The Code

In this example, the Perl script will use Acrobat to read annotation (e.g., sticky notes) data from the currently open PDF. The script will format this data using HTML and then output it to stdout.
Download the script here (SummarizeComments.pl)

How to Install PERL

Depending on your tastes or requirements, you might want to use the Perl scripting language instead of Visual Basic to program Acrobat. Perl can access the same Acrobat OLE interface used by Visual Basic to manipulate PDFs. Perl is well documented, is widely supported, and has been extended with an impressive collection of modules. A Perl installer for Windows is freely available from ActiveState.

We'll describe how to install the ActivePerl package from ActiveState, and then we'll use an example to show how to access Acrobat's OLE interface using Perl.

Acrobat OLE documentation comes with the Acrobat SDK. Look for IACOverview.pdf and IACReference.pdf. Acrobat Distiller also has an OLE interface. It is documented in DistillerAPIReference.pdf.

Install Perl on Windows
The ActivePerl installer for Windows is freely available from http://www.ActiveState.com/Products/ActivePerl/. Download and install. It comes with excellent documentation, which you can access by selecting Start Programs ActiveState ActivePerl 5.8 Documentation.

ActivePerl also includes the OLE Browser, which enables you to browse the OLE servers available on your machine (Start Programs ActiveState ActivePerl 5.8 OLE-Browser). The OLE Browser is an HTML file that must be opened in Internet Explorer to work properly.