Adobe LiveCycle Enterprise Suite (ES2) is a
SOAIn software engineering, a Service-Oriented Architecture is a set of principles and methodologies for designing and developing software in the form of interoperable services. These services are well-defined business functionalities that are built as software components that can be reused for...
Java EE-based server software product from
Adobe SystemsAdobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
Incorporated used to build applications that automate a broad range of business processes for enterprises and government agencies. It combines technologies for data capture, information assurance, document output, content services, and process management to deliver solutions such as account opening, services and benefits enrollment, correspondence management, request for proposal processes, and other manual based workflows. LiveCycle ES2 incorporates PDF (Portable Document Format) technology with
FlexAdobe Flex is a software development kit released by Adobe Systems for the development and deployment of cross-platform rich Internet applications based on the Adobe Flash platform...
(Flash-based UI technology) to allow developers to create human interactive applications.
Adobe positions LiveCycle ES2 as a platform to help with
customer engagementCustomer engagement refers to the engagement of customers with one another, with a company or a brand. The initiative for engagement can be either consumer- or company-led and the medium of engagement can be on or offline....
by providing end users with more compelling experiences which can be extended outside the organization to customers, partners, and citizens. LiveCycle applications also function in both online or offline environments. These capabilities are enabled through the use of Adobe Reader and the Flash Player clients that are found on the majority of desktop computers and mobile devices.
Adobe recently released an update to LiveCycle ES2 called
Service Pack 1.
The LiveCycle platform is made up of a number of integrated solution components and developer tools, some of which are discussed below.
LiveCycle ES2 Solution Components
LiveCycle ES2 solution components are various types of services available to developers including those needed to capture information, manage and optimize processes, secure information, invoke web services, create documents, and integrate with other applications and data sources.
The solution components leverage shared "foundation" services which include administration and configuration services, service orchestration, invocation methods across components, and encryption services.
LiveCycle Forms ES2
- LiveCycle Forms allows users to create and deploy XML-based form templates as PDF, SWF, or HTML for use with the Adobe Reader, Flash Player, and web browsers. LiveCycle Forms ES2 supports data driven forms by merging XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
content to create personalized renditions. The product includes the ability to render "Form Guides", which are Flash based wizards to help guide users through the data capture process. This product includes LiveCycle Data Services ES2 (see below), and form assembly functionality which was also previously sold as a separate product.
LiveCycle Data Services ES2
- LiveCycle DataServices is a high performance, scalable, and flexible framework that simplifies development of Flex and AIR applications. It includes functionality for messaging, remoting, data management, and PDF creation of RIA interfaces. It solves complex data management problems such as maintaining a single instance of data across the application. With LiveCycle Data Services, information can be synchronized across clients and applications, providing a framework for conflict resolution in real time.
LiveCycle Barcoded Forms ES2
- LiveCycle Barcoded Forms is primarily used when users have to fill in a form online and then submit printed and signed copy by mail or fax. When a user fills out the form electronically, the data is encoded in the 2D barcode (PDF417
PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode symbol format used in a variety of applications, primarily transport, identification cards, and inventory management. PDF stands for Portable Data File. The 417 signifies that each pattern in the code consists of 4 bars and spaces, and that each pattern is 17...
, QRCodeA QR code is a type of matrix barcode first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white...
, or DataMatrix). At the processing facility, the printed forms are scanned and processed through the Adobe LiveCycle Barcoded Forms server to retrieve the data.
LiveCycle Reader Extensions ES2
- LiveCycle Reader Extensions switches on functionality within the Adobe Reader on a per document basis. When “Reader Extending” a PDF document, the user selects the capabilities they want to enable, then the Reader would enable that functionality when opening the document or form. The user can select all or any combination of the following capabilities: commenting, import and export of form data, ability to submit outside of a web browser, enable database and web services capabilities, capture digital signatures, and embed file attachments.
LiveCycle Process Management ES2
- LiveCycle Process Management orchestrates the business processes that are automated by LiveCycle. This solution component includes a process design environment and orchestration engine to bring together people, systems, content, and business rules into streamlined, end-to-end processes. It includes LiveCycle ES2 BAM
Business activity monitoring is software that aids in monitoring of business activities, as those activities are implemented in computer systems....
(Business Activity Monitoring) which provides a configurable dashboard capability for managing events and metrics within business processes, enabling users to better manage the performance of their automated processes. Starting with the ES2 release, task recipients can now view and approve tasks on their mobile devices, in addition to their desktops. LiveCycle Workspace Mobile is available for Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and iPhone.
LiveCycle Digital Signatures ES2
- LiveCycle Digital Signatures automates electronic signature workflows for added assurances of authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. Organizations can use this component to sign documents in bulk, such as university transcripts, government documents such as annual budgets, grants, or tax returns. This component will also validate previously signed documents in bulk. The digital signature capabilities are based on the functionality available in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader on the desktop.
LiveCycle Rights Management ES2
- LiveCycle Rights Management is an enterprise Digital Rights Management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
(EDRM) product that provides data centric security with user access and control policies to various types of data including PDF and Flash Video - and also native formats including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and CATIACATIA is a multi-platform CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite developed by the French company Dassault Systemes...
and PTC Pro/ENGINEER CAD (computer aided design) output formats. This prcept of document “leasing” for a finite period of time before it has to reconnect with the server. The product also includes detailed audit trail reporting for rights protected information, dynamic watermarking, expiration, and version control.
LiveCycle PDF Generator ES2
- LiveCycle PDF Generator is server-based software that automates the creation, assembly, and manipulation of PDF documents. It converts documents authored in native source applications such as Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
, ExcelMicrosoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
, or PowerPointMicrosoft PowerPoint, usually just called PowerPoint, is a non-free commercial presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS X operating system...
and many others (supported formats list ) into PDF documents. It supports the creation of customized PDF document packages by assembling or disassembling existing PDF files or PDF pages and adding dynamic custom elements such as headers, footers, links, bookmarks, tables of contents, and watermarks. In addition, it can convert PDF to PostScriptPostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
, image, or PDF/APDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format specialized for the digital preservation of electronic documents.PDF/A differs from PDF by omitting features ill-suited to long-term archiving, such as font linking...
formats for direct server-based printing or compliance with archiving requirements. There is also OCR optical character recognitionOptical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping...
functionality with this product to create searchable PDF documents from scanned images.
LiveCycle PDF Generator 3D ES2
- LiveCycle PDF Generator 3D extends LiveCycle PDF Generator ES2 (see above) with support for 2D/3D CAD design and product data into a single PDF document that can be shared using the Adobe Reader software. Visit for more details.
LiveCycle Output ES2
- LiveCycle Output automates the generation of template-driven, final-form documents. It merges XML data with LiveCycle Designer templates to generate personalized documents in PDF, PostScript
PostScript is a dynamically typed concatenative programming language created by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is best known for its use as a page description language in the electronic and desktop publishing areas. Adobe PostScript 3 is also the worldwide printing and imaging...
, PCLPrinter Command Language, more commonly referred to as PCL, is a page description language developed by Hewlett-Packard as a printer protocol and has become a de facto industry standard. Originally developed for early inkjet printers in 1984, PCL has been released in varying levels for thermal,...
, or Zebra label formats. It includes capabilities to assemble or disassemble existing PDF files or PDF pages and supports adding dynamic custom elements such as headers, footers, links, bookmarks, tables of contents, and watermarks to create customized PDF document packages. It also converts PDF to PostScript, image, or PDF/A formats for direct server-based printing or compliance with archiving requirements.
LiveCycle Production Print ES2
- Adobe partnered with StreamServe Inc. to create LiveCycle Production Print . This product combines LiveCycle Designer with a document composition system from StreamServe to merge XML or ASCII data types with templates to generate personalized print or electronic documents in a wide variety of formats, including AFP (Advanced Function Presentation
Advanced Function Presentation is a presentation architecture and family of associated printer software and hardware that provides for document and information presentation independent of specific applications and devices....
) and PDF. It includes a variety of post-processing functions to rendered documents such as batch sorting, house-holding, batch splitting, imposition, (2 up printing), and document marking for enveloping and insertion machines. It supports conversion of AFP or PDF formats to any supported output format for e-delivery of AFP files or compliance with archiving requirements.
LiveCycle Content Services ES2
- LiveCycle Content Services includes a set of library services that can be leveraged with other LiveCycle solution components to allow the creation of content spaces to share and collaborate on content integrated within a business process. It supports check-in/check-out capabilities and keeps a complete audit history of all actions. Content spaces can be enhanced with rules to automatically convert content into PDF and apply rights management to content based on access permissions. It supports categorization of content with custom hierarchical classifications which enables parameterized searches using a combination of custom classifications, word-based matching, and additional content metadata, such as content type, author, date, and location, to rapidly find information. It also includes team collaboration capabilities such as forums and discussions. In addition, it provides Microsoft Office plug-ins that enable users to interact with the process engine and content repository using Microsoft Word and Excel.
LiveCycle ES2 Connectors for ECM
- LiveCycle ES Connectors for ECM integrates other ECMs
Enterprise Content Management is a formalized means of organizing and storing an organization's documents, and other content, that relate to the organization's processes...
(enterprise content management systems) with LiveCycle for design time asset management and runtime process management. At design time, users can manage assets for the application including forms, fragments, images, and other content assets in the ECM system. Developers can then access those assets directly within LiveCycle Workbench ES2 for the creation of forms, documents, and packages. The connectors also enable business processes to retrieve content objects, as well as their content attributes or metadata directly from the ECM system. Specific ECM systems supported by these connectors include IBM Content Manager, IBM/FileNet content repository, Microsoft SharePoint, and EMC/Documentum’s document repository.
LiveCycle ES2 Tooling Products
Adobe Flash Builder integrates with the LiveCycle Workbench ES2 environment. Using Flex Builder developers can create
RIAsA Rich Internet Application is a Web application that has many of the characteristics of desktop application software, typically delivered either by way of a site-specific browser, via a browser plug-in, independent sandboxes, extensive use of JavaScript, or virtual machines...
and create custom additions to forms created in LiveCycle Designer ES2.
LiveCycle Workbench ES2
- The primary development tool to create LiveCycle applications is LiveCycle Workbench . This is an Eclipse
Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
-based development environment which allows developers to create form templates and process designs that can be integrated with a variety of data sources and existing applications. It includes an integrated repository for collaborative development, and simplifies deployment via an archive file which contains all of the assets associated to the application. The process design environment enables drag and drop of process services to create process workflows and also provides the ability for developers to save them as single WSDL-based components for others developers to use.
LiveCycle Designer ES2
- Authors and developers use LiveCycle Designer to build intelligent templates that merge with enterprise data to deliver interactive forms or personalized documents in a wide variety of electronic or print formats. LiveCycle Designer ES2 is included in every LiveCycle ES2 installation and embedded within LiveCycle Workbench ES2.
External links=