Berlin, - callas software has expanded the conversion options of its flagship product pdfaPilot – the tool for professional creation and validation of PDF/A files. Version 2.4 of callas pdfaPilot allows users to convert numerous additional formats into PDF/A files. These include PostScript/EPS and JPEG, TIFF and PNG image formats. An additional highlight of the product update is the validation of PDF/VT – a standard format for variable data printing. callas pdfaPilot 2.4 checks the corresponding pages of a document to ensure they comply with the standard and provides detailed error messages if it encounters discrepancies.

The pdfaPilot software from callas software offers businesses and public authorities a comprehensive set of functions for validating and creating PDF/A files. The software tool already supports a large number of formats such as MS Office and OpenOffice files. Users now also have the option to directly create PDF/A documents from PostScript/EPS, JPEG, TIFF and PNG files.

"This considerably expands the range of applications for the software once again," explains Dietrich von Seggern, Business Development Manager at callas software. "Using the PDF/VT validation feature integrated in pdfaPilot, we are also addressing completely new needs seen with high-volume printing tasks such as for invoices." PDF/VT is an ISO standard for variable data printing (VDP). The standard ensures the smooth exchange of VDP files between systems or companies involved in the production.

PDF/VT is based on PDF/X-4 and uses the document part metadata (DPM) concept to provide page management that extends beyond the options offered by PDF. This, for example, makes it possible to directly access all pages for a certain range of postal codes since any page can be categorized using the relevant metadata. callas pdfaPilot 2.4 checks the conformity of the documents by verifying whether the DPM metadata structure is consistent and matches the page structure, thus giving users a valuable tool for the customized printing of documents such as invoices.

In addition, pdfaPilot 2.4 ensures that it is easier to work with the resulting PDF files. When creating documents, data irrelevant to the display is removed automatically. The compression of the structures has been improved as well. "These features make the PDFs leaner overall," explains Dietrich von Seggern.

This update is a maintenance update also containing several internal improvements, in turn optimizing the efficiency of pdfaPilot as well as the memory handling even more. The positive effects of the improvement become particularly noticeable when processing large or highly complex files.

Prices and availability
callas pdfaPilot 2.4 is available now for 379 euro and callas pdfaPilot Server 2.4 is on the market at 4.499 euro. Licence holders can upgrade to the new version free of charge. A free demo version is available at www.callassoftware.com/callas/doku.php/en:download.