Do I need adobe acrobat?

Report · Sep 28, 2017

Hi everyone,

Looking for a bit of help / advice.

I'm looking to scan lots of signed papers and convert them to PDFS (to be emailed a later date)

I currently have office 365 I think (word 2016 etc.) and realise that upon saving the word doc under save as I can save as a PDF and it will open with Microsoft edge or adobe reader if change what it opens with.

My question is do I need to purchase Adobe acrobat PDF maker? or can I just use the save as PDF button from word?

I'm sure there must be a reason for adobe acrobat?

Thank you

Claire

Report · Sep 28, 2017

Microsoft's “save as PDF” works fine of the simplest of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files but has major issues. Some examples:

(1) OpenType CFF fonts. If you use any fonts with the .OTF suffix, Microsoft's PDF is unable to embed such fonts in the PDF resulting in either low resolution rasters of the text placed in the PDF file or text without embedded fonts. Microsoft was made aware of this problem but apparently doesn't consider it important enough to fix.

(2) Various issues with generating PDF for raster images that may be present in your Office document.

(3) Not particularly robust tagging of content if you need PDF/A files.

Acrobat also provides a wide range of functions that allow manipulation of PDF files including performing OCR on scanned files, page rearrangement, simple text edit, etc.

Be aware that Microsoft's Edge Browser's PDF reader does not fully implement PDF rendering.

- Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)

View solution in original post

Report · Sep 28, 2017

Microsoft's “save as PDF” works fine of the simplest of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files but has major issues. Some examples:

(1) OpenType CFF fonts. If you use any fonts with the .OTF suffix, Microsoft's PDF is unable to embed such fonts in the PDF resulting in either low resolution rasters of the text placed in the PDF file or text without embedded fonts. Microsoft was made aware of this problem but apparently doesn't consider it important enough to fix.

(2) Various issues with generating PDF for raster images that may be present in your Office document.

(3) Not particularly robust tagging of content if you need PDF/A files.

Acrobat also provides a wide range of functions that allow manipulation of PDF files including performing OCR on scanned files, page rearrangement, simple text edit, etc.

Be aware that Microsoft's Edge Browser's PDF reader does not fully implement PDF rendering.

- Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)

Report · Mar 19, 2018

I have a problem of a different nature. I am disabled I have a very low income I can Not afford a credit card. I have the same problem with the Microsoft office. I had wanted to take a course through the GALE Courses. But now I have encountered this . . .

I don't know if there is anything you can do to help me out. I know that there may not be a way for you to help me. And I understand That's just life.

I don't know if you have my e-mail address but in case you don't - my e-mail address is - sue.davenport57@gmail.com