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R
rob24073398715b
Participant
April 17, 2022
Question

Adding comments to a collaborative PDF master

  • April 17, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 429 views

In a print/publishing environment, can we share a single PDF master between colleagues to comment on. The PDF master will be a combined PDF containing several pages of a retail  catalgue. The catalogue will have reached the next stage of production where a circulation is required to interested parties within the business. The master PDF will be added to a shared server where colleagues can link/open it up to add collaborative comments. (Assuming this functionality exists within Acrobat Pro). After a designated period all collaborative comments added to the master will be assessed by the catalogue manager to check and edit as seen fit before releasing the master file back to artworker to carry out the comments, 

 

As things stand a circulation PDF is sent to the interested parties for comment, they then return there comments in separate PDF. A catalogue manager then has to collate and add all the separate comments to a single master PDF. This is a wasteful process that should be avoidable if a single shared collaborative master PDF can be used to add comments to.

 

Does functionality already exist within Acrobat Pro to do/allow this. Colleagues need to be able to work on the master file at the same time potentially, and to be able to save their added  commenrs without over writing other colleagues additions/comments.

 

Many thanks Rob

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
April 17, 2022

If it happens that the original is made in InDesign, then it has special features to export a PDF for comments and later approve/import/reject comments straight into the text.

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 17, 2022

    > The master PDF will be added to a shared server where colleagues can link/open it up to add collaborative comments. 

    - This will not work. When one user will have the file open it will be locked and others will only be able to view it, not edit it.

     

    > Does functionality already exist within Acrobat Pro to do/allow this.

    - Yes. It's located under Tools - Forms - Distribute.

    For more details see: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/creating-distributing-pdf-forms.html#distribute_PDF_or_web_forms

      R
      rob24073398715bAuthor
      Participant
      April 17, 2022

      Thank you try67

       

      We're working on another platform (DAM) as a work around which does enable us to work collaboratively and save comments whilst working on the same production. That is on a single spread per spread basis. It does not however allow us to search or browse in the same way as the pre-existing combined PDF workflow. This is an online/browser/based interface, that may be the difference.

       

      However I have read you can export and import comments from collaborators from one PDF to another. So long as all commments are added to the master without loosiong earlier ones, that would be useful.

       

      I prefer to work in the Adobe PDF workflow, (The mark-up tools are far better, than out work around alternative, as well as the convenience of quick browse and and search functions) but that is looking unlikely. If a warning was given that a spread was locked by another user, that might be enough for it to work with the current PDF workflow. I will return and see if collegues can work within the options you have kindly added above. I would have thought collaboration on demand is a fairly rudimentory requirement in todays digital/remote workflow. 

       

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