When Will Adobe work with Catalina?

Report · Oct 12, 2019

I unwittingly installed Catalina without knowing that it would break my adobe acrobat pro dc.

Will Adobe make acrobat pro dc compatible with Catalina?

I only downloaded it a couple of weeks ago. Why wasn't it compatible so soon before the release of Catalina?

Is there a version of acrobat pro dc that IS compatible with Catalina?

Help! I have work to do.

Monica

Report · Oct 12, 2019

"Conscientious folks who need critical things to keep working don't just change out a working OS and complain to application makers that their having done so breaks their applications. They test, they research. THEN they migrate when it's safe to do so."

You will have to downgrade to Mojave (check your local Apple Store if you don't know how) or use a Mac you have not upgraded.

Report · Jan 24, 2020

I think your tone is unnecessary. Just because creators use computers doesn't necessarily mean we fully understand that we can lose functionality by updating our software. Next time just respond with something helpful instead of being patronizing. Please and thank you.

Report · Oct 12, 2019

Best Practice:

Don't upgrade your operating system (Windows or Apple OS) until you have confirmation from your major software vendors (and that includes Adobe) that their current software is compatible with the new OS. Minor incremental upgrades usually are ok, but major ones like Catalina are too risky.

I've worked with major software companies and small developers for decades and I frequently hear comments that the OS manufacturers -- especially Apple -- don't give developers the information, hooks, and programming details they need until just a few weeks before the new OS is launched. That's not enough time for them to retool to the new OS requirements.

Catalina was released only a week ago, on October 7, 2019.

So there will be a lag between the new OS and when your desktop apps will be fully compatible with it. Plan for 3-6 months, but always check with Adobe and your other software manufacturers. This forum is a very good place to ask the ACP/MVP colleagues here as some of them are developers themselves.

Given that Adobe traditionally releases its major upgrades to the Creative Suite apps in the fall (usually to coincide with its Max conference in October-November), I won't consider upgrading my studio's workstations until around January. Note that Acrobat may be on a different release schedule then the CS apps.

Report · Oct 12, 2019

Thanks for your replies. In my own defense, I am very conscientious. What I'm not is an advanced tech user, or someone who knows advanced tech users. I was not in a position to know in advance the travesty this upgrade would bring to my computer. None of the other Apple upgrades broke my programs. I suspect that I am not the only conscientious person who didn't know.

Report · Jan 24, 2020

You are not. I fell victim as well. And trust me I am "conscientious". Still not thrilled with that other users patronizing remarks. Utterly unhelpful and frankly unprofessional.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

"I am very conscientious."

I'm sure you are...you knew to come to the community forum for help!

And your post is not alone in the various forums here about the Catalina upgrade causing all progams to fail. I know it's not much consulation to know that you're not alone. Why macOS Catalina is breaking so many apps, and what to do about it

Some strategies going forward (and you don't need to be a techie to do these smart things):

Don't make a major upgrade of your operating system as soon as the OS is released. Mojave-to-Catalina is a major upgrade. You can tell by the version numbering. Example using Mojave:
Mojave Release‎: ‎10.14.6
10 = OS 10
.14 = Major release version
.6 = Minor incremental update (usually called a "bug fix")
Cataline is version 10.15.0.
Wait until 10.15.1 is released and some of the bugs have been worked out.
Don't do a major upgrade while you're working on critical projects, deadlines, etc.
Wait until your major software apps have been upgraded after the OS's upgrade. That's usually 1-4 months later (they have to work out their bugs, too). No software manufacturer can program in advance all the things needed for a new release in the operating system. They do not have crystal balls about future operating systems or magic wands that fix things instantly.
Check the websites of your major software apps. Look for wording that specifically says your version is compatible with Apple Catalina OS 10.15. If they don't say anything about Catalina, then they haven't finished retooling their software to work with Catalina. View Adobe's compatability/system requirements webpage and scroll down to the Mac OS section: System Requirements | Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Adobe Acrobat Standard DC. 10.14 (Mohave) is the latest version listed, not 10.15 Catalina.

Acrobat System Requirements (operating system).
Install the upgrade on another computer, like a spare laptop, and test if for a few weeks to see how well it works with your main software applications.
Ask the wise folks here for advice.

Hopefully, the discussion here can help avoid the pain down the road. But for now, see if you can roll back your operating system to Mojave and stay with it for a couple more months.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Thanks so much for your kind reply. I've found directions for reverting back, but it's too daunting a task for my skill level. I wonder if I should take my computer to the Genius Bar and ask them to do it. What are your thoughts?

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Definitely. You have work waiting. You can always uprade when your apps are Catalina-certified.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Agee. The folks at Apple are quite good at this. Before you do, make a backup of your data.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Thanks so much. I'm backed up to the cloud, but I think I'll make another backup. Should I put it on a thumb drive, or is there a better way?

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Thumb drive, external hard drive. Whatever you have. Always better to have a duplicate backup in situations like this. You can bring the thumb drive / external drive with you when you visit the Apple Genius Bar.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Also bring copies of your software accounts, logins, serial numbers, etc. that might be needed to reinstall your applications.

Report · Oct 13, 2019

Also if you have apps that are activated, de-activate them, otherwise if you are called on to re-activate them, it might exceed your limit. Example: Pantone Color Manager allows only two.

Report · Oct 14, 2019

and consider purchasing a large storage external hard-drive to use Time Machine. It saved me many times in similar situation with a full system recovery