 18  Embed (attach) files in PDF
A PDF file can serve as a container for
other files. The embedded (attached) files can be of any type:
various source files (e.g. spreadsheet), configuration files
or PDFs (e.g. a purchase order or a feedback form). A PDF file can serve
as a secure delivery medium, where some components optionally
require a password before they can be opened. Links/bookmarks
in the container PDF can open embedded PDFs at the specified
destination or page number, in a new window or in the same window.
In online PDFs of software documentation,
it may be beneficial for end users to be able to copy the text
out of the PDF and paste it in their software applications. But
the different text selection tools in Acrobat/Reader produce
different variations with respect to white space characters,
line breaks or special characters. However you do this (even
if you create a Tagged PDF), there is no guarantee that the text
extracted from Acrobat/Reader will be identical to the text that
you see in the PDF (or originally placed in FrameMaker). Acrobat
has its own interpretation as to what the text is, even if there
are no problems related to font encoding/deformation. If the
text is split between pages, running header/footer text will
be copied as well.
Therefore, adding the code fragments to
the document is not enough, as the text copied and pasted is
not necessarily identical to the original. But if you embed the
code fragments as files in the PDF, users with Acrobat/Reader
6 or higher will be able to open such embedded files or save
them to the disk.
When using FrameMaker, file embedding
can be automated with TimeSavers + custom ~CommentEmbed
and ~DocEmbed
shortcuts; the FrameMaker file includes hypertext markers directing
Distiller to embed the files and specify properties such as the
icon type and color (i.e. "define once in the FM file, distill
many", without post-distilling operations).
Examples:
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