Why a Book on Adobe Reader?


Now that you've picked up this book, the first question you might ask is, "Why would I buy a book on Adobe Reader? After all, isn't Adobe Reader that little thingy you can get free from Adobe Systems? Isn't Reader something you use to fill out tax forms?"

The answer, of course, to the two last questions is yes. But Adobe Reader is capable of doing so much more, and users who download the free Adobe Reader software tend to restrict their Reader work sessions to viewing, printing, and filling out PDF documents and forms.

With the introduction of Adobe Reader 7 and its many new features, relying on help documents from within the Adobe Reader program may not be enough for the average Reader user to take full advantage of the program. To get an idea of some of the features now available within Adobe Reader, look over the following list:

  • Add comments and markups to a PDF. In Adobe Reader you can make comments on PDF documents using a variety of commenting tools. You can save your comments within Reader and send comments to other Acrobat or Adobe Reader users when PDF documents are assigned special features.

  • Participate in reviews. You can participate in email-based and browser-based comment review sessions when PDF documents are assigned special features. You can exchange comments among your workgroup members, merge comments from other users, and track review sessions.

  • Create custom stamp files. You can create custom stamps to use in review sessions, and mark up documents using your personal stamps when PDF documents carry special features.

  • Use digital signatures. You can electronically sign documents for authenticity purposes when PDF documents are assigned special features.

  • Use file attachments. Acrobat users can send eEnvelopes (electronic envelopes) containing a documentany kind of documentattached to a PDF file, complete with security settings. You can extract non-PDF and PDF documents in Adobe Reader. You can edit attached files and save your edits.

  • Save form data. Although you can't select File > Save to save forms unless a document is assigned special features, you can submit data from Adobe Reader to other users complete with the form data. Submissions can be made via email or to a Web address. When PDF documents carry special features, you can save form data.

  • Searching PDFs. You can search your local hard drive, a network server, and the Web for PDF documents using an impressive search engine provided to you from within Adobe Reader. You can also search PDF file attachments.

  • Setup for accessibility. For vision- and motion-impaired readers, a new Accessibility Setup Assistant is available for setting up the viewing environment when an assistive device is detected. You can check documents from within Reader to see whether they meet accessibility standards.

  • Read Out Loud. You can use the Read Out Loud feature to deliver audio output through speakers attached to your computer or through your computer's internal speaker. You can change audio output levels, pitch, and voices.

  • Overprint preview. For creative professionals, you can preview overprints before sending documents to commercial printers.

  • Manage images. Certain PDF documents support Picture Tasks. You can use the Picture Tasks tool to export images, print images using a number of different printing templates, and send pictures to photo-processing centers.

  • Manage Digital Editions (eBooks). You can download eBooks from content providers, view eBooks in Adobe Reader, and borrow and exchange eBooks. You can organize them in a personal library and sort them into categories and groups. You can subscribe to periodicals and Digital Editions from content providers who deliver editions in PDF format.

As you can see, there's more to Adobe Reader than simply viewing a PDF document or filling out a PDF form. In addition, you can add much more functionality using Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions. All of these features and more are covered in the chapters ahead.



    Adobe Reader 7 Revealed. Working Effectively with Acrobat PDF Files
    Adobe Reader 7 Revealed: Working Effectively with Acrobat PDF Files
    ISBN: 0321305310
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 168
    Authors: Ted Padova

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