OK have a "copy" of Acrobat 4.05 which pre-dates the offical release of Office2000 and Windows2000 (so they don't work perfectly together). I'm currently experimenting with it at work and home before attempting to budget the purchase of the current version (6?).

How easily are those using acrobat able to scan and retain paper records into pdf files? Version 4.05 and NT4.0 are not very quick or easy to use.

We probably will be upgrading work stations to Win2000 Pro and Acrobat 6 if things work out.

Other than making controlled docs into PDFs I want to be able to quickly and easily:

1)Scan paper records (ie inspection or finanical document)
2)Create PDF file per part, package or project
3)Attach mutliple documents/scans (each new records would be attached to the master record for an inspection file - one per part number).
4)and bookmark each document.

I KNOW acrobat can do all of that but how quick easy is it with the newest versions?

Any other tips or drawbacks from current users are also appreciated...

Hi Bob,

I can tell you that with Office 97 and Acrobat 4.0 on a WIN98SE, they work pretty well together. In fact, conversion is just the click of a button.

Don't know much about the versions you are working with.

CarolX

Bob,
We use a program called Ghostview with Ghostscript in concert with a Windows installation of a printer that you will never use in reality. End result: printing anything to this printer via the windows print interface generates a PDF file. If you are interested, PM me with your email and I'll dig out all of the installation stuff.

Bob,

I am currently running Windows 2000, Office 2000, and Acrobat 6 and everything works great. I'm able to convert pretty much anything to PDF. So as far as the quick and easy aspect, it definately meets that. I've only been using Acrobat 6 for a little bit and haven't noticed anything bad about it so far.

Bob,
We use a program called Ghostview with Ghostscript in concert with a Windows installation of a printer that you will never use in reality. End result: printing anything to this printer via the windows print interface generates a PDF file. If you are interested, PM me with your email and I'll dig out all of the installation stuff.
Mac OSX has a 'print as PDF file' option built in every Print dialog box - it's part of the OS, so I can't help. Sorry.

Richard or anyone else using Acrobat6,
Can you import pictures directly from you scanner into acrobat?
This is the feature I'm most curious about.
I fully expect Acrobat6, Office2000, and Win2000 to functions properly with each other, but I'm not sure if Acrobat6 has an "acquire" function similar to most modern programs (assuming you have a scanner installed).

Bob,
We've been using this for a couple years now and have had no problems. You can take digital pictures to PDF, scanned pictures (gif, bmp) to PDF and scanned docs to PDF.
Along with the electronic signatures, it's a very easy way to control docs, especially if your BES uses software like Cognos for reports.
I would highly recommend it. The Acrobat Distiller (converter) will come up in your printer selection from the Windows File:Print selection. So all you do is select it like you would a printer.
Attached is an example of a scanned item.

Bob,

I am currently running Windows 2000, Office 2000, and Acrobat 6 and everything works great. I'm able to convert pretty much anything to PDF. So as far as the quick and easy aspect, it definately meets that. I've only been using Acrobat 6 for a little bit and haven't noticed anything bad about it so far.

Ditto. Works fast and very well ! Have a day ! :thedeal:

Bob,
We've been using this for a couple years now and have had no problems. You can take digital pictures to PDF, scanned pictures (gif, bmp) to PDF and scanned docs to PDF.
Along with the electronic signatures, it's a very easy way to control docs, especially if your BES uses software like Cognos for reports.
I would highly recommend it. The Acrobat Distiller (converter) will come up in your printer selection from the Windows File:Print selection. So all you do is select it like you would a printer.
Attached is an example of a scanned item.

Thanks for the info.

I know you can easily convert an existing image that has already been saved to a file, BUT can you use ACROBAT to acquire an image directly from a scanner skipping the extra step of saving the scan to a (non-pdf) file first?

I am HOPING acrobat can acquire pictures DIRECTLY from a scanner and instantly convert them to a PDF. If it can't I could live with the extra step, but was hoping I wouldn't have to...

I don't see how it would work Bob. Do you want it to run the scanner? I don't have one attached to my computer so I can't try and don't see anything in the Help document. have you checked their web site?

Do you want it to run the scanner?
Have you checked their web site?

Yes.
I didn't see anything like that but I can check again.

In Acrobat 4.05 under the File, Import, Scan
on my NT4.0 machine, I was just able to "acquire" an image directly from our old Digital Camera (serial connection).

I would hope/assume that with Acrobat6 and an installed scanner I would be able to do the same thing.

Anyone actually doing this? Or is everyone scanning document, saving document, then importing into acrobat?

Yes, you can scan directly into Acrobat. It works pretty quick and easy.

Yes, you can scan directly into Acrobat. It works pretty quick and easy.

Excellent. That's what I was hoping to hear. (The web site is more about selling the product than giving details).

I'm not sure how QUICK it will be with a P3 @ 500mhz, but at least I wouldn't have to save the file first. :)

Thanks Richard.

Thanks Richard.

Sure. Just happy to be of some help:D

Version 4 or 6 (which we don't have yet)...
Can you easily enter a footer into a PDF file for all pages regardless of the orignal source?

I have another potential use.
1 pdf file for "work order packet" printing:
2 seperate Excel forms (landscape and portrait)
1 scanned document (until we convert it to digital version)
1 or more possible Word Work Instruction Pages
1 or more converted AutoCad drawing or scanned drawings (US letter sized)

I WANT to be able to put a disclaimer on ALL the pages within the ACROBAT program itselft that might read something like "Copy valid only for Work Order #:_____" (the foreman would fill in number manually). I DON'T want to add the disclaimer into each document, I'd prefer to do it within ACROBAT as a footer/header/watermark.

Is this possible? Is this easy? Are there "templates" for different types of jobs in Acrobat 6?

I wish I could just get the software and find out, but I'm better off thinging of as many uses as possible before I request the purchase. ($500 is not cheap for a small company, unless I find time to estimate the time/paper/space savings PDFs might generate...)

I'm using Acrobat 4.05. I think the easiest way to do this that I know of is to create a form field, copy it, and paste it on all pages of the document. If you fill in the field on the first page, it will show up on all pages.

I'm using Acrobat 4.05. I think the easiest way to do this that I know of is to create a form field, copy it, and paste it on all pages of the document. If you fill in the field on the first page, it will show up on all pages.Thanks for the tips. Time to go read the 50 pages on form fields in the help file. :agree:

Attached is a pdf file I played with. The number at the bottom of the page is a field that can be changed. No matter which page you change it on, all of the other pages show the same text. Hopefully it will give you an idea of how it might work.