"Desktop or server-side PDF creation?"

By Dan Shea
Planet PDF Managing Editor
Issue 6 for 2008

Of all the PDF creation scenarios that you may need to consider, the decision of whether to create PDF on the desktop or server-side is one of the most divisive.

Server-side solutions offer a single, centrally administered installation that can be used by anyone on the network. This drastically simplifies maintenance, however are some disadvantages. Printing delays can occur when many users engage the server simultaneously. At worst, if the application crashes, no one will be able to create PDF documents at all.

Desktop tools give individual users greater freedom, but may present organizational complications. Desktop installations are easily setup and users can print at will without affecting the work of others. On the down side, upgrades and maintenance can be time consuming, as numerous machines must be administered to.

Ultimately, it is the bottom line that will determine any decision making. If your organization is large in scope and has aspirations of becoming a paperless success story, then a server side solution is appropriate. Absolute PDF Server is an ideal solution, acting as a centralized, server-side PDF creation module geared towards total PDF management in an enterprise setting.

Alternatively, if you only have a limited number of users, a desktop creation tool is more economical. Nitro PDF Professional is one such option, offering full control over PDF documents and a set of functions comparable to Adobe Acrobat Standard.

You can discover even more possibilities in the Create/Convert aisle at PDF Store.

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