June 18, 2008, 11:14 AM — Adobe Systems on Tuesday plans to announce an upgrade to its process automation software, Adobe LiveCycle Enterprise Suite (ES) Update 1, featuring an open-source content repository and capabilities to convert data to Adobe's PDF format.
LiveCycle is a set of Java services for uniting electronic forms, business process management, security, and document management. Update 1 adds components for rapid development of content-rich applications, automated conversion of two- and three-dimensional CAD design data to PDF, and Adobe Solution Accelerators for deploying enterprise applications.
Also highlighted is LiveCycle Content Services ES, featuring inclusion of the Alfresco open-source content repository for managing content within a process, said Brian Wick, director of product marketing at Adobe. For example, if a user is filling out a loan package, the application would go into the repository to package together other content related to the process.
"It's much easier, much quicker for our customers to build LiveCycle apps with the content services piece built in," Wick said.
A LiveCycle user who has implemented a contract management system based on an earlier version of Adobe's software said the new version offers improvements in APIs and support for use by blind persons.
"It's definitely going to be a nice upgrade from our current version," said user John Molaison, IT application managers for the Louisiana Department of Social Services.
By converting CAD documents to PDF with LiveCycle PDF Generator 3D ES, document reviewers only need the free Adobe Reader software instead of requiring a seat of the expensive CAD software, said Wick. Adobe AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) front ends also are supported, enabling offline interaction with rich Internet applications based on LiveCycle.
Solution Accelerators being introduced feature best practices, software code, and documentation around common uses cases. Accelerators for forms-based enrollment and customer correspondence can be used in production.
Adobe LiveCycle ES Update 1 is due to ship next month. Adobe last year focused on rich Internet application capabilities for LiveCycle ES.
