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bschaefer6
bschaefer6
Inspiring
March 30, 2022
Answered

Is there a way to tell if a PDF is interactive or print by looking at the file?

  • March 30, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 3498 views

If there are no obvious indicators (ie. editable fields) is there any way to find out which type of PDF it is?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JR Boulay

Go to the Print Production tools : Convert Colors

A PDF exported as interactive from InDesign is RGB only, a PDF exported for print may content CMYK and spot colors.

 

4 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 31, 2022

In the InDesign sense, "interactive" does not necessarily mean "containing form fields".

Many people use it for low-res proofing purposes.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 31, 2022

Go to the Print Production tools : Convert Colors

A PDF exported as interactive from InDesign is RGB only, a PDF exported for print may content CMYK and spot colors.

 

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Luke Jennings3
Community Expert
Luke Jennings3Community Expert
Community Expert
March 31, 2022

If a pdf was exported from InDesign as an interactive pdf, the Form Options (Clear Form, etc.) would be available under the Acrobat Edit menu options (regardless if the pdf contains any forms), in a print pdf, these would not be available for selection.

Edit, actually, it appears some interactivity would be needed from InDesign for this to work.

Other indications of an interactive pdf: No bleed, no overprinting.

try67
Community Expert
try67Community Expert
Community Expert
March 30, 2022

It's easily done with a script, like this:

 

if (this.numFields==0) app.alert("This file has NO fields.",3);

else app.alert("This file has fields.",3);

    bschaefer6
    bschaefer6Author
    Inspiring
    March 30, 2022

    Sorry, I'm not familiar with using scripts. Could you explain what you mean?

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 30, 2022

    Maybe you should explain first how you want it to work... How do you want to trigger this command, and what should be the outcome?

    The script I provided will show an alert window with one of two texts. You can use it as a part of a Custom Command, for example, and run it on the current file, or it can be adjusted and used as a part of an Action to generate a message to the Console with the name of each file and the number of fields in it...

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    March 30, 2022

    There isn't really any distinction - no on/off switch and many files might be suitable for both (if unnccessarily large for interactive use). Maybe you're concerned with whether the imatges are high enough resolution for printing? Again, not a switch - each image could have a different resolution. That can be checked with preflight at least.

    bschaefer6
    bschaefer6Author
    Inspiring
    March 30, 2022

    There's no way to tell if a PDF was created as interactive or print?

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