The Acrobat Lounge

Using Links and Buttons to Control 3D Objects and Presentations

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

You probably know that PDF files can contain links and buttons.

Buttons are nice additions to PowerPoint presentations which are converted to PDF. Buttons can go to pages or views, or even activate 3D objects.

Adobe's Doug Halliday shows you how to add buttons to a presentation to go to a different page and how to control a 3D object using a button.

Cool stuff!

Looking at the Physical Properties of 3D Objects ina PDF

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Manufacturers know that PDF files can contain useful, 3D models which may be manipulated inside Acrobat.

Did you know that you can also view the physical properties of 3D objects?

For example, how much does a part weigh?

Adobe's Jim Merry, a Business Development Manager for the Manufacturing industry, presents this episode.

Creating 3D Assembly Instructions in PDF

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Manufacturers need to offer suppliers and dealers instructions on how to assemble or disassemble the products they produce.

Since 3D files already exists for these products, why not simplify the job by using Acrobat Pro Extended to turn ordinary 3D files into compact PDF-based instructions sets, complete with expanded views and animation?

Adobe's Doug Halliday presents this podcast.

3D Conversion Options in Acrobat 9 Pro Extended

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

When you convert 3D models to PDF with Acrobat 9 Pro Extended you can now specify a template for structuring your document or control the layout of page by configuring the margins, page size, and orientation. You can also apply password-level security to the document as well and all of these settings can be stored as a conversion âpresetâ for later reuse. Adobeâs Jim Merry shows you how this all works in this podcast.

Creating Custom Stamps in Acrobat

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Acrobat includes a number of built-in stamps which are useful. Sometimes, however, you need something different.

Did you know you can easily create your own custom stamp? Just create your stamp in the program of your choice and convert to PDF. The rest is easy once you view this podcast from Adobe's Jonathan Bowman.

Tip: Create your stamp using text or vector drawing tools to minimize file size.

Change Comment Identity in Acrobat

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

By default, Acrobat uses your log-in name for the author identity of comments and annotations.

In this short podcast, Adobe's Jonathan Bowman shows you how to change the default author name for comments to something else.

Changing the default identity makes it easier to know who is suggesting changes in documents.

Change the Default viewer for PDF files from Reader to Acrobat

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Hey, Windows users! Are PDF files opening in Adobe Reader instead of Acrobat? This short podcast will show you how you change the default viewer for PDF so they they open in Acrobat versus the Free Adobe Reader. Note: "Late Model" versions of Acrobat /Adobe Reader allows you to set this option on installation. Adobe's Jonathan Bowman contributes this podcast.

Two Methods to Replace Pages in a PDF

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Ever need to replace a page in a PDF with one from a different file?

In this video, Adobe's Rick Borstein shows you two methods:

Drag and Drop using the Pages Panel
Document>Insert Page

Adobe's Rick Borstein presents this session. Rick is Adobe Business Developer Manager for the Legal and Life Science markets.
Visit Rick's AcroLaw Blog
Visit Rick's AcroLife Blog

Setting Font and Wrap in PDF Form Fields

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Acrobat offers robust form fields, but sometimes you just want to tweak a text field to change the font, size or wrapping of text.

In this brief video, Adobe's Rick Borstein shows you how to quickly make these changes.

In this video, you'll receive a high-level overview of each field type and find out which is best for the data you need to collect.

Adobe's Rick Borstein presents this session. Rick is Adobe Business Developer Manager for the Legal and Life Science markets.
Visit Rick's AcroLaw Blog
Visit Rick's AcroLife Blog

Understanding Form Field Types in PDF Files

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat offers many form field types such as:
Text Fields
Combo Boxes
Radio Buttons
Drop Down Lists
Check Boxes
Digital Signature
Bar Code

In this video, you'll receive a high-level overview of each field type and find out which is best for the data you need to collect.

Adobe's Rick Borstein presents this session. Rick is Adobe Business Developer Manager for the Legal and Life Science markets.
Visit Rick's AcroLaw Blog
Visit Rick's AcroLife Blog

Use the Acrobat 3D Reviewer to Customize 3D Models in PDF

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat Pro Extended can import and convert over 40 different 3D file formats to compact 3D models that play seamlessly across the entire Acrobat product line.

Adobe's Mark James shows you how to use the Adobe 3D Reviewer, which is included with Acrobat Pro Extended, to add views and a cutaways to the customize the model viewed in Acrobat.

Acrobat 9 PDF Portfolios

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Adobe's Mark James shows you how Adobe Acrobat 9 PDF Portfolios can enhance the way you deliver documents, brand your work and communicate.

A PDF Portfolio is a single PDF document that may contain PDF and non-PDF content. For example, you could include native Word or Excel files in a PDF Portfolio.

PDF Portfolios take advantage of the Flash player that is built into Acrobat 9 by delivering engaging viewing experiences.

Check out the video to see PDF Portfolios in action.

Applying Password Security to PDFs

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Ever want to password protect a PDF? In this lesson, Rick Borstein, Adobe's Business Development Manager for the Legal Market, will show you how to apply passwords to PDF using two methods:

"One-off" setting of a password
Security Policies

Security Policies allow you to repeatedly apply the same password security to documents. This is useful, for example, if you regularly send sensitive documents to a client.

Make sure you visit Rick's Acrolaw Blog where he has over 70 articles on the legal application of Acrobat.

Updated movie on 11/22/08.

Checking and Removing Security from a PDF

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Why can't I print this PDF? Why can't I copy text from this PDF?

If the PDF you receive is secured, then the author of the document may have applied security restrictions.

Or, perhaps, you've secured a file and want to remove security from it.

In this demonstration, Rick Borstein of Adobe answers these questions:

How do I check the security of a PDF?
How do I remove security from a PDF?

You can visit Rick's Blog which covers the legal applications of Adobe Acrobat.

PDF Portfolios

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

PDF Portfolios allow you to package up a number of different types of files in a professional-looking, engaging way for clients and customers. A portfolio is like a digital envelope that has a Welcome Page and may contain PDFs, Word documents, images, PowerPoint files, Excel files and much more.

In this podcast, Adobe's Tim Plumer shows you how to create a professional marketing portfolio. Demo on the Mac, but applicable to all platforms.

Using Batch Processing in Acrobat

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat Pro and Pro Extended offer a time-saving batch processing feature.

Batch Processing allows you to perform many operations across many files. For example, you could OCR, Watermark and Secure multiple files all at once.

Adobe's Tim Plumer show you how to use Batch Processing in this podcast. Since this feature has been in Acrobat Pro for several versions, even owners of older versions of the product will find something of value here.

3D Commenting and Measuring in Acrobat 9

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Doug Halliday, one of Adobe's Business Development Managers for Manufacturing, explores the 3D commenting and measuring capabilities of Acrobat 9.

Did you know that Acrobat 9 Pro Extended can import and convert over 40 common 3D file formats?

Once converted, you can add annotations and accurately measure.

Don't forget to check out Doug's Product Lifecycle Management blog.

Creating, Distributing and Collecting Data from PDF Forms

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat 9 takes forms authoring to a whole new level and, surprisingly, it is both easier and more powerful.

Adobe's Tim Plumer shows you how to created, distribute and collect data from a PDF form. Starting only with a "flat" PDF, form fields are added and the form may be distributed to many recipients to fill out in the free Adobe Reader.

Finally, the returned form data may be imported, filtered and analyzed and the data exported to an Excel spreadsheet.

Creating PDFs from a Selection in Word & Excel

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat 9 has increased the usability when creating PDFs from a selection in Word and Excel. This is a very valuable tip and trick and one that sometimes goes unnoticed. This short podcast from Adobe's Jonathan Bowman will show you how to use this feature in Acrobat.

Excel to PDF and Extracting Excel Data from a PDF

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat 9 gives you several more PDF Maker options when converting excel files to PDF. Upon selecting the PDF Maker, you now have the ability to choose the entire workbook, a selection or which specific sheets you want to include. Jonathan Bowman of Adobe will also show you how to extract excel data from a PDF file to be reused in Excel.

Capture and Archive a Website using Adobe Acrobat 9

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The web is ephemeral and is changing all of the time.

How do you preserve a copy of a web page so you can refer to it again?

In this video, Adobe's Rick Borstein takes you through the enhanced Web Capture tool in Adobe Acrobat 9.

Using it, you can select portions of a web page to capture, preserve interactive elements, and save it all as a nice, compact PDF.

You can visit Rick's Blog at www.adobe.com/go/acrolaw

Typing on a PDF! Use the Enhanced Typewriter Tool in Acrobat 9

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

If you are old enough, you probably learned to type on a typewriter.

Now, in the digital age, there are times when you need to fill out a form that doesn't have form fields, or simply add a piece of text here or there to a document.

It's easy to scan in a document, and then type on top of it using Adobe Acrobat 9. The new version allows you to set font, size, color, etc., and is easier to use.

Video by Rick Borstein. www.adobe.com/go/acrolaw

Export a PDF to an Editable Microsoft Word File

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Sometimes, you need to edit a PDF, and you don't have the original document.

It could be that you lost the original, or perhaps someone sent you a PDF and you need to create a new version.

Whatever the reason, Acrobat 9 offers much improved export to Microsoft Word. Text flows and many elements such as lists are retained.

In this video, Adobe's Rick Borstein walks you through this new feature. You can visit Rick's blog at www.adobe.com/go/acrolaw.

Email Archiving with Acrobat 9

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:19:00 GMT

When can you dispose of older email? Should you maintain it for the long term in Outlook or Lotus Notes?

In this podcast, you'll learn how to archive email in a PDF Portfolio using Acrobat 9. Acrobat captures each message and converts it into a PDF. Each message PDF contains the original attachments. Finally, Acrobat rolls it all up into a searchable PDF Portfolio.

Presenter: Rick Borstein
See Rick's blog at www.adobe.com/go/acrolaw

Comparing Text Documents using Acrobat 9

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat 9 includes and all new, more powerful Document Comparison engine.

Changes in documents are now logged as standard Acrobat annotations. That allows savvy users to bring all the power of the Acrobat comment capabilities to bear to review, search and summarize changes.

The focus of this demonstration will be using Acrobat 9 to find changes between two text documents.

Rick Borstein, Adobe's Business Development Manager for the Legal and Life Science markets, presents this video.

Measuring 3D Objects using Acrobat 9

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

One of the most frequent feature requests heard from our Acrobat 3D customers has got to be âplease let us save the 3D measurements in the PDF file!â Acrobat 9 Pro Extended not only makes this possible, but also provides a significantly improved user experience when measuring 3D parts and assemblies.

This podcast, from Adobeâs Jim Merry, will discuss the 3D measurement toolâs newly designed user interface, the persistence of measurement entities, how the 3D measurement entities integrate with the commenting and markup tools, and the new preference options.

Making Comments on 3D Objects in Acrobat 9

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Acrobat provides a great set of tools for commenting and marking up 2D documents and these tools were extended to support Acrobat 3D Version 7 by enabling markup entities to be placed on top of a 3D View. Acrobat 9 Pro Extended takes the commenting feature even further by providing a â3D Commentingâ tool that enables you to create a markup that actually resides in the 3D world-space, is anchored to and actually moves with the 3D model.

In this podcast by Adobeâs Jim Merry, you will learn how to the 3D Commenting tool works, how the 3D comments are integrated into the Model-Tree view list and the Comment pane, and how to use the Comment search tool to find specific strings.

New PDF Maker AutoCAD Options

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:16:00 GMT

New PDF Maker AutoCAD Options

Acrobat 9 offers some notable enhancements for AutoCAD users.

In this Podcast, Adobeâs Jonathan Bowman shows you how to use the new PDF Maker options in AutoCAD to preserve both the layouts and the layers when converting a .dwg to PDF.

Your layers have never looked so good!

Tips for using the 3D Conversion Dialog in Acrobat 9 Pro Extended

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:59:00 GMT

When you convert 3D content to PDF with Acrobat 9 Pro Extended the 3D Conversion Dialogue provides enhanced control over exactly what gets extracted and how it is converted and presented.

In this video by Adobeâs Jim Merry, Adobe's Business Development Manager for the Manufacturing Market, you will learn whatâs new with the 3D Conversion Dialogue box in Acrobat 9 Pro Extended.

Forms Authoring in Acrobat 9

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 20:06:00 GMT

Adobe announced Acrobat 9 on June 2, 2008. There are many new features, of course!

One of the challenges of software development is taking something complex and making it easier.

Acrobat 9 has greatly simplified the area of Form Authoring. Creating, distributing and collecting form data is easy enough for just about anybody.

In this podcast, you'll see the simpler, streamlined form creation capabilities of Acrobat 9.

While we're talking about forms, Adobe made another change. Acrobat Standard users can now create forms and Reader-enable forms. Reader-enable means to "bless" a form so that a user with just the free Reader software can save form data.

[ Podcast by Rick Borstein ]

Extracting a Non-Sequential Range of Pages from a PDF

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:57:00 GMT

Here's a problem . . . you have a 75-page PDF and you want to extract just a few pages from it. For example, pages 1,2,5,8 and 21-25.

What's the best way to do that?

Acrobat's Pages Panel, unfortunately, doesn't let you extract a non-sequential range of pages.

However, there are two good workarounds:

Drag and drop pages to a new PDF
Use the Combine function (weird, but it works!)

In this tip, you'll learn both workarounds.

More Info
See Rick Borstein's Blog for articles (1, 2) on the subject.