Manual Chapter :
Accelerating Access to PDF Content
Applies To:
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BIG-IP AAM
- 11.5.10, 11.5.9, 11.5.8, 11.5.7, 11.5.6, 11.5.5, 11.5.4, 11.5.3, 11.5.2, 11.5.1
Accelerating Access to PDF Content
Overview: Accelerating access to PDF content with PDF linearization
Large PDF files can provide a slow response in displaying content when the entire file must download before a requested page can be accessed. The BIG-IP® device provides the ability to display a requested page more quickly by using PDF linearization (optimization). PDF linearization prepares the PDF file for byte serving, which enables the BIG-IP device to provide individual pages to a client when it receives byte-range requests.
All PDF files are constructed in one of two formats:
- Nonlinear. A nonlinear (not optimized) PDF file typically provides slower access to specific pages than a linear PDF file because a page-offset index for the document's pages is omitted. For example, PDF files that are created for high quality print output are often nonlinear.
- Linear. A linear (optimized) PDF file, in comparison, provides faster access to specific pages because a page-offset index for the document's pages is written at the beginning, enabling a web browser to send byte-range requests to access and display initial or specific pages before the entire file is downloaded.
When you enable PDF linearization, the BIG-IP device provides a linear PDF file, thus allowing expedient access to a requested page.
