PDFlib PLOP DS 5

PLOP DS (Digital Signature) is based on PDFlib PLOP, a versatile tool for linearizing, optimizing, repairing, analyzing, encrypting and decrypting PDF documents. PDFlib PLOP DS additionally offers the ability to apply digital signatures to PDF documents. It supports the latest trends and standards in digital signature technology including PDF 2.0 according to ISO 32000-2 and PAdES signatures (ETSI TS 102 778 and ETSI EN 319 142), which in turn are based on CAdES (ETSI TS 101 733).

PDFlib PLOP DS applies PDF signatures which can be validated with Adobe Reader, Acrobat, or any other validator which supports PDF signatures. PLOP DS reads the signer’s digital ID (i.e. the certificate plus corresponding private key) from memory, a disk file, or a secure hardware token such as a smartcard. The digital ID is used to create a cryptographic signature for the PDF document. Applying a signature can be combined with encryption.

• Create signatures in existing PDF signature fields or generate new fields which hold the signature. The signatures can be invisible or visible at a particular location on the page.
• Visualize digital signatures by importing a logo, scan of a handwritten signature or other representation as PDF page.
• Create PDF certification (author) signatures which allow document changes such as form-filling without breaking the signature.
• Validation information can be stored directly in the signature according to ISO 32000-1 or in a Document Security Store (DSS) as specified in ISO 32000-2 and PAdES part 4.
• Signatures can be applied in an incremental PDF update section to preserve existing signatures and document structure, or by rewriting the document structure which allows optimization and encryption.

PLOP DS supports all relevant PDF versions and standards:

• PLOP DS processes all PDF versions up to Acrobat DC, i.e. PDF 1.7 (ISO 32000-1) up to extension level 8. PLOP DS can also process documents according to the standard PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2).
• PLOP DS is aware of the PDF/A-1/2/3 (ISO 19005) archiving standards: if the input document conforms to PDF/A, the output document is guaranteed to conform as well. PLOP fully supports XMP extension schemas as required by PDF/A. The ability to insert PDF/A-conforming XMP metadata in PDF documents is an important advantage of PLOP DS.
• Similarly, PLOP DS is aware of the PDF/X-1a/3/4/5 (ISO 15930) print production standards, PDF/VT-1/2 (ISO 16612-2) for variable and transactional printing and PDF/UA-1 (ISO 14289) for accessible PDF.

PLOP DS Library or Command-Line Tool?

PLOP DS is available as a programming library (component) for various development environments, and as a command-line tool for batch operations. Library and command-line tool offer similar features, but are suitable for different deployment tasks.

The PLOP DS programming library is used for integration into desktop or server application. Examples for using the library with all supported language bindings are included in the PLOP DS package. Since the PLOP DS library accepts PDF input documents from a disk file or directly in memory, it can easily be combined with other products. For example, using the combination of PDFlib and PLOP DS you can create PDF invoices and sign them before sending them to the customer.

The PLOP DS command-line tool is suited for batch processing PDF documents. It doesn’t require any programming, but offers powerful command-line options which can be used to integrate it into complex workflows. The PLOP DS command-line tool can also be called from environments which do not support the use of the PLOP DS library.

Supported Development Environments

PDFlib PLOP DS is everywhere – it runs on practically all computing platforms. We offer 32-bit and 64-bit packages for all common flavors of Windows, macOS, Linux and Unix, as well as for IBM zSeries mainframe systems. Versions for iOS and Android are also available.

The PLOP DS core is written in highly optimized C and C++ code for maximum performance and small overhead. Via a simple API (Application Programming Interface) the PLOP DS functionality is accessible from a variety of development environments:

• COM
• C and C++
• Java
• .NET and .NET Core
• Objective-C
• Perl
• PHP
• Python
• Ruby