Adobe's previous efforts toward creating this open source tool have included developing an image viewer called the "GC browser," a music player called the "AGM Music Player," and a word processor similar to Quark. Adobe Pagemaker was part of Adobe's attempt to develop an open-source application that would run on the Amiga OS. Cieslewicz explained that Adobe Pagemaker was part of a small group of products released as freeware. According to Adobe Systems CEO and co-founder Jim Cieslewicz, Adobe Pagemaker was "part of a series of products" released in 1985 under the name Symphony.
Adobe Pagemaker is no longer part of Adobe Systems Incorporated, as reported by Adobe Systems VP of marketing communications, David Glazier.