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Batch compare using javascript

vincenoir
Registered: Feb 17 2010
Posts: 5

Hi

I have a problem in work. We use a database that generates standard letters that are sent to customers. When changes are made, we must compare sample letters generated by the old and new database to see if there are any unexpected changes made. We do this by using the compare tool in Adobe Pro v 7.

The problem is that there are quite a few PDFs to compare, it often takes an hour or so to go through manually, so I want to try to automate this process. It looks like javascript is the way forward for this.

I know HTML javascript quite well, but have never used any other form of it. Does anyone know of or have a script they could share to help I'd be very grateful.

Also, looking online, I couldn't really find any easy to use reference for AcrobatJavaScript functions of object references. If anyone can pointme in the direction of something like this this may be enough for me to figure a script out for myself.

Many thanks.

try67
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2398
It's not possible to use JavaScript to use the compare function of Acrobat.
What you can do, is use JS to make your own compare tool. However, you will be limited to comparing just text, comments and form fields. Is that sufficient for your needs?

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
Check out my custom-made scripts website: http://try67.blogspot.com

vincenoir
Registered: Feb 17 2010
Posts: 5
Thanks for the reply.

No, we use the detailed analysis option, it needs to compare text alignment etc.

Is it possible to automate acrobat pro using another scripting language or programme? If so is there a prefered option?

Thanks again.
try67
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2398
Yes, it's possible, but not all built-in functionality of Acrobat is accessible to a script.
This is an example of something that isn't accessible... Maybe with a plugin, but that's much more complicated to create.

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
Check out my custom-made scripts website: http://try67.blogspot.com

vincenoir
Registered: Feb 17 2010
Posts: 5
thanks for your help.