Title - Adobe
Acrobat 7.0 Professional Author – Frank Mitch, GCPCUG Product Reviews
Editor Category - Software Subject - Collect, produce, and share
Intelligent Documents Date - January 2006
Acrobat Professional 7.0 is so extensive in
capability that this short review will compare it to the previous Acrobat
Standard 5.0, which I used a lot. Concentration will be regarding the use of
PDF files in web sites, which is my main use. Other folks will have many other
uses for this very versatile program.
System Requirements:
• MS Windows 2000 w/SP2, Windows XP Pro or
Home, or XP Tablet PC Edition
New Features:
The Standard and Pro versions both feature
combining multiple files into a single PDF document, and provide review and
commenting tools including a highlighter, sticky notes, pen and more. The Pro
version enables Adobe Reader 7.0 users to participate in reviews. It also
easily creates PDF’s from within AutoCAD, MS Visio, and Project and uses Adobe
LiveCycle Designer to create excellent PDF forms. Acrobat 7.0 provides the
convenient one-button ease of creating PDF’s from MS Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint. This one-button feature I believe came with some earlier versions.
There are numerous other new features.
Using default Adobe PDF file settings:
To get the best results it would be helpful
for a user to run some tests on their typical documents. My main goal usually
is to obtain the smallest possible PDF file for use on my web sites. Other
users of course need to consider where their resulting PDF’s will be used.
Names for the settings are different in version 7.0 than in version 5.0, and
some additional settings are in 7.0. Here are the results of my tests using two
different documents:
1. An 8 page Club Newsletter with color
photos and graphics. PDF document, original file settings not known. Used to
make a smaller PDF file.
·
Original
PDF file size – 997 KB
·
After
using Acrobat 7.0 – Smallest Size Possible – 247 KB
·
After
using Acrobat 5.0 – Screen setting – 217 KB
Conclusion: Version 5.0 was slightly better than
7.0 for making smallest files. Both are very good for achieving that goal.
2. A 14 page manual, no color, text with
extensive formatting. MS word file. One page with a B&W photo of a simple
drawing with text.
·
Original
DOC file size – 188 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, Smallest file setting – 91 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, Standard setting – 91 KB
·
Acrobat
5.0 PDF, Screen setting – 85 KB
·
Acrobat
5.0 PDF writer – 85 KB
·
Acrobat
PDF Maker 7.0, Smallest file setting – 135 KB
·
Acrobat
PDF Maker 7.0, Standard setting – 135 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, High Quality Print setting – 252 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, Press Quality setting – 252 KB
·
Acrobat
5.0 PDF, Ebook setting – 220 KB
·
Acrobat
5.0 PDF, Print setting – 220 KB
·
Acrobat
5.0 PDF, Press setting – 224 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, PDF/A:Draft setting – 626 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, PDF/X-1a:2001 setting – 627 KB
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, PDF/X-3:2002 setting – Color Violation, did not pass.
·
Acrobat
7.0 PDF, PDF/X3:2002(1) setting – Color Violation, did not pass.
Conclusions: Again version 5.0
was slightly better than 7.0 for making smallest files. The same conclusion
applies to Print and Press settings. The new PDF/A and X settings are for
checking for ISO standards for archiving and color management purposes. These
very large files are partly due to a requirement for embedded fonts and not
very useful or necessary for my web site uses.
Support and Help:
Installation was fine without a hitch. I
turned off my antivirus software as recommended. I activated Acrobat on the
internet with no problem. Registration is required, with a new password if you
do not already have one with Adobe. The product must be activated within 30
days after installing.
Other than a Getting Started guide there was
very little printed documentation. There were two extensive documents on the CD
covering installation, system requirements, registration, activation, and
trouble shooting issues. After installation there is a very complete Acrobat
7.0 Help available with the Help button on the top toolbar. The index on that
is lengthy and it helps if you know what you are looking for. There is another
help there about Acrobat Plug-Ins. Expert Support by phone is available with
single incident support starting at $39 per incident. Free on-line support is
available by searching trouble shooting documents; and in tutorials, support
announcements, forums, and training materials. Also customer support is
available with an automated e-mail response system, promising response in one
to two business days. If you like books for support these are two that look
very helpful and are listed at one of the internet book sellers: Adobe Acrobat
7.0 Classroom in a Book by Adobe Press.
Adobe Acrobat 7.0 PDF Bible by Ted Padova.
Covers Standard and Pro versions.
I could not live without the Adobe Acrobat
software. It is invaluable in my web site design and maintenance work. Very
useful for many other purposes too. It is definitely a most valuable
application and once you have it you will be very pleased with the results.
List prices shown at one Internet source
(Selling at approx $25 less for each version.)
Professional version: $450 for full product,
$160 for upgrade from previous versions.
Standard version: $300 for full product, $100
for upgrade from previous versions.
www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/