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Always save the PDF compatible with older version (let's say 1.4 / Acrobat 5)

Forum Index > General Acrobat Topics > Always save the PDF compatible with older version (let's say 1.4 / Acrobat 5)
2010-12-14 01:54:04
lorkah
Registered: Dec 14 2010
Posts: 2

Hi,
 
I'm using Acrobat 9 Pro (Mac) and I want to be able to always(!) save PDF files so that they are compatible to Acrobat 5. Is there any hidden setting to get this done by default when hitting CMD-S?
 
I've already found this 'manual' solution:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6781219_save-pdf-older-version-adobe.php
 
But that's really a pain when having to deal with a lot of documents and permanently needing to save small changes.
 
Maybe the best solution would be to just get the old version on eBay… ;)
 
Thanks in advance for any clues that might help me to save a lot of time.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.0, Macintosh
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2010-12-14 04:14:09
#1
Merlin
Acrobat 9ExpertTeam
Registered: Mar 1 2006
Posts: 766
You can choose "Optimize PDF" instead of "Saving", IMHO it's the fastest way to do it.
Otherwise, a few lines of JavaScript can create a new menu item in the File menu that goes directly to the Optimize PDF.

;-)

abracadabraPDF.net

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2010-12-14 06:25:07
#2
lorkah
Registered: Dec 14 2010
Posts: 2
Thanks for you quick reply!

Could you please point me in the right direction regarding the 'few lines of JavaScript' as I'm pretty new to Acrobat.

Your solution would at least take the pain of having to remember to first select the correct 'optimized' setting in the "Save as" dialog. Still the "Optimize PDF" option opens a "Save as" dialog. So, for saving the changes I will still have to use the mouse and click three times.
* Click on "Optimize PDF" in menu
* "OK" in "Save as"
* "OK" as confirmation to replace the existing file

Well, it's less tedious than before - but it still is tedious.

Another option for me would be to edit and save all the needed files normally and finally run a batch job applying the needed 'optimization' (i.e. backwards compatibility). Unfortunately I couldn't find any info on how to do batch optimization neither. Do you have any good source of information on that, too?

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2010-12-14 07:55:47
#3
rossconnell
Registered: Dec 13 2010
Posts: 4
I too need to be able to change the default version to 1.4 in Acrobat 9.

The support desk, after long waits, broken connections and call-backs, told me to create a Setting in Distiller to save as 1.4, and then select that setting in Word, Excel, etc. Now when I create a PDF from a Word doc it's 1.4. Super!
Combining from Windows Explorer, however, bangs it back up to 1.6. How can I get the combined pdf to retain the v1.4 format?

Ross
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