a la mode Introduces New e-commerce Solution for Professionals

March 13, 2000
For Immediate Release

Oklahoma City, OK – a la mode, inc., North America's largest mortgage transaction e-commerce firm, announced today the immediate availability of its first general purpose e-commerce offering, PDF Publisher™. The new product includes Adobe® Acrobat®, integrates document management and has automated e-mail capabilities. 

Adobe’s Acrobat is already the acknowledged industry standard for generating universally accepted cross-platform documents. Acrobat allows any printable document to be converted into a Portable Document Format file.  This document can be viewed on screen just as the original appeared to the creator, including the fonts, formatting, colors and images.   

PDF Publisher enhances Acrobat’s document creation abilities by adding intuitive document organization, delivery and tracking features. PDF Publisher automatically organizes the PDFs on a computer or network and integrates simple to use Electronic Data Interchange features so they can be sent to e-mail accounts. Recipients of the PDFs can view and print them using Adobe’s free Acrobat® Reader®. 

PDF Publisher eliminates the difficulties of managing and storing PDF documents on one computer or a network of computers.  It provides the ability to attach document descriptions, automatically “watch” target folders for PDF documents to be cataloged, create tracking databases organized into folders and search for documents across those folders.

State of the art delivery capabilities are also integrated in PDF Publisher. Using one-click technology, users can quickly send PDF documents to colleagues and clients through the Internet without needing a separate e-mail program. PDF Publisher can even automatically insert detailed instructions on how and where to download Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader in case the recipient doesn’t have Acrobat Reader installed yet. This ensures recipients can easily view the universal documents.

Any business that transmits secure e-documents to clients, often with repeated revisions of the same document, will benefit from PDF Publisher. The tracking databases ensure that multiple revisions can be stored, described, tracked, and automatically referenced in the future.

For example, real estate appraisers generate an image of appraisal files and then transmit them to mortgage clients. PDF Publisher is a key component in enabling appraisers and lenders to conduct business through Fannie Mae’s MORNETPlus® Appraiser Connection, ERC’s eRelay™, the Pinnacle Alliance management system and eDomina, an Internet vortal for real estate professionals and consumers. 

“PDF Publisher enables you to effortlessly and automatically catalog any Adobe Acrobat PDFs into a single searchable index,” said appraiser, Brian J. Davis, SRA. “With the facility to add keywords and descriptions, never again should an important PDF file get misplaced. The ability to send Adobe Acrobat PDFs right from PDF Publisher eliminates the struggle with e-mail attachments. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can be done straight from PDF Publisher. PDF Publisher even allows users to add the standard instructions and signature text with a single click.” 

PDF Publisher retails for $245. However, a promotional price of $145 is in effect for a limited time. Full information regarding pricing can be found at http://www.alamode.com. 

Founded in 1985, a la mode, inc. is a privately held mortgage transaction software provider. As North America's largest appraisal software company, with greater market share than the next four brands combined, it employs approximately 70 people at offices in Oklahoma City, Okla. and Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to other mortgage-related software and services, it offers the industry-leading WinTOTAL 2000 appraisal software and eDomina, an Internet vortal for real estate professionals and consumers. More information on the company can be found on the web at http://www.alamode.com.

About a la mode
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems is a leading provider of graphic design, publishing, and imaging software for Web and print production, and the fourth largest U.S. based personal software company with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. The Company builds award-winning software solutions for Web and graphic designers, professional publishers, document-intensive organizations, business users, and consumers. Adobe’s products enable customers to create, publish and deliver visually-rich images and documents across all print and electronic media. Adobe’s worldwide headquarters are in San Jose, California and its web site is located at http://www.adobe.com.