Adobe Reader Acrobat DC: what where they thinking??

Report · May 04, 2015

I made an Adobe account especially for this posting. I am not someone who complains a lot or writes all over the web about software. But for this new DC thing I make a big exception.

I did build a new PC and after that I also went over to Adobe site to download Adobe Reader. Something was there by default called Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Mmm, confusing: I don't have or want Acrobat, that's a complete other line of Adobe products. So had to search but no, turns out that for some reason the reader now also is part of the Acrobat line. Plus only DC is offered, nothing else.

Well okay, download and install.

First impression: looks weird, a way to big tools sidebar too. Ah well, I can disable that. Nope, the sidebar is always there.

Interface and layout: horrible. But okay, I can learn to live with that.

Okay, next step: disable the automatic update. Nope, can not be done, the auto update is always On.

Well okay, lets see if I can get rid of all the "become member" and "Cloud" notifications. Nope, Adobe somehow decided to nag people to death in the Reader so they get a paid account and go into the cloud.

I really don't know what Adobe was thinking when the made this DC thing but it's just horrible. I know the side Toolbar will have the option to be hidden constantly within a month or 3, I know I can disable the Auto update withing Windows Services, I know I can use Windows Registry tweaks to disable things, I know there is a DC Configurator Wizzard to set things.

But it's ridicules that all that is needed to get a normal working, simple PDF Reader!!

And that is my experience for personal use: for my work DC has even more become a completely useless tool with all the things that have to be configured before the users can use it.

Adobe, do mention on your download page that DC is no simple PDF Reader anymore but just another way to generate money by trying to get people to get a Adobe account so they can get more features? Do mention that Adobe Reader as we know it is no more, that it has been replaced by this DC thing?

Sorry Adobe, I uninstalled this DC thing and I am looking for a good and simple alternative for at work. With sadness I say goodbye to Adobe Reader which I used for so many years. Thank you Adobe by rewarding us all with this ... this ... DC Thing

Report · Nov 13, 2015

Thanks. I have been trying (since you sent your reply) to create a signature (which is annoying in itself, because I had a signature created already in Acrobat Pro, but when I downloaded the DC version, that signature disappeared, so I have to create it again). The old Pro version created the signature from a jpg easily - the new DC version, not so much. Every one I have tried is blurry, or too dark, or whatever, and there is no way to edit the signature in DC. I AM BEYOND FRUSTRATED! I should not have to be spending all this time trying to re-create something that I did easily in a prior version of Acrobat.

Report · Nov 13, 2015

In Acrobat DC you can use also a jpg.

Report · Nov 13, 2015

That is what I am doing - trying to use a jpg

Report · Nov 13, 2015

Also, when I use this "sign", it tells me that once I apply the signature I can no longer edit the document. It is effectively locked. That was not the case with Acrobat Pro. This is no longer a useful tool for me. So disappointed.

Holly

Report · Jun 09, 2017

Why can't I get this tool bar?

(copy and pasted from above)

I only get the sign icon and the Fill and Sign drop down ... nothing else ...

Report · Jun 09, 2017

When you open a document without form fields you will get this options.

Report · Jun 09, 2017

Ok ...

So, I just upgraded to DC. I used to be able to "draw a rectangle" and insert my signature like this:

Can I still do that, and how? Thanks!

Report · Jun 09, 2017

For this you must use Tools > Certificates

Report · Jun 09, 2017

are there online instructions on what I need to do in Tools > Certificates? Or, is it pretty self-explanatory?

Report · Jun 09, 2017

This is exactly what I needed! Thanks!

Report · Nov 17, 2015

Yeah this is literally the worst software update I've seen in the past 20 years - I agree that this product no longer has any use.

Instead of a 'new' or 'better' version, they've simply given a budget front-end face lift and ruined the functionality of the interface.

Regards,

Report · Nov 17, 2015

As a non-profit with an cloud account -I have to pay more to do things I could before? I want the old version back and get rid of this DC. Tell me how, please.

Report · Jan 08, 2016

Main Points on Acrobat/Reader DC:

Installed and deinstalled it today. It is not usable in the form provided. I do not want or will not use an unproductive tablet for my use of Acrobat. If tablet type interfaces are introduced, a company such as Adobe with key history in font and graphics scaling should be able to provide alternatives. Even a Mac or Windows interface can scale app icons, Adobe now cannot? And no, I do NOT want to unset that checkmark about staying logged in in this forum every time I hit that page!

Let me explain a few background items, so that my opinion about DC may be weighted appropriately.

I tried to manipulate the "Tools" display in DC with no luck as some people already pointed out. What irks me about these usability issues is that "font scaling" is one of the key features introduced by Adobe, but that is no longer possible on these menus. My history of using Adobe dates back to longer than "Display Postscript" on NeXT boxes, where great antialiasing made scalable fonts on a 2-bit display do great work, that was over 25 years ago and I have since programmed a lot of stuff myself.

After going through endless updates on many programs I use, I am not opposed to learn new useful features, but I am really opposed to get less for paying more and having my user content hostaged in a PDF only cloud with inferior software functionality. Digital editions was similar, even acknowledged as beta software, but forced on users. My experience has unfortunately been that the addressing of issues and robust software functionality is not one of the greatest accomplishments at Adobe after Macromedia came on board. Steve Jobs was rightfully bashing some of the bugs in Flash.

P.S.: To reply here, I had to "reactivate" my Adobe ID. It then had me supply my birthdate (to know that I am over 13 and could get into a binding contract and then spelled out pages of software legalese for:

Acrobat.com
Business Catalyst
Adobe Translation Center
CS6 Software

Adobe Content Server 4
Digital Publishing Suite
PhoneGap Build
CC 2013 Software

Behance

EchoSign
Typekit

This appears legally questionable, as most people would not even know what these software pieces do or are good for, so how can they agree to download, etc., do whatever with them, just to post on this forum? I could ask in the same vein about details of the database software and middleware used to keep my data, including all the state machines how my data are moved around. That is not disclosed, so I cannot validate that the safe harbor agreement is actually followed... Wait, that may take months to read ...

Innovative would be a binding contract, that states that Adobe:

a) will provide some transparency about user needs gathered and how their software addresses those. There appear just gaps in the requirements gathering cycle.

b) tries to debug its software and documents that (TeX or Google have examples how compensation for bugs works)

Report · Jan 29, 2016

You are spot on, my friend. Adobe has finally succeeded in making me go back to Apple Preview for my pfd needs. Dolts!

Report · Apr 02, 2016

Ditto - this DC thing is awful, unusable, pathetic .... just as Windows "metro" 8 and above (meaning Win10) .... I hate them all - DC, Win8/10

Report · May 16, 2016

So Much confusion from all your (used to be) "loyal" subscribers . When I searched "Adobe what is the difference between XXXXXX and XXXXXXX" there were thousands of search results from confused users . As far as I can see your products are way too counter intuitive and difficult causing people to drop Adobe products from their PC's . You have defaulted all your products to : 1/ gather our usage stats , 2/ send interminable notifications , 3/ auto update , and a myriad other defaults that all cost us data , reduce our privacy , and the 'defaults' all benefit YOUR BOTTOM LINE in some way and "COST" us in some way . All the interfaces ; (in order for the users to change the "defaults" to aid our privacy and security) , are impossible to use and counter intuitive as is exemplified by the forums and the thousands of search results when you enter "Adobe what is the difference between ............" . When I'm on an Adobe page trying to sort through your excruciating products , all the interfaces have a 30 second click delay . The whole Adobe experience has descended into a time wasting costly and counter intuitive corporatized nightmare from a once great line of products . WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR ONCE MUCH LOVED ADOBE ? You have ruined it and I , like many others apparently , am done with Adobe for now and I will be watching for when Adobe returns to what it used to be :- a great suite of products that were fast , intuitive , productive and simple to use . Adobe presently , is so far off the mark that it is a no brainer that you will have to overhaul the whole thing and it is only a matter of time .

Report · May 23, 2017

Me too!

Report · Jun 09, 2017

This whole Acrobat thing is annoying. Since the release last year, if I open any PDF; ANY PDF and let it sit there for a while, Reader will freeze up until I close it completely. Reader will also start showing another copy cat window randomly that I cannot do anything with until I close Reader altogether. It's a big nuisance. I have tried reinstalling, no dice. I also cannot find another forum where this has been even discussed as an issue, which surprises me because I have installed it on multiple Windows 10 Platform computers and it's still a problem, so it's not a user error... It's a software error. What gives? I cannot be the only one here.

Report · Apr 22, 2023

100 percent agree with you