Documentation¶

The SDK library is rapidly evolving. While most of the documentation remains unchanged, see the following tables for the latest details. Note that many of the details remain the same, and you may refer to the existing Acrobat SDK documentation.

2021 docs¶

Acrobat SDK library¶

Document	Description	2015 doc
Release Notes	Links, change history, known issues	N/A
SDK Overview	Overview, choosing a development methodology, differences between Acrobat and Reader, example features, FAQ	N/A
Acrobat SDK Samples Guide	A guide to the sample code included with the Acrobat DC SDK.	N/A
Developing plugins and Applications	Developing plugins for Acrobat and Acrobat Reader, as well as for PDF Library applications.	N/A
Extending the Acrobat SaveAsXML Plugin	Enabling Acrobat DC to save documents in a customized text-based format.	HTML
Interapplication Communication Developer Guide	Using DDE, OLE, Apple events, and AppleScript to control the app and to render Adobe PDF documents, including detailed descriptions of DDE, OLE, Apple event, and AppleScript APIs for controlling the app or for rendering PDF documents.	HTML
Acrobat JavaScript Developer Guide	Using JavaScript to develop and enhance standard workflows in Acrobat DC and Acrobat DC Reader.	HTML
Acrobat JavaScript API Reference	Detailed descriptions of JavaScript APIs for developing and enhancing workflows in Acrobat DC and Acrobat DC Reader.	HTML
Acrobat 3D Annotations JavaScript API Reference	Detailed descriptions of JavaScript APIs for adding interactivity to 3D annotations within PDF documents.	HTML
Snippet Runner Cookbook	Prototyping code without the overhead of writing and verifying a complete plugin or application.	HTML
Acrobat Tracker	Using RSS to track remote resources in an occasionally-connected environment.	HTML
Acrobat Distiller API Reference	Detailed descriptions of APIs for controlling Acrobat Distiller for PDF file creation.	HTML
Adobe PDF Creation Settings	Specifying settings for the creation of PDF files.	HTML
pdfmark Reference	A detailed description of an extension to the PostScript language which allows the description of PDF features not found in standard PostScript.	HTML
PDF Accessibility API Reference	Detailed descriptions of the APIs for using assistive technology with PDF documents.	HTML
Batch Sequences	Using JavaScript to perform repetitive operations on a collection of files.	HTML
Acrobat API Reference	A description of the APIs which help you develop Adobe Acrobat plug-ins and PDF Library applications.	HTML

Downloading and searching docs¶

You can download all of the PDF docs and search the doc set on your computer:

Download a zip of all PDF docs.
Unzip the docs.
Open Acrobat and choose Edit > Advanced Search.

Note

The HTML content links point to the previous version of the documentation which either 1) remains current and/or 2) is waiting for an update. Links will be remapped as new documents roll out.

2015 HTML docs (12.x)¶

While the previous docs are now deprecated, 98% of the information is identical and remains online. If you use it, keep it mind it does not contain the latest information, and references to Unix, LiveCycle, and other deprecated features have not been removed.

11.x and earlier documentation¶

Deprecated documentation (11.x and earlier) is not available online. For access to other versions of the developer documentation, contact acrobat-sdk-users@adobe.com.