Introduction

StampPDF Batch can use Unicode Asian characters in the Text parameter to stamp Asian language characters. The stamp Type must be set to UTF8 or UTF16, and the font set to one of 7 predefined Asian fonts. If the stamp will be on more than one line, the MultiLine parameter must also be set. The only place double-byte characters can be used is in the Text parameter.

Character encoding

Stamp files can be encoded as Plain Text (ISO-8859 or ISO Latin 1) or as UTF-8. If you are going to use Asian characters, we recommend using UTF-8 stamp files and a text editor that supports UTF-8.

Encoding (required for Unicode fonts)
Unicode fonts require an encoding parameter. The encoding parameter should be set to the following  values depending on the type of text used.

Encoding   (UTF8)
The possible values for encoding are:

Type UTF8

Enter the Asian characters directly into the Text parameter.

Only the Text parameter can have Asian fonts or any other higher level Unicode character. All other text in the file must use only the Latin character set (the first 128 characters, equivalent to “ASCII”). For example:

Type     (UTF8)
Font     (KozMinPr6N-Regular)
Encoding (UniJIS-UTF16-H)
Text     

Type UTF16

Enter double-byte characters in big-endian hexadecimal. Each character is represented by four hex digits. Enter the entire Text parameter as a string of hex codes with no breaks or prefixes.

For example, to enter the three characters 5185 5BC6 306E, enter:

Type      (UTF16)
Font      (KozGoPr6N-Medium)
Encoding  (UniJIS-UTF16-H)
Text      (51855BC6306E)

Refer to Resources for help finding codes.

Multi-line UTF8/UTF16 stamps

In order to get multi-line text stamps, you must set the MultiLine parameter to yes. StampPDF Batch will not check for line separator characters if the MultiLine parameter is set to no. Use the following codes for the line separator:

For UTF8, use \r as a line separator character. Place \r directly into the text where you want the new line to start. For example:

Type      (UTF8)
Font      (KozMinPr6N-Regular)
Encoding  (UniJIS-UTF16-H)
MultiLine (yes)
Text      

For UTF16, place the Unicode line separator character 2028 in your text string where you want the new line to start. For example:

Type      (UTF16)
Font      (KozGoPr6N-Medium)
Encoding  (UniJIS-UTF16-H)
MultiLine (yes)
Text      (51855BC6306E202851855BC6306E)

Both Text parameters result in this stamp:

Font Support (StampPDF Batch 5.2 and later)

OpenType, TrueType,Type1 and Base14 fonts are all supported in StampPDF Batch 5.2. In previous versions, Type1 fonts were used in StampPDF Batch by including the FontFile parameter. In StampPDF Batch 5.2.2 you should only specify the font name.

In order to use a non-Base14 font, the font must be stored in one of the Appligent font directories  (See Font Directories below). You can run the command
$ stamppdf –listfonts  to see a list of all font names available for stamping. The font name should be used exactly as it is shown in the font list.

Below is a list of available fonts that are shipped with StampPDF Batch.  You will see these fonts when you run -listfonts:
AdobeArabic-Bold
AdobeArabic-BoldItalic
AdobeArabic-Italic
AdobeArabic-Regular
AdobeFanHeitiStd-Bold
AdobeGothicStd-Bold
AdobeHebrew-Bold
AdobeHebrew-BoldItalic
AdobeHebrew-Italic
AdobeHebrew-Regular
AdobeHeitiStd-Regular
AdobeMingStd-Light
AdobeMyungjoStd-Medium
AdobePiStd
AdobeSongStd-Light
AdobeThai-Bold
AdobeThai-BoldItalic
AdobeThai-Italic
AdobeThai-Regular
CourierStd
CourierStd-Bold
CourierStd-BoldOblique
CourierStd-Oblique
KozGoPr6N-Medium
KozMinPr6N-Regular
MinionPro-Regular
MyriadPro-Regular

Font Directories:

There are two font directories. The default font directory is found under the AppligentHome directory in APDFLX.X.XResource/Font. On Windows, the AppligentHome directory is in the AllUsers Application data directory.

Windows 7 and later: C:\ProgramData\Appligent
Unix: /usr/local/appligent
You can also specify an additional font directory, the AP font directory. The path to the AP font directory is saved in an environment variable called AP_FONT_DIR. You will be prompted to enter a font directory during installation. The fonts that are in the AP_FONT_DIR will also show in addition to the fonts that are shipped with StampPDF Batch when you run -listfonts.

On Windows: Environment variables can be set on Windows under the System Properties. To display the System Properties, right click on “My Computer” and select properties. On the bottom of the Advanced tab, click the button labeled “Environment Variables”. Under system variables, you will see an entry for AP_FONT_DIR. Select this entry, and click edit. You can then change the variable’s value to the path of the current font directory.

On Unix: As the other environment variables for StampPDF Batch, AP_FONT_DIR is set in the stamppdf script. The directory set in an environment variable in the script, or be set for the shell. See ManualInstall.pdf for more information on setting the AP_FONT_DIR and other environment variables on Unix.

Available fonts (StampPDF Batch 5.1 and earlier)

The table below lists the seven fonts that are available for double-byte character stamping:

Use the font name in the left-hand column above in the Font parameter in your stamp file.

Prerequisites for Acrobat full version

In order to use Acrobat to view and print Asian text, you must have Asian language support files installed for both the Operating System (OS) and Acrobat. The table below shows whether Asian font support is automatically installed for your combination of OS and Acrobat, or whether you have to manually install it.

Unicode Font Support for Windows and Mac OS X and Acrobat.

Operating System

Asian font support is automatically installed for all OS platforms except Windows 2000/NT. To install Asian font support, open Regional Options in the Control Panel, and add the fonts you want. You may need your original installation disk. Refer to the Windows on-line help for more information. You can also install keyboard support.

Acrobat

Asian font support is automatically installed only in Acrobat X under Mac OS X. For all other versions, you will need to do a custom installation, and choose to install Asian font support. Refer to the Acrobat on-line help for more information.

Prerequisites for Adobe Reader®

In order to use Adobe Reader to view and print Asian text, you must install the Asian Font Pack from Adobe Systems.

Windows/UNIX

Download and install the Asian Font Pack.

Reader components can be updated in a variety of ways. Some updates are available when you open a PDF that triggers the updating process automatically. For example, if you open a form that uses Asian language fonts, Reader asks whether you want to download the fonts. Other updates are available only from the Help menu, and you must install them manually. Some updates are available both automatically and manually.

Mac OS X

You cannot download the Asian Font Pack for Mac OS X. You must choose to install it when you install Acrobat Reader. If you did not, you must reinstall Reader.

Resources

1. The Unicode Consortium has the complete Unicode specification, providing a wealth of information on Unicode, character sets, and conversions.
2. SC UniPad provides a free trial of UniPad, a Windows-based Unicode text editor.
3. IT and communication provides an extensive tutorial on character sets, including Unicode.