previous document and next document views

It has not been removed. "View => Tool Bars => More Tools" scroll down to "Page Navigation Toolbar" and check the "Previous View" and "Next View" options click "OK".

plz examine the 'go to' dropdown on the view menu. On Acrobat/Reader 8 you have 'previous document' and 'next document'. On Reader 9, those features are AWOL.

Not a popular menu item and most peoole are in the web browser. Also since the "close doc" has been disabled, probably considered a security issue by Adobe.

My Reader 8 has "First Page", "Previous Page", "Next Page", "Last Page", "Page Number", Previous View", and "Next View" only.

you mean you dont have 'previous document' and 'next document' views on 'view > go to' dropdown of Reader 8 or Acrobat 8 ??btw, many thanks for your many generous and helpful responses !!

I've not looked at 9 yet, but this was a big discussion topic when the Previous Document' button function was blacklisted in the first release of v8. It was restored in a later revision. For those of us who run documentation systems linking loads of pdf files, Previous Document is pretty essential to stop too many windows being opened and to save time making specific destination links. These network-hosted systems are best run full screen with navigation buttons, not in a browser where much of the screen is wasted on IE clutter.
How does Adobe assess just what its user base is doing, and which functions are being used or 'popular': I've never seen a survey?

This is a significant issue. You see it much as I see it. On reader 9 you'll find that 'previous document' and 'next document' (on view>goto) are missing. The absence of that feature means, when we create a complex interactive multi document package, that we now must instruct the user to clear the check at 'open cross-document links in same window' and to tolerate mutiple icons on the task bar. But those icons now provide the only practical way for the user to go back to a previous document. While this approach has drawbacks, it seems the only available practical solution to the user's need to be able to return to a 'previous document'. I am surprised that there is a dearth of interest in this subject. Perhaps many of the uses of reader/acrobat v9 dont think it's a significant feature. Perhaps I dont understand the issue. Where do the Adobe technical and design people stand? In their mind what are the pros and cons of the feature?

I use a number of military manuals that utilize the previous document feature. If it is not in the latest versions, then I will be forced to go back to V 8 for compatibility with the documents already created. I really need to use this feature with the Master Recipe document, which has 3389 files in 36 folders and they are all .PDF's.

Tis is a security issue. If some one does not exit Acrobat/Reader or properly logoff their system, then another user can review all the looked at PDFs. May not be an issue in your office, but other major functions like G2 may see this differently.

previous document feature (MDI) is not supported in AA9. See:
http://blogs.adobe.com/acrobat/2008/09/mdi_vs_sdi_in_acrobat.html

If you want multiple cross linked documents to remain open in AA9 or Reader9, clear check at 'open cross-document links in same window'on preferences (ctrl+k) > 'open settings'. To return to the linked-from document, minimize the current document or restore the previous document via a click on its taskbar button.Too many buttons on the taskbar? if you want to manage taskbar clutter, see this tech tip:
http://cybernetnews.com/cybernotes-always-group-similar-taskbar-buttons-in-windows/