Portable Document Format (PDF) has been around for some time, and allows documents to be created and shared without worrying if the end-user has a particular type of computer or program to be able use the file. Recent enhancements have taken the capabilities of PDF well beyond just portability and into the realm of electronic documents, or e-Docs.
PDF capabilities now include security features enabling password protection of documents, electronic signatures and forms. Enhancements have introduced new capabilities including the ability to create 'live documents'. Or PDF documents that contain multimedia content such as compressed video, audio, and animation. As well as, live links to Internet content, websites, and email.
Multimedia e-Docs can be distributed via email, included as content on discs, or provided through website download. Documents can still be printed, with specific frames of video and animation appearing as static images.
