pdf compare function

[Tim Hauptvogel]

hey adobe-community,

I got several questions about the comparing function of Adobe Acrobat.
We want to use a software to compare signed customer contracts to their accordance with the unsigned contract we sent out. The process works like this: we set up a document as word file and convert it to a OCR searchable pdf file. Then we send it to  the customer and he should sign, scan and send it back.
Now we want to use Acrobat to compare the pdf file before and after the signing of the customer to check if the customer edited some parts of the contract. That's what we want to do.

My question is: if the customer has no OCR scanner and sends back a non-searchable pdf-file, does the correct comparing of the pdf files still work? So does Acrobat have a built-in software OCR function? Is it possible to compare non-OCR and OCR-containing PDF's without having trouble with the comparing? If yes do we need the Acrobat Pro license? Or is the comparing function of the pro version somehow "better" or more "reliable" than the comparing function of the free version?

i am happy to hear from you guys and sorry for my not perfect english.
hope you guys understand my question and are able to provide me some helpful information

best regards,
tim

[Bernd Alheit]

The free Acrobat Reader has no compare function.

[JR Boulay]

email-print-sign-print-email-back is really an old school process.

You should try this one instead: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/how-to/send-documents-for-electronic-signature.html

It will save you from having to check the signed documents.

You can use it with the free Acrobat Reader, a free trial is available: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/sign.html

[Tim Hauptvogel]

@Bernd Alheit: thanks for your hint! by myself I am using the pro version for years, so I didn't know. but that's not a problem, then we have to buy the pro license
@JR Boulay  i know electronic signatures are way better and easier than the old send,sign,scan process but due to different limitations and restrictions it is not possible to use electronic signature in our company at the moment. Unfortunately I am not in a position where I can make decisions to change existing processes or standards

but thanks for your help so far!

[try67]

- You must have Acrobat Pro to perform both OCR and to compare documents.

- It's very likely there will be a lot of differences found between the original and signed-printed-scanned-OCR-ed version. This is really not a reliable workflow. You should consider using digital signatures, as mentioned above.

[Tim Hauptvogel]

Thank you too for your answer!
Like i said it is more or less impossible to just implement electronic signatures at the moment.

But okay then we need to find another way...
I think this thread can be closed. Thank you for taking your time!

Best regards and stay healthy,
Tim