Adobe Launches Public Beta of New XML/PDF Form Design Software; Adobe Designer Delivers Powerful Capabilities for Easy Creation and Deployment of Intelligent Documents in PDF.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2004

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the public beta availability of Adobe(R) Designer, a new point-and-click graphical XML form design tool for designing and deploying intelligent forms in Adobe PDF or HTML. The software enables organizations to build solutions using Adobe document services for automating form-based workflows and accelerating access to business-critical information.

"Adobe Designer supports organizations as they migrate to Web services and XML," said Robert Glushko, Ph.D., with the School of Information Management and Systems, University of California, Berkeley. "Creating new data connections with XML is straightforward and intuitive because the software lets you drag and drop form elements based on an XML schema. With Designer, even relatively novice users can create interactive, professional quality forms and connect them to backend systems."

Adobe Designer is part of Adobe's Intelligent Document Platform for generating, collaborating, processing and securing intelligent documents in the enterprise. The software provides all the capabilities needed to design forms with precision, including the ability to import information from existing formats, and define business logic on the form template. Developers can easily integrate form data with core enterprise systems via XML, OLEDB and web services. Additionally, Adobe Designer allows users to design forms that can be used with digital signature technologies for facilitating secure electronic transactions.

The software is a desktop design tool that creates XML form templates for publishing to multiple formats, or users can import and add intelligence to existing form templates from PDF or Microsoft Word. Adobe Designer forms dynamically resize according to data input and only present the relevant form fields to the end user based on that input. For example, a single person applying for a mortgage will only be presented with form fields relevant to his or her status. These intelligent forms are accessed via a web browser, Adobe Acrobat(R) or the ubiquitous Adobe Reader(R).

"To fully realize their investment in enterprise applications, organizations must extend the reach of these applications with processes that enable the secure capture, exchange and track information," said Ivan Koon, senior vice president of the Intelligent Document Business Unit at Adobe. "To meet these challenges, Adobe Designer offers a dynamic interface to end users that utilizes XML to create flexible, intelligent documents, while enabling interactive data capture and business collaboration via PDF for efficient, reliable, secure information exchange."

When combined with other document services from Adobe, the Adobe Designer enables organizations to extend core systems and automate business processes easily with internal and external users. From internal forms such as expense reports and purchase requisitions, to external forms such as applications and claims, Adobe's solutions enable enterprises to harness the power of PDF and XML for integrating intelligent documents into the IT environment.

The Adobe Designer beta for Microsoft Windows(R) operating system is available now at www.adobe.com/designerbeta. Pricing will be announced with product availability in mid 2004.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe helps people and businesses communicate better through its world-leading digital imaging, design and document technology platforms for consumers, creative professionals and enterprises. Adobe's revenue in the last fiscal year exceeded $1 billion. For more information about Adobe, visit www.adobe.com.

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.