Acrobat Reader 6.0?

[Sirtovin]

I am used to using old Word and Wordperfect from old PC, now I use Macinstosh because I switched.

My question is this... Does Acrobat 6.0 Standard or the release 5.0 before it... allow you to edit .PDF files? I received a few .PDF files but to my dismay Word X doesn't open .PDF files to allow me to edit them.... Than I tried to download the Reader from Acrobat to try and edit the files... no luck... so I am wondering if I go ahead and get Standard or even professional... Will I be able to edit the files...

Sincerely,
Sirtovin

 

[bobw]

The full version of Acrobat will allow you to edit PDF's.

 

[Sirtovin]

cool can anyone tell me the difference between version 5 and 6?

 

[garymum4d]

5 only runs in Classic
6 is OSX Native

 

[bobw]

Here's info on Version 5.0

Here's Version 6.0

 

[bobw]

5 only runs in Classic

Not correct. Version 5.0.5 runs native in OS X.

 

[mindbend]

Editing a PDF with Acrobat is not the same as using Word or the original master document to edit with. It's a very finicky line by line approach, but it at least allows some editing in a pinch.

Just thought I'd point that out.

 

[Sirtovin]

Originally posted by mindbend
Editing a PDF with Acrobat is not the same as using Word or the original master document to edit with. It's a very finicky line by line approach, but it at least allows some editing in a pinch.

Just thought I'd point that out.

dude i am glad you pointed this out... but what I would like to know in a nut show why should I buy Acrobat? I mean everyone I know who uses a Mac uses Acrobat... but what makes it good?

I am thinking about buying the Academic Version of it for my Mac. I just need to understand what I am getting... I use Word alot... but I also don't mind using alternative Word Processing programs.

 

[mindbend]

Acrobat is NOT a word processor in any way shape or form. Acrobat is intended as a tool for developing digital documents, which can include some small multimedia functionality (playing sounds, playing movies) as well as some forms processing (like an online order form), some low end data processing (like a javascript calculator), document archival (including online OCR of scanned documents).

So one question might be, why do I need Acrobat if I have Word? A partial answer is simply that the Acrobat Reader app is universally standard, so virtually anyone can read a PDF. Sure, there are free Word readers, but it's not the same.

Also, Acrobat is a development tool for any PDF created from any program, so you can do page layout in InDesign, output a PDF and mark it up with hyperlinks to web pages, paste in QuickTimes movies, etc. Word does not give you anywhere near the capability of layout as Indesign or Quark, though Word is quite capable on its own of importing movies and using hyperlinks.

Acrobat is in kind of a limbo right now because some of its intentions have been superceded by programs like Flash, which now handles forms processing and other internet-related tasks much better.

The main niche for Acrobat is document archival, digital document presentation (technical manuals, etc.) and digital proofing (send a PDF to a client of a page design, they can mark it up with comments using Acrobat) and finally digital print document submission to print houses (a Press Quality, in theory, should be printable by anybody. In practice, it falls a bit short, but Acrobat 6 is supposed to have more help in this area).

My question to you is, why do you think you need Acrobat? I'm not being sarcastic, just curious. I understand you want to edit some PDF files, but is that going to be an ongoing thing, or just one of those things that is a one time need? Which makes me wonder, why the heck do you need to edit a PDF? That's an unusual thing to do unless you're a printer. Typically, you would want to edit the master file (Word, Quark, inDesign, etc.) and re-export the PDF, not edit the PDF itself.

 

[garymum4d]

Originally posted by bobw
5 only runs in Classic

Not correct. Version 5.0.5 runs native in OS X.

Yes this is true, But Distiller 5 is Classic Only

 

[Sirtovin]

I just wanted to fill out some applications which are in PDF format.

 

[Ripcord]

Originally posted by Sirtovin
I just wanted to fill out some applications which are in PDF format.

If that's all you want, then print, fill out application, voila! You're done. You will need a Pen(tm), however, but you should be able to buy one at the corner store for about a nickel.

PDF files can be built to allow forms to be filled out using Acrobat Reader (which you have), then printed, saved, etc (my state income tax form is like this, for example). Obviously whoever built your application didn't do that. As a result, you can't do anything with it without a PDF editor, i.e. Acrobat.

Rip

 

[SkyNite]

Originally posted by Ripcord
As a result, you can't do anything with it without a PDF editor, i.e. Acrobat.

I understand the need to fill out forms on-screen -- and do so frequently -- even if the creator of the PDF did not purpose the file for this situation.

Many programs will import PDF files as graphics. Just import the PDF into one of these programs, add text boxes where you need to place information, fill in the boxes, and you're done.

InDesign can place PDFs as graphics, as can Canvas, QuarkXPress (with a PDF XTension), and many other programs.

Good luck!

-- Steve

 

[toast]

A PDF file is a printed document. It has very little to do with a master file such a .doc file or a .qxd file.

PDF is used by the graphics industry because it easily dialogs (ie. transmit color seps, fonts, etc.) with RIPs (raster img processors, the intelligent part of a hi-end printer).

Even Acrobat Pro (full version) does not let you edit the PDFs as deeply as Word or TextEdit let you edit text files. Remember, a PDF file is a finished product. The little editing Acrobat Pro allows is mainly Web/Multimedia-oriented (thumbs, bookmarks, XML connections...), it's no use spending helluva lot cash for form-filling in Acrobat.