You've been asked to let your application open PDFs that carry an owner password, so users can print, copy text or edit them, and you don't want to ship Adobe Acrobat or write a PDF parser yourself. AzSDK PDF Decrypt ActiveX DLL is a developer component built for that one job: removing the owner password and restrictions from PDF files with a few function calls.
Quick facts
- Type: ActiveX DLL / developer SDK for Windows
- Trial: limited for 14 days without registration
- Licensing: royalty-free, no limit on the number of applications
- Price: single-developer license listed at $129.95, with a discounted price of $77.95 shown on the vendor's pricing page
- Standalone: does not depend on Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader
Key features
Remove owner-password restrictions on printing, editing and copying
The component decrypts protected Adobe Acrobat PDFs so the restrictions on editing, printing, and copying text and graphics are lifted. The call is a single Decrypt method that writes the unprotected file to a path you choose.
Handle 40-bit, 128-bit and AES encryption
It supports Adobe Standard 40-bit, Adobe Advanced 128-bit and AES encryption, so you don't need to check which Acrobat version produced the file.
Check whether a PDF is encrypted before you touch it
The component can detect whether a PDF file is encrypted, so your code can skip files that don't need processing.
Call it from the language you already use
The vendor publishes sample code for Delphi, ASP and PHP and lists support for VB Script, Javascript, Perl, Python, ASP.Net, VB.Net, C#, VB6, Cold Fusion, VC++ and Java. You can use it in Windows programs or web applications.
Ship it without per-copy fees
The license is royalty-free. You can distribute the component inside your applications without paying distribution fees, and there is no cap on how many applications use it.
Who it's for
This is for Windows developers who need to add a PDF password remover or decrypter feature to their own software, such as a document-processing tool, an intranet app or a batch job on a web server. It is a component, not a finished desktop program, so you need to write code to use it.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Royalty-free with no limit on applications.
- Pro: Standalone, with no Acrobat install required.
- Pro: Works from many languages through ActiveX.
- Con: It is aimed at owner-password restrictions, so you should not expect it to be a general-purpose PDF editor.
- Con: Windows only, and the trial stops after 14 days.
- Con: You need programming skills; there is no end-user interface to click through.
FAQs
Do I need Adobe Acrobat installed?
No. The component is standalone and does not depend on Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
Can I try it first?
Yes. The trial is limited for 14 days without registration.
Do I pay per application I ship?
No. The license is royalty-free and has no limit on the number of applications.
Which encryption types does it handle?
Adobe Standard 40-bit, Adobe Advanced 128-bit and AES encryption.
System requirements
It is a Windows ActiveX DLL. A third-party listing shows support for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11 and for Windows Server 2003 to 2016.