Dynamically Saving a PDF on a Server

[Jon27930339zgx3]

Is there a way to save a PDF that 2 different computers are using on a sever without getting the message "The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder."?

[Test Screen Name]

No. Acrobat can't know what changes were made by one computer, so edits are locked out everywhere else.

[Thom Parker]

Based on the error message, it seems as though the PDF is being saved to a file folder.  By "server" you must mean a shared network drive? or some other type of mapped drive? 

But regardless. How exactly are the edits to the two open files supposed to be resolved when one is saved while the other is open?  How do you envision this working?

[Jon27930339zgx3]

Based on the error message, it seems as though the PDF is being saved to a file folder.  By "server" you must mean a shared network drive? or some other type of mapped drive? 

But regardless. How exactly are the edits to the two open files supposed to be resolved when one is saved while the other is open?  How do you envision this working?

By Thom Parker

Yes exactly, shared drive. I was hoping the changes being made to the file could appear on someone elses screen dynamically, and therefore be able to save without the other person having to get out.

Our 3d modeling program works this way. Everything being done in the model can be seen by others at the same time. There is never a read-only type situation.

[Thom Parker · Accepted solution]

The kind of shared UI experience you've described for the 3d modeling app cannot be done through a simple shared drive. It requires an active server based internet connection, so that the applications on each system can communicate directly with each other.  It has nothing to do with saving files to the same location. 

Acrobat does have exactly this type of collaborative system, the "Shared Review".  So if the kinds of changes you're making are marking up the PDF, you can have this same experience with Acrobat.  

[Jon27930339zgx3]

Thanks Thom,

Shared Review might be what we are looking for. Is there any information you could send me on this?

[Thom Parker]

Here's a link to the Adobe help page on starting a shared review.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/starting-pdf-review.html