LiveCycle Output ES2 Upgrade Center

Upgrading to LiveCycle Output ES2

Adobe introduced LiveCycle ES2 in October 2009. LiveCycle ES2 offers a variety of benefits and reasons to upgrade from previous versions, including faster, more intuitive, and collaborative development environments and more flexible deployment options.

What are the new features in the LiveCycle Output ES2 release?

LiveCycle Output ES2 includes the following new capabilities:

• Adobe Central Pro Output Server migration path: Central Migration Bridge allows Central Pro data transformations and document merges to be included as steps in LiveCycle processes, simplifying the process of migrating existing Adobe Central Pro applications to LiveCycle.
• Render support for new Assembler-based Dynamic XDP Assembly capabilities to control and combine templates based on logic
• Enhanced label printer support, now including Intermec, Datamax, and Tec Toshiba label printers
• Ability to package documents into a SWF based PDF Portfolio
• Support for new USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode to qualify for U.S. mail discounts
• API and Service to clear cache and ability to specify cache directory.
• Improved paper tray and PCL media mapping in XDC Editor
• Better CIFS print support and security model

How are the PDF/A creation capabilities different from the first release of LiveCycle Output ES?

The first release of LiveCycle Output ES merged LiveCycle Designer templates with enterprise data to generate PDF/A documents. Now, with LiveCycle Output ES2, you can also convert large quantities of existing PDF documents to PDF/A-1b, with a validation step that first checks compliance with the standard and then converts the file if necessary. And because the PDF/A specification doesn't yet support digital signatures, LiveCycle Output ES2 provides an option to capture signature validation information in the document's metadata, and then inserts an image of the validated signature before converting it to PDF/A.

Upgrading to LiveCycle Output ES2

How does Adobe LiveCycle Output ES2 compare with Adobe LiveCycle Print 7.x?

The LiveCycle Output ES2 module is the successor to Adobe LiveCycle Print software. While LiveCycle Print 7.x added print format support to LiveCycle Forms, LiveCycle Output ES2 is a standalone product for delivery of dynamically generated documents. It combines and expands the functionality of LiveCycle Print, LiveCycle Designer, and LiveCycle Assembler.

In this release, LiveCycle Forms ES2 and LiveCycle Output ES2 each play important but different roles. While both merge LiveCycle Designer ES2 templates with enterprise data to generate forms and documents, LiveCycle Forms ES2 is now entirely dedicated to the creation and delivery of interactive forms in PDF, SWF, or HTML. LiveCycle Output ES2, on the other hand, is dedicated to the dynamic generation of documents in PDF, laser printer formats, and Zebra label printer format. It also incorporates the product previously known as LiveCycle Assembler. For example, an insurance company producing contract documents in PDF and posting them to a customer portal would have chosen LiveCycle Forms 7.x to do the job in the past. Today, LiveCycle Output ES2 would be the right choice because it delivers a personalized document of record required for the job. LiveCycle Output ES2 can also be used to print the document on demand to conclude the transaction in person.

What are the top reasons to upgrade from LiveCycle Print 7.0 to LiveCycle Output ES2?

Key reasons to upgrade include:

• Standardize on award-winning LiveCycle Designer ES2 form and document template design for interactive, on-demand, and batch output processes.
• Automatically generate personalized documents of record, such as contracts, welcome packages, invoices, quotations, or insurance policies, in PDF and printer formats.
• Submit documents to network-addressable printers and access printer features.
• Easily create customized document packages from new or existing PDF files.
• Generate documents in PDF/A for archiving; convert PDF documents to PDF/A-1b and single-page or multipage TIFF files.
• Enable server-based PDF file printing.
• Reduce the cost of output development, maintenance, and support by leveraging the LiveCycle environment and developer community.

What are the new features in LiveCycle Output ES2 compared with LiveCycle Print 7.x?

LiveCycle Output ES2 includes the following new capabilities:

• Adobe Central Pro Output Server migration path: Central Migration Bridge allows Central Pro data transformations and document merges to be included as steps in LiveCycle processes, simplifying the process of migrating existing Adobe Central Pro applications to LiveCycle.
• Render support for new Assembler-based Dynamic XDP Assembly capabilities: Control and combine templates based on logic.
• Enhanced label printer support: Intermec, Datamax, and Tec Toshiba label printers have been added to existing Zebra support.
• Documents can be packaged into a SWF-based PDF Portfolio.
• Support for new USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode enables documents to qualify for U.S. mail discounts.
• Caching functionality has been improved.
• Output ES2 has improved paper tray and PCL media mapping in the XDC Editor.
• Output ES2 offers better CIFS print support and a better security model.
• LiveCycle Designer ES2 fragments enable designers to easily manage, create, and update multiple templates through a collection of reusable form content and business logic.
• LiveCycle Designer ES2 now generates sample test data for use with PDF preview or the new direct-to-printer preview capability.
• PDF packages enable the assembly of new or existing documents or forms into a single PDF file.
• The device profile editor creates and edits profiles to support specific printer features, such as paper tray selection, stapling, copying, and two-sided printing.
• Batch processing generates all documents to one file or separates documents into individual files.
• Document packages can be generated from multiple LiveCycle Designer templates in PDF and print formats.
• PDF files can be converted directly to PostScript® and can submit server-based PDF printing to any PostScript printer.
• PDF/A documents can be generated for standards-based archiving.
• PDF documents can be converted to multipage TIFF files for archiving.
• Enhanced Zebra label printer supports RFID label generation.
• Asian and Middle Eastern language support is enhanced and worldwide enterprise document-generation needs are now supported.
• Network printer access has been expanded to include:
  • Common Internet File System (CIFS) printing
  • Direct-to-printer IP printing
  • Common UNIX® Printing System (CUPS)
• Output ES2 features more efficient document template caching and improved performance.
• PDF documents can be converted to PDF/A-1b for standards-based archiving.
• PDF documents can be converted to single-page TIFF files as well as a single multipage TIFF file for more flexible archive integration.
• Zebra label printer support has been extended to 600dpi printers.
• Documents can be created with signature fields for basic document-approval processes.
• Device profile editor is now fully integrated in LiveCycle Workbench ES.
• Updated Output IVS supports more complex cases and render performance testing.

Is there any cost to upgrade?

Customers with maintenance and support contracts for LiveCycle Print 7.0 and LiveCycle Assembler 7.0 are eligible to receive complimentary upgrades to LiveCycle Output ES2. LiveCycle Print customers will receive upgrade notifications automatically. The standard migration upgrade path for LiveCycle Assembler is LiveCycle PDF Generator ES2. However, customers who feel their needs would be better served by LiveCycle Output ES2 may request a substitution.

How will LiveCycle Output ES2 upgrade licenses be calculated?

LiveCycle Print 7.x licenses leverage user- or CPU-based pricing models. LiveCycle Output ES2 licenses are CPU-based only. Because it's not available on a per-user basis, one upgrade CPU license will be granted for every 200 licensed users. All fractions will be rounded up.

If we were using LiveCycle Forms 7.0 to generate both interactive forms and noninteractive PDF documents, what are our upgrade options?

Because noninteractive document output was a core capability in LiveCycle Forms 7.0, Adobe will provide comparable units of LiveCycle Output ES2 with each LiveCycle Forms ES2 upgrade. Use of LiveCycle Output ES2 is restricted to noninteractive PDF documents only, and the unit must be deployed on the same type of server (production or development).

Upgrading to LiveCycle Output ES2

How have LiveCycle Output ES2 capabilities been expanded from Adobe Central Pro Output Server or Adobe Web Output Pak?

Adobe Central Pro Output Server and Web Output Pak software are dedicated document-generation solutions designed to deliver personalized output — electronically or in print. By contrast, LiveCycle Output ES2 is a single module within an integrated suite of enterprise server software. It extends beyond on-demand and batch document generation to build end-to-end processes involving PDF- or SWF-based interactive forms, digital rights management, document signing, and process orchestration. LiveCycle Output ES2 extends processes beyond the firewall to customers, partners, and suppliers by leveraging the ubiquity of Adobe Reader® and Adobe Flash® Player client software, along with PDF and XML standards, to capture information from users more securely and integrate with an existing enterprise infrastructure. LiveCycle products are J2EE-compatible and run on industry-standard Java™ application servers.

LiveCycle Output ES2 is sold both as a standalone component and in conjunction with other LiveCycle ES2 modules. Its robust architecture makes it ideally suited for customers wanting to support today's best-in-class enterprise architectures. For example, Central Pro Output Server lets developers invoke services through e-mail or watched folders. LiveCycle Output ES2 adds more current methods, such as web services, Java APIs, and LiveCycle process orchestration software. Like Central Pro Output Server, LiveCycle Output ES2 generates PDF documents, PostScript, PCL, and Zebra label formats. Unlike Central Pro Output Server, however, LiveCycle Output ES2 adds capabilities such as PDF/A generation, PDF assembly, PDF to PostScript, and PDF to TIFF conversion. Primary benefits include the bundling of award-winning LiveCycle Designer ES2 software for document template design, support for fragments, and the overall advantages of LiveCycle Foundation for application development and run-time deployment.

Can we trade up to LiveCycle Output ES2 from a Central Output Server family product?

While Adobe continues to sell and support this product set, LiveCycle Output ES2 is offered as an optional migration path for customers who own Central Output Server, Central Pro Output Server, Web Output Pak, and other selected products in the Central Output Server family. Customers who purchased licenses before the introduction of LiveCycle Output ES on June 4, 2007, and who hold current maintenance and support contracts, are eligible to exchange their software for a similar configuration of LiveCycle Output ES at no cost. Customers who purchased on or after June 4, 2007, are also eligible to migrate, but additional trade-up fees will apply. Independent of the software upgrade exchange, customers may want to reserve resources or budget for consulting services to support the migration. Learn more about the benefits of migrating from the Central Output Server family, read the technical migration guide (PDF, ), or contact your Adobe representative to evaluate your specific migration options.

How will LiveCycle Output ES2 upgrade licenses be calculated?

Migration scenarios for LiveCycle Central Output Server family licensees vary. Contact your Adobe representative to evaluate your specific migration options.

How do I request a trade-up?

Contact your Adobe representative.