Acrobat XI won't work unless I install Flash?

[nyCecilia]

My Acrobat XI Pro installed on Win 10 was working fine up until a few weeks-ish ago.  Today, any time I try to combine files in a pdf, I get a message saying that I need to install Flash.  Adobe deprecated Flash a few years back, so that's not going to work.  I can't get past this problem, as Adobe crashes if I do anything but go to a website that says Flash is deprecated.  Please help, this is just plain stupid, there is no reason for it to suddenly stop working.

Thanks!

[nyCecilia]

ok, just figured it out, Adobe wants money from me.  Well, I've already paid, I bought this software, and you're taking it away.  So sick of corporations deciding they want more and more money for something I've already bought.  Bye bye adobe.  I will not be getting a "subscription" to your "cloud" software.

[Nancy OShea]

You're using outdated software which is bad for security reasons not to mention lack of features.  Depending on what all you need Acrobat for, you might not need a paid plan.

FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment & sign PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro DC -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF files.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

[nyCecilia]

I need to 1. run scripts, and 2. merge files (sometimes .jpg and sometimes .pdf) into a single pdf.  I'm pretty sure I need the software to do both.  Also, I should be entitled to take whatever "risks" I want to take with my computer.  Fine if you want to block it for people who don't know better, but there should be an option for those of us willing to take the "risk" (since there is no way to "fault" adobe anyway).

[nyCecilia]

You're using outdated software which is bad for security reasons not to mention lack of features. 

1. I am an adult over the age of 50.  I'm willing to assume the risk.  I'm even willing to have a single computer dedicated to Acrobat XI that is not connected to the internet, and therefore not vulnerable to any risk.

2. I need exactly the functions of the software that I purchased.  The EXPENSIVE software that I purchased.  It was remotely-disabled against my will, and being an adult, I have the ability to make choices of which risks I'm willing to assume.  Remote-disabling my software is like treating me like a child who can't be trusted.

[try67]

You can still merge files, just not as a Portfolio, which was indeed dependent on (the now-defunct) Flash technology in Acrobat XI.

[nyCecilia]

Merging 30 or 40 files one file at a time is ridiculous.  I want my (relatively) software to work again.  I'm willing to take the risk to have this working the way it was a few days ago.

[nyCecilia]

PS.  Since there is no way to edit posts, I want to clarify that I'm not trying to make portfolios.  I'm trying to merge .pdf files into a bigger .pdf file and alternatively break them apart by bookmark (which I'm guessing I can also no longer do).  I also want to run scripts.

[try67]

Acrobat XI on Windows 10 can still:

- Merge PDF files to a single PDF

- Add bookmarks

- Extract pages from an existing file to a new one

- Run scripts

- etc.

The only thing it can no longer do is handle any PDF files that rely on Flash technology in them.

Beside that it has issues with tasks that rely on communication with the OS, such as generating emails.

I speak from personal experience on this.

[JR Boulay]

- Pirates and hackers have not waited for the arrival of the Internet to crack down.

- If Acrobat asks you for Flash Player it is probably because one or more of the documents you want to merge contains Flash objects.
You should proceed by elimination.

[nyCecilia]

None of the pdfs I am merging have flash.  They're all text.

If a computer is not connected to the internet, then there is no way to abuse flash on a computer that is only turned on one day a week and not connected to said internet.

Also, I am an adult.  I should be entitled to take on the risks that I choose that do not affect others.  

[Test Screen Name]

If you do t want to make portfolios, then turn off the option to make them!! Then you can still do what you want. This option is somewhere in the combine files settings. 

[nyCecilia]

I see no such setting.  I'd be willing to try, although my thought is that this is not going to make combining files magically work again.  But if you can point out where to turn off the option for making portfolios (and where the combine files settings can be found), then I can try it.

[Test Screen Name]

I don't have Acrobat XI to try, but I have an old system with Acrobat X and it still combines files just fine. Flash Player is gone forever, cannot be downloaded, and is blocked in Windows by Microsoft.

So, perhaps you can take us through what you do in Acrobat XI. A detailed description, or screen shots of each point, or a movie. We may be able to see a point at which you could do something differently.

[nyCecilia]

select multiple pdf files in Windows explorer, right click, combine files in Acrobat.  Doing that results in "you must install flash" with a lead to a dead link to install flash.  At no point did I select Portfolio, I don't know what portfolios do but I haven't ever tried them so not sure of their utility.

[Test Screen Name]

Ok, do you get a screen before the "you must install Flash"? If so, see if there is an options button.

If not try using File > Create PDF > From multiple files (or similar) in Acrobat instead.

If still no good try and doing a combine where NONE of the files are a PDF. If that works, we need to consider your PDFs.

[JR Boulay]

"nyCecilia 

I see no such setting."

It's here:

[JR Boulay]

I see no such setting."

It's here: