The PDF list is a service provided by PDFzone.com | http://www.pdfzone.com __________________________________________________________________
Dov Isaacs wrote someplace: >Leonard's response notwithstanding, the simplest way of assuring >that PDF files produced by Acrobat 6 can be fully accessed in >Acrobat Reader 5.0 or 5.1 is to use Distiller job options that >limit the PDF version to PDF 1.4 or earlier! To Dov's point, I would add (or emphasize) that the ONLY way to "comprehensively" assure both actual and "perceived" compatibility with earlier versions of Acrobat is, as Dov suggests, to use Distiller settings for creating 1.4 spec PDFs... AND (my addition) use only Acrobat 5.0x to modify the file after creation. Not only are some interactive methods in 6.0 incompatible with 5.0x, but even if you do nothing to the file in 6.0 other than perform a Save As, you'll still force 5.0x users to view the alert dialog when they open the file. At Document Solutions, we have elected to NEVER quash that dialog, since it is the most obvious tip that the file has been "touched" by 6.0 - and is therefore "suspect" with respect to compatibility with earlier versions of Acrobat. Our experience is that the "average" 5.0x user (alas, often a decision maker) is not infrequently alarmed by the alert dialog. To some, the dialog is an indication of inherent incompatibility... ouch. Granted, that's not (especially) reasonable, but they cut the checks, and our job is to given them what they want. Since we frequently produce files for use by high volumes of un-managed users, we've (reluctantly) concluded that use of 6.0 must be "disclosed" up-front. For many corporate applications, this often leads to a discussion in which the client eventually requires us to "make sure they are Acrobat 5 compatible". Unfortunately, the functional implication of their request often forces us to avoid 6.0 altogether. A typical dialog can go like this: Prospect: "I opened your sample file, and I got this funny dialog that I hadn't seen before. What's that all about?" DSI: "Your users must have 6.0, or they will get an alert when they open the file in an earlier version of Acrobat." Prospect: "Why is that? Our corporation has not (and has no immediate plan to) spend the money / IT hassle / retraining to upgrade to 6.0". DSI: "Well... WE use 6.0, so that means your users will see the alert." Prospect: "Oh, that's very nice... for you. Can't you make it go away? Seems like a simple enough thing to do." DSI: "Um... sure, we can do that." DSI Project Manager to DSI Project Staff: "OK, folks. Another 5.05 project! Put the 6.0 boxes on the shelf, and break out the 5.05 boxes again. And don't forget to stay current on both versions!" For the time being (and I suspect this will last for quite some time), we must "segregate" our projects (and machines, and training) into 5.05 and 6.0 versions. I love buying new computers, of course, but our accountant is not so enamored. If only the 6.0 Optimizer could actually "down-version" files to 1.4, the transition problem would be EASY to manage! Too much to hope for, I'm sure. Duff Johnson Document Solutions, Inc. www.document-solutions.com To change your subscription: http://www.pdfzone.com/discussions/lists-pdf.html
