Acrobat Bad Reputation Unnecessarily

Report · Jan 31, 2025

I have been a long time user of AA Pro since version 5. Although some versions took a step back on some of the features, was still a rock solid app. A major impediment was the overwhelming majority of the users were clueless on using several features built into the app. They would have been most comfortable using AA Reader. I was using Pro daily up until retirement. Now I only occasionally being retired.

I think Acrobat may be getting a bad rep which I do not believe can be blamed on Adobe. I think this may be due to some aftermarket apps which can generate a PDF. When most users see the Adobe PDF logo on the file an assumption is made the file was created using Adobe AA Pro. May someone can shed light on how these companies are generating these files.

The other day I downloaded a PDF from a government website. I have a myriad of issues with this file. Was totally unlike the AA files I could navigate, and make enhancements to. I could not even recognize the GUI. In the past I with the most recent versions I would change to the more friendly GUI in AA. Could not even perform this task. I was able to get around several of the obstacles after several painful seconds. I checked the properties and the file was created using iText 7.x. Yes, security features were applied to the file. This is not the first time experiencing this with these PDF creators. No, I have no connection to Adobe. Just want to share personal experience with those who are quick to blame Adobe. I have no problems with the AA files generated in Acrobat Pro.

Report · Jan 31, 2025

Hi there

Hope you are doing well.

Thanks for sharing your experience! You made a great point—many people assume all PDFs work the same, but the quality and features of a PDF depend on the software used to create it.

Adobe Acrobat Pro makes high-quality, easy-to-use PDFs, but other programs, like iText, may create files with limitations. That’s why some PDFs don’t behave the way you expect. Security settings and formatting differences can also make them harder to edit or navigate.

If you run into issues with a PDF, checking the file properties (as you did) can show which program made it. Acrobat also has tools that might help improve the file’s usability.

We appreciate you sharing your experience! It helps clear up misunderstandings about Acrobat.

Report · Jan 31, 2025

Amal;

Appreciate the response. Adobe created the specification for the portable document file. Is there a consortium for the aftermarket PDF creators? Acrobat has several awesome features. One of them is the ability to replicate WYSIWYG. We had several customers come to us with projects they developed on the workstation computer. They were surprised on the differences between the display on the various computers. When I showed them what Acrobat Pro could do they were amazed. Acrobat Pro is not perfect. Just a lot closer then many other apps.

Report · Mar 05, 2025

Hi,

Sorry for the delayed response.

There isn’t a single formal consortium dedicated to aftermarket PDF creators, but several industry groups and organizations contribute to PDF development and interoperability, such as:

1. PDF Association – A group focused on promoting awareness and best practices for PDF technology. Many third-party PDF tools follow their recommendations.

•Website: https://adobe.ly/3DvzGKO

2. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) – Maintains the official PDF standard (ISO 32000), along with specialized versions like PDF/A (archiving), PDF/X (print production), and PDF/UA (accessibility). etc...

Also, Why Does Display Differ Across Computers?

Your customers’ experience of seeing differences in PDF display across computers is likely due to:

•Missing Fonts – If a font isn’t embedded in the PDF, Acrobat may substitute it, leading to differences in appearance.

•Rendering Engines – Different PDF viewers (e.g., Acrobat, Chrome, Edge, etc) interpret PDFs differently.

•Resolution & Display Settings—Variations in DPI scaling and monitor color calibration can impact the appearance of a PDF.

Let us know if you have further questions

~Tariq

Report · Mar 07, 2025

Tariq thank you for the information. I was referring to the variability between projects developed in primarily MS Office which is installed on 95% of government computers. When the same project was saved in Acrobat format on one computer and opened in another achieved the results they were looking for.

The only funkiness with acrobat now is viewing on a cell phone. Almost unreadable. The Adobe Acrobat team does an awesome job documenting changes made in the app. Wish the other Adobe App Teams can apply some of these ideas when upgrading their apps.

Report · Mar 07, 2025

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out!

Could you please provide more details about the issue you’re experiencing when viewing the PDF on your mobile device? Specifically:

What happens when you try to open the PDF? Are you seeing any error messages, blank pages, or formatting issues?
Which mobile app are you using to view the PDF (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader, a built-in viewer, or another third-party app)?
Does this issue occur with a specific PDF file, or are you experiencing it with multiple PDFs? If possible, please try opening a different PDF to check if the problem persists.

Additionally, a short video recording demonstrating the steps you are taking and the issue as it occurs would be very helpful in understanding the problem better.