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rynotrain
rynotrain
Known Participant
March 17, 2017
Answered

Playing Rich Media in PDF Reader

  • March 17, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 5425 views

Alright Adobe Dudes & Dudettes,

I'm at my wits end, surely user error, but need some answers once and for all.  I've designed a PDF with Acrobat XI Pro.  It's 1024 px by 10000 px (yes, that's 10K).  I have a few small mp4s and a few small swf files spread throughout the PDF.  I'm saving it as a PDF file and sending to others.  When I launch the PDF on my pc, mp4s and swf files play fine.  When my colleagues open it on their pcs with Adobe Reader, they get nothing, a short spinning wheel, but no playing, no error messages, nothing.  I've seen some receive a message to enable flash and disable active x filtering (which I verified is done).  Other than that, I can't figure it out.  I've tried to swap out videos for links to those videos on media servers and that doesn't work.  In short, I need to know once and for all why my colleagues can't play the videos and swf files.  Initially I thought this was something I was doing wrong while adding in the videos or saving the pdf, then I started troubleshooting on colleagues' pcs.  I'm at a loss frankly and must figure this out asap.  Your detailed help and direction would be much appreciated. - Ryan

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

I understand your frustration. First, though, a fact check. PDF is not a raster format and it isn't sized in pixels. It is sized in physical measurements (points, inches, or mm). It is absolutely unlike a web graphic where you can try to create something of a given size (at least before retina screens were commonplace).

Now, to your frustration. Interactive PDF is, in my view, dying fast, for three reasons

1. Most people now have a PDF reader with their computer or browser. The number of people who still need to download Adobe software is dropping off a cliff; really, it's confined to stuck-in-the muds with Windows 7 and older, who don't install their choice of browser.

2. Adobe chose to book interactivity onto the Flash Titanic. More directly, Adobe chose to build their interactivity on a proprietary platform when it seemed unstoppable, but now - because it's not available on mobile platforms, and widely blocked for security reasons - the interactivity is less and less available.

3. Even without Flash, Adobe decided not to go for feature parity on the platforms of the future (i.e. mobile). By now, if it had been resourced, the Acrobat Reader app on mobiles could have been a contender. Still, Adobe may have been right. Since the mobiles come with a PDF reader, and the default can't be changed, how many users would take the trouble to install the app and send files to it (even if they knew how).

Don't just take my word for it. See this excellent discussion: It's okay to say no to interactive PDF

2 replies

Joel Geraci
Community Expert
Joel GeraciCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 20, 2017

Can you post the PDF in question?... and you might tone down the snark if you're looking for help from community.

J-

rynotrain
rynotrainAuthor
Known Participant
March 20, 2017

Thanks Joel, don't mean to snark, just a bit frustrated.  From what I can tell from 10.1.5 / Flash 11.5.502.146 - can't view PDF with Flash content what I'm trying to do is no longer possible.  It seems like dependency to play embedded media is less about Reader and more about user PC specs.  See pdf here Shared Files - Acrobat.com.  The actual is nothing more than a pdf with several compatible videos and swf files.  When I display its fine (apparently I have the right flash options on my pc).  When others launch in reader, no video or swf file plays when user clicks.

r-

T
Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
March 21, 2017

I understand your frustration. First, though, a fact check. PDF is not a raster format and it isn't sized in pixels. It is sized in physical measurements (points, inches, or mm). It is absolutely unlike a web graphic where you can try to create something of a given size (at least before retina screens were commonplace).

Now, to your frustration. Interactive PDF is, in my view, dying fast, for three reasons

1. Most people now have a PDF reader with their computer or browser. The number of people who still need to download Adobe software is dropping off a cliff; really, it's confined to stuck-in-the muds with Windows 7 and older, who don't install their choice of browser.

2. Adobe chose to book interactivity onto the Flash Titanic. More directly, Adobe chose to build their interactivity on a proprietary platform when it seemed unstoppable, but now - because it's not available on mobile platforms, and widely blocked for security reasons - the interactivity is less and less available.

3. Even without Flash, Adobe decided not to go for feature parity on the platforms of the future (i.e. mobile). By now, if it had been resourced, the Acrobat Reader app on mobiles could have been a contender. Still, Adobe may have been right. Since the mobiles come with a PDF reader, and the default can't be changed, how many users would take the trouble to install the app and send files to it (even if they knew how).

Don't just take my word for it. See this excellent discussion: It's okay to say no to interactive PDF

rynotrain
rynotrainAuthor
Known Participant
March 20, 2017

Earth to Adobe!  26 views and no responses means many are looking for a solution.

rynotrain
rynotrainAuthor
Known Participant
March 20, 2017

Look at this ridiculous thread if you want more information on this.  Stupid.

10.1.5 / Flash 11.5.502.146 - can't view PDF with Flash content

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