We just discovered this problem today.
Both users on Windows 7 64-bit.
Pro user has 9.4.4. (Version drop-down doesn't have that option yet.)
Reader user has 9.4.1.
Source file is InDesign CS5 7.0.4, which both have, although one has stand-alone and the Pro user as the CS5 Design Premium package.
Reader user generates new PDF from InDesign. Wants to save in folder, replacing existing PDF, which was last edited by Pro user.
Cannot be done. States Pro user "owns" it!
This file has no security on it. No Windows permissions indicate a problem. No files open on anyone's machine. Even stopped all processes in Task Manager.
We cannot figure out whether this is an InDesign problem, an Acrobat problem, or a Windows problem!
Saving and replacing a file is not an unusual step. Why should this not work? We're really stumped! Found nothing in archives, but it was also hard to find the right keywords.
Thanks.
Reader user cannot rename, overwrite, delete PDFs made by Acrobat Pro user
2011-05-25 03:22:06
Answered
My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.4.3, Windows
Acrobat Pro 9.4.3, Windows
2011-05-25 05:23:31
#2
Thanks, UVSAR, but we both have access to the folder.
He can create his own files in that folder and edit, replace, delete as needed. He cannot do any editing on the files I created in Acrobat Pro. He was supposed to generate a new PDF, and when doing a Save As.., he planned to overwrite the previous file (created by me). Something blocked him. He had to save with a different name, and then I had to delete the file I had generated and give his file the correct name.
Do you still think it is Windows 7? Does make sense, yet I wonder if we stumbled on a bizarre Acrobat Pro vs. Adobe Reader issue. I am not sure how the PDF generator works inside InDesign. He can only create PDFs from inside InDesign. I am the only one who can do post-edit jobs on the actual PDF because I'm the only one with Acrobat.
He can create his own files in that folder and edit, replace, delete as needed. He cannot do any editing on the files I created in Acrobat Pro. He was supposed to generate a new PDF, and when doing a Save As.., he planned to overwrite the previous file (created by me). Something blocked him. He had to save with a different name, and then I had to delete the file I had generated and give his file the correct name.
Do you still think it is Windows 7? Does make sense, yet I wonder if we stumbled on a bizarre Acrobat Pro vs. Adobe Reader issue. I am not sure how the PDF generator works inside InDesign. He can only create PDFs from inside InDesign. I am the only one who can do post-edit jobs on the actual PDF because I'm the only one with Acrobat.
2011-05-25 06:27:30
#3
Accepted Answer
Adobe InDesign has nothing to do with Acrobat, it exports PDF files via an embedded copy of the PDF Library.The ability to overwrite a file, assuming it is not open in another process, is entirely controlled by the operating system. InDesign, Acrobat or Reader cannot influence these permissions, but they are all subject to them.
It sounds like the files you're saving are set so only your account can access them. When you look at the permissions on one of these files, is the other user on the access control list (either by name or via a system group such as "Everyone" or "Logged-in users")?
2011-05-25 07:40:22
#4
Thanks, USVAR. The solution was staring right at us.
My colleague and I are the only ones who can edit the files in this folder. Both our names were listed has having those full rights. We overlooked the fact that his machine did not have his name! (Consultant, etc.) His machine was in the read-only category with other users. This is the first time in 4 months we overlapped on files and discovered this issue, although it turns out he previously had problems with files I generated, but forgot to tell me. Now we can fix the permissions issue.
Thanks for your patience. I was foggy as to where the problem could be, not knowing whether our different PDF processes could play a role.
My colleague and I are the only ones who can edit the files in this folder. Both our names were listed has having those full rights. We overlooked the fact that his machine did not have his name! (Consultant, etc.) His machine was in the read-only category with other users. This is the first time in 4 months we overlapped on files and discovered this issue, although it turns out he previously had problems with files I generated, but forgot to tell me. Now we can fix the permissions issue.
Thanks for your patience. I was foggy as to where the problem could be, not knowing whether our different PDF processes could play a role.
2011-06-01 01:48:09
#5
You can do what you want with the file, but you can't change the text of a PDF in Reader.
Search for help on Windows 7 file permissions and inheritance for how to set up multi-user access to folders.