Portable Application Description
The current version of PAD v4.0 was developed with the input and feedback of supporting members of the Association of Software Professionals, as it has been since 1998. As part of the major upgrade to v4.0, ASP withdrew all its free tools while also formally requesting that all PAD editing, submission and related third party software, be removed or eliminated. In place of these prior third party and freeware tools, a new web-based platform was developed for PAD Specification by AppVisor.com. AppVisor allows publishers to upgrade their v3.1 PAD files to v4.0. However, the generated PAD file cannot be exported but only submitted directly to some directories. Submitting the XML Pad to websites costs $150 and approving the application/submission costs $36 per year. Some software download and directory sites (BrotherSoft.com, Softonic.com, CNET Download.com, Softpedia.com) accept the PAD v4.0 format in addition to the older formats. The current version of PAD is very restrictive and only one for-profit company has control over the PAD Repository system (Rudenko Software). Software producers cannot submit their PAD files to the repository without purchasing submission service fee, also PAD certification fees were added to the total costs. The manual review process slows down the entire submission process and nothing can be done to speed it up since it's not up to the software maker. All the PAD files are hosted on the PAD Repository site and the direct link to the PAD file were removed from the new PAD format. There is no other alternative available to the developers since abandoning PADGen software and introducing a restrictive new PAD format. Fortunately, many websites still accept the old XML PAD format.
Controversy
PAD files most commonly have .XML or .PAD file name extension. The review can take several weeks.