) .

5. Drag this folder o nto the client desktop to create a shortcut to the Out folder after setup.

To set up the client system in UNIX:

1. Create a new local printer port with the definition “\HostNameFoldername”.

2. Install an Adobe PostScript driver using the Distiller 5.0.5 ppd connected to the new port.

3. Mount the Out folder on the desktop.

Create PDF documents

To create PDF documents, print from the client system and retrieve the files from the Out folder on the network:

1. Print from any application to the new printer driver.

2. After printing the document, double-click the Out folder that is now located on the client desktop.

3. Double-click the file newPDF.pdf to open the PDF file in Acrobat.

4. Save the file on the client system.

Important: The printer driver on the client system is always printing to a file named newPDF.ps, so the file name is always newPDF.pdf.

To enable the client user to give the file a more meaningful name:

1. Have the client click the Print to file button when printing

2. Create a PostScript file and copy it into the In folder on the network

3. Have the client user print to the shared In folder.

Comments

Set up Acrobat Distiller Server

Set up Acrobat Distiller Server (5.0.5 for Windows XP, 2000, or NT and UNIX)

What’s covered

Set up the server

Set up the client

Create PDF documents

This document describes how to set up Adobe Acrobat Distiller Server workflows in Windows and UNIX, and how to create PDF documents using that workflow.

Set up the server

Adobe recommends that you set up watched folders on a host server and associate job options with each folder. Depending on your workflow, you can have one watched folder for each job option (for example, if you want to output the same PostScript file as an eBook or print job), or one watched folder for each user if you need to control the output for each user independently.

To set up Acrobat Distiller Server

Use the following procedures to get Distiller Server up and running.

— Windows

1. Create a watched folder . For instructions, see the Acrobat Distiller Server online Help.

2. Share the Out folder for all users who will be creating PDF documents.

3. Create a local printer port with the definition ” [drivename] :/ [watched folder name] /in/newPDF.ps.” This is done in the Server Properties dialog box in the Windows Printer panel:

a. Install an Adobe PostScript driver (AdobePS) with the Acrobat Distiller PPD file as the printer connected to the new port. The Acrobat Distiller PPD file adist5.ppd is located in the Program Files/Adobe/Acrobat 5.0/Distillr/Xtras folder that is created when you install Acrobat Distiller Server.

b. Share the port for general use: right-click the printer, choose Properties, click the Sharing tab, and then click the Share this printer option.

c. During installation, you will be prompted to select Windows versions that will need to be supported. Note those Windows versions here.

4. Move the Distiller application file (or a shortcut to it) into the Startup folder so that it automatically loads when the system is started.

You can download the latest version of the Adobe PostScript driver from the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com/products/printerdrivers/main.html .

— UNIX

In UNIX, watched folders are managed by using scripts. For guidelines on what these script should do, please see document 327022 , “Creating Scripts to Enable Non-UNIX Users to Access Acrobat Distiller Server 5.0.5 for UNIX.”

Set up the client

Adobe does not advise setting up the watched folders on the client side. Each client system is expected to be generating PostScript (*.PS) files and then accessing watched folders on the network in order to convert the PostScript files to PDF. For the greatest compatibility, each client system can install its own PostScript printer instance. The Adobe PostScript driver (AdobePS) in combination with the Distiller PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file is recommended for optimal PostScript-to-PDF generation.

To set up each client or end-user system in Windows:

1. Use My Network Places to browse to the computer or server where the new printer is installed for the client (one printer port/printer per client is needed to avoid confusion).

2. Double-click the printer driver that the client will use.

3. Install the printer on the client computer when prompted.

4. Use My Network Places to browse to the Out folder for this client (shared in Step 3 of Set up the server in Windows above) .

5. Drag this folder o nto the client desktop to create a shortcut to the Out folder after setup.

To set up the client system in UNIX:

1. Create a new local printer port with the definition “\HostNameFoldername”.

2. Install an Adobe PostScript driver using the Distiller 5.0.5 ppd connected to the new port.

3. Mount the Out folder on the desktop.

Create PDF documents

To create PDF documents, print from the client system and retrieve the files from the Out folder on the network:

1. Print from any application to the new printer driver.

2. After printing the document, double-click the Out folder that is now located on the client desktop.

3. Double-click the file newPDF.pdf to open the PDF file in Acrobat.

4. Save the file on the client system.

Important: The printer driver on the client system is always printing to a file named newPDF.ps, so the file name is always newPDF.pdf.

To enable the client user to give the file a more meaningful name:

1. Have the client click the Print to file button when printing

2. Create a PostScript file and copy it into the In folder on the network

3. Have the client user print to the shared In folder.

Comments