The normal way to use the SDK and plug-ins is that
1. You open a file.
2. You use a UI element in Acrobat (for example a menu item or button), which runs a routine in your plug-in.
3. Some process is done to the current file.
Now, it is entirely possible to have a plug-in which does more than this. For example,
1. You click a button, which runs a routine in your plug-in.
2. The routine reads a list of files.
3. Each file is opened, processed, saved, closed.
This is fine too.
But what do you mean by "unattended". This is crucial. For example do you mean one of these
* overnight, on your own computer, the plug-in "wakes up" somehow and processes a list of files.
* on a server, once a day, the plug-in "wakes up" somehow and processes a list of files.
* on a server, the plug-in wakes up because a client somewhere sent a file, and the plug-in does something
* something else completely.
Please give details of your requirements, so we can give the appropriate advice, and tell whether Acrobat is suitable to your needs.