PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format used to present documents in a standardised manner independent of the device or software it is being viewed on and we support various types.

PDF experiences 

True PDF

We now render PDFs so that the actual PDF page is displayed, rather than an image. True PDFs have much better quality and are now automatically enabled everywhere, since 07/04/22. Any PDFs uploaded before that date would only be using True PDF if they were explicitly set to.

Enhanced PDF

Enhanced PDFs are true PDF pages with tappable hotspots that link to HTML versions of the content. These are usually curated by a 3rd party company called XCago, then sent back to us via SFTP to be automatically uploaded to the CMS.

Double Page Spreads

This is the ability to show 2 PDF pages side by side and is currently available on web and tablet (not yet on mobile). It is enabled in the "Pugpig Full Page Image Service" settings in Express, by changing the setting from None, to First page on left, or on right. On Left will display the cover of the edition next to the inside first page. On Right will display the cover on its own, then the first 2 inside pages together.

(Deprecated) Image PDF 

This creates a JPEG image of the PDF files and displays them in the app. It is however lower quality and we no longer do this anywhere for Bolt apps. 

PDF Importers

PDF Page Importer

This is how we upload non-enhanced PDFs, either 1 whole PDF file, or multiple PDF pages, to Express. 

We need to know the expected filename format that we’ll be receiving. We use the filename of a PDF to give it all of its information; name, user-facing date where in the app it will appear etc. This format cannot change without prior agreement, or uploads will either fail or have the wrong info. 

SFTP

To automate the PDF flow to our CMS, we use an SFTP server. This will need to be set up on our end, with some information needed from yours:

1. Who on your side needs access, and their SSH Public key
2. Whether you will send the PDF as one whole, or each page individually

SFTP for HTML converted or Enhanced PDF editions

HTML converted or Enhanced PDF editions come from a 3rd Party company called XCago. In this case they set up the SFTP, rather than us. PDFs will be uploaded to the SFTP, (or provided to them another way) by you and they then return the output via SFTP to our CMS.