Acrobat 6.0 - worth upgrading for? 1

[maniac9999]

I've recently been assigned the task to check out Adobe Acrobat 6.0 to see if it's something my technical writing department might be interested in. Currently, we're using version 5.0 to convert Word 2002 document for publication to our intranet.

I plan on installing the trial version pn a
"test" PC but I would like to find out from anyone out there if this creates problems. I thought I saw something on the Adobe site that said I should have my install disks from my current version handy "just in case", but since our install was done by our support department, a reinstallation isn't really convenient.

What are your opinions on Acrobat 6.0?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[fizzak]

The only thing is see that is neat is the new "Choose Paper Source by PDF Page Size option in the Print dialog window. I don't like the new layout. Commands are harder to find now.

 

[kcoates]

One issue may interest you specifically because you mentioned the need to convert to PDF and publish to the web. A recent issue was brought to my attention about the document properties, Meta Data, not transferring to the PDF file. In addition, all pages or sheets will contain only a figure number in the title field. The author and subject even if contained in the original document or spreadsheet will not transfer when using Adobe 6.0 to create PDF’s. It's most important because credit has to be given to the author. We used Adobe 5.X with the recommended patch and upgrade to 5.05 for a considerable amount of time and we never had a problem until we upgraded. I believe Adobe calls it Meta Data and Microsoft calls it document properties. Currently Office 2000 with SR2 is our main stay. If you create a completely new document or spreadsheet then the Meta Data will transfer for all pages without any problems. I’m in the middle of working the issue where you get the classical response from both Microsoft and Adobe, “it’s not our problem”, to which you are then asked to call the other’s support line.

Test it yourself, get a document or spread sheet that has more than one page. Before you convert, look at and write down the Title, Subject, Author, Manager and Company within the properties of the document. If there is nothing there but generic data, then add some entries to the blank fields. Complete the conversion and check the properties in the PDF to see if it transferred.

The issue really depends on whether or not you have multiple documents to publish. At times we can have over 300. If you only have a few, then you can simply edit the PDF manually and add the data. With 300 documents it takes our Web developers way too much time.

You or anyone interested in this issue and what I have found can leave your contact information. I will be more than happy to discuss it with you as I search for a solution.

When I find a solution I will come back and post it here.


KCoates

 

[SexyDevil82]

Hi KCoates,
I am very glad that I came across your thread... We upgraded to 6.0 last week, and so far, nothing but problems. We were so caught to figure out the new "flashy" but "complicated" features that we never even notice the metadata were not transferring from Microsoft Word. As I will work to find a solution (really I don't want to loose more time than I already have), I would come check here if you came across anything new and if I find something, I'll post it.

Thank you very much for the notice.

G.

 

[tomhowe]

Jim, we installed 6.0 here at work, but had to uninstall because of all the glitches, and go back to 5.0. I didn't use the program enough to really find out if there are some good new features. It does allow you to save files in older formats if you are worried about compatability problems.

It may be that the 6.01 upgrade, or whatever, has fixed whatever was creating lock-ups and crashes for us, but I'm still reluctant to go to 6.0, because one thing I do a lot of here is insert covers in previously paginated PDFs, and with 6.0 one has to repaginate afterwards, which isn't necessary in 5.0.

Also, Ctrl/N no longer gives you the go to page dialogue box, it's like Ctrl/Shift/N or something. Very minor, but I would miss Ctrl/N. Also the little boxes next to the bookmarks now contain the Acrobat logo, and I find it very inappropriate to include advertising in a program interface, which should be as clean as possible, in my opinion.

I would advise you to wait, if 5.0 is fulfilling your needs. I sure did whine to them about those stupid logos. Ha.

good luck,

Tom

 

[tomhowe]

Jim, your question got me interested, and I went to the Adobe Forum. A guy in Australia found out his 6.0 only works right if he goes into the control panel in Windows and changes his regional settings from Australia to USA. If that kind of bizarrely flagrant bug can slip past their quality checks, then who knows what else is in there?

Tom

 

[KennyRohan]

I assume you're writing about the Distiller, not the Reader. As you probably know, the Distiller comes as 6.0 Standard and 6.0 Professional. Adobe got smart and now has two varieties of Distiller. The standard version lacks some capabilities of the Professional version ... forms creation, support for document layers in technical drawings, no enhanced tools for printing, nor viewing and navigating large-format documents, and lastly, no built-in preflighting tools for print production. Outside of that I've had no problems with Standard. I do my forms creation in 5.0 Distiller to make forms fillable and 6.0 reads them fine throughout our 150 PC network.

 

[tgreer]

Kenny... Distiller is that element (sub-program) of Acrobat that processes PostScript language files.

What you're referring to is the Acrobat application itself, not Distiller.

Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[tgreer]

Acrobat: manipulates PDF files and forms.

Distiller: converts (interprets) PostScript language files (and EPS files, and pdfmark operators) into PDF files.

Reader: displays PDF files and allows for data entry into PDF forms.

My opinions on Acrobat 6.0 - a confusing and poorly executed "marketing" attempt at a technical upgrade. Meaning that some good technical features, such as the measurement tools, have been diluted because of fractured marketing, and other technical features which never should have been included in the first place, such as "object editing" have no doubt been added because of their dubious market appeal.

A botched job altogether.

Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting