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How to make PDF Portfolios as backward compatible as possible

Forum Index > PDF Portfolios > How to make PDF Portfolios as backward compatible as possible
2008-11-26 09:19:42
AnneMarie
Registered: Jul 26 2006
Posts: 18

I needed to send a bunch of time-sensitive PDFs to a new contact who I know is a savvy Mac user (but not in the design/publishing field). I thought, oh, perfect opportunity to use the portfolio feature. So I dragged/dropped the three folders containing PDFs into the portfolio and wrote a typed-in Welcome message (containing instructions).

Before sending it, I tested it in Reader 9 (worked fine) and Reader 8. In Reader 8 I saw that my Welcome message was nowhere to be seen, just the scary "Best if you upgrade right now to version 9" screen, and a list of attachments in no particular order and without the folders I had carefully put them into.

So I wrote another PDF that reprised my instructions... what I had written in my Welcome message ... and included that with the name "coverletter.pdf" in the portfolio, in case the recipient didn't have Reader 9. And sent it off.

After two days, I emailed her to make sure she got the files. Here was her response:

"I got a file. I've been unable to open it yet. I had to download some software, and then I had to see clients, so I don't know what's in the file yet. I'll let you know at end today if I have problems. Unfortunately, I'm i the field most of the day today, and was all day yesterday as well."

This is so aggravating. I had been thinking I'd start using portfolios instead of attaching multiple PDFs to clients requesting quotes, instructions for office visitors, etc. ... but if even a savvy user (who has admin rights and knowledge to download software) gets this roadblock, why would I ever use portfolios unless I was *certain* the recipient had Reader 9?

Thanks to Ted Padova's book, I know I can change that "you should upgrade to Reader 9 right now, here's the big red button" screen that comes up to something else less off-putting. But I'm frustrated that Adobe didn't build-in a much more elegant way for portfolios to appear in earlier versions of Reader (and precious little documentation in the Help files regarding how Reader 4, 5, 6, and 7 deal with portfolios).

For instance, why can't a portfolio that's opened in Reader 7 or 8 open with a screen shot (or auto-generated PDF) of the Welcome screen, attachments showing, and a more subtle invitation to upgrade ... kinda like the bar that appears across the top of the window when you open a form? Or put up a screen offering to extract the attached files to a folder of the recipient's choosing?

Sorry for the rant, but I'm really disappointed. Reader has a looong tail .. there are thousands of users out there with versions dating back to 5 or 6, let alone 7 or 8. I can't risk throwing up a roadblock to them when they ask for a quote for a design job or want to see samples of my work. Oh you want to see it? Download and install software first. (Yes I know that message could be ignored, but why is it there in the first place?)

I'll just continue sending multiple attachments, I guess.

I know I'm not the only business owner who wants to make communications and file exchange/transfer as seamless as possible with their leads, clients and vendors. If Adobe wanted to encourage the use of portfolios, they should've come up with a way that allows us to send these out with a modicum of confidence.

In lieu of that, I'm looking for any information regarding what happens when someone with Reader 4, 5, 6, or 7 opens a portfolio (since I don't have any computers with these versions installed) ... what attachments are supported ... is there a way to maintain folder structure ... etc.

thanks
AM

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.0, Macintosh
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2008-11-26 10:45:23
#1
gkaiseril
Online
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
With portfolios, you can only go back to version 8 and scripting can be even more restrictive.

Have you looked at [url=http://blogs.adobe.com/pdfdevjunkie/2008/08/pdf_portfolios_and_backward_co.php]PDF Portfolios and Backward Compatibility - Part 1[/url]by Joel Geraci. It is a 4 part series so be sure to follow the links.

There can be a host of issues because of the different OS's and how the OSs structure directories and establish security. And the OS can restrict how we can interact with data and how the developers decide we should interact with data. Some big wig in a large PC Software company called the "Internet" a passing fad and thought CD-ROMs was the road of the future.

George Kaiser

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2008-11-26 12:30:22
#2
Merlin
Acrobat 9ExpertTeam
Registered: Mar 1 2006
Posts: 766
You can take a screenshot of the screen you want the end-user to see, then copy/paste it on the Cover sheet. Since it's the page that end-users of previous version will see.
[i]View menu > Portfolio > Cover sheet.[/i]As gkaiseril said, another way is to replace the Adobe's Cover sheet with your own.

Also see that Portfolio's cover sheet : [url]https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=ff451abc-9183-4375-9970-14061fc67f5c[/url]

;-)

abracadabraPDF.net

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2008-11-27 02:01:16
#3
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
The thing to remember is that Portfolios are a new idea, based on extending an old one (collections) which in turn extend an even older one (attachments). Each version of Reader is designed to cope with the PDF spec at that time, so has no way to emulate newer features. All the visual jazz of Portfolios is only possible in A9/R9 because Flash Player is now embedded, so legacy readers simply display what bits they CAN understand (attachments, etc.) and ignore the rest. The default hint to the user is to upgrade to the current version, which is the standard approach to all software. Remember it's only been a few years since Adobe owned Flash and so had the option to embed it anywhere.

I understand your frustration, but it's like asking why Windows 3.1 doesn't support 64-bit hardware - at the time, nobody even imagined it needed to so nobody bothered adding an apologetic error message.
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2008-11-28 08:05:31
#4
AnneMarie
Registered: Jul 26 2006
Posts: 18
Thank you everyone ... a friend clued me into the multipart series on compatibility by Joel Geraci as well, which is fairly helpful.

UVSAR I do understand your points (and I think you meant "packages" where you said "collections"). What I'm saying is that I believe the portfolio format would have much more traction and wider-spread adoption if Adobe had built in more intelligent and elegant backwards compatibility to older versions of Reader.

Example: Reader 8 can open packages, and Acro 8 allowed you to designate the "main" PDF (or the one that explained the contents of the package) as the package's cover letter. When a Reader 8 opens the package, the cover letter is opened by default so they can make sense of the package contents. Reader 7 can open PDFs with attachments, and assumably in Acro 7 you'd attach the additional files to the "main" PDF (the one that explains the attachments, for example).

In both cases, something opens that makes sense to the end user. I guess my frustration stems from my assumption that Adobe would have planned for this in Acro 9 portfolios. ;-)

If I make a text or image Welcome message in a portfolio, I *thought* that when saving it, Adobe would hide a PDF version of the Welcome message in the portfolio. That way if a user opened the portfolio in Reader 7 or 8, my welcome message would be the first thing they see, and rest of the files would appear as attachments or part of the package.

Or how about a tick-mark somewhere that I can direct Acro 9 to do this, trading off overall file size for compatibility?

Additionally I'd like to see a far more subtle alert when opening a portfolio in Reader/Acro 7 or 8, like the "This document contains form fields" bar that may appear on top of form PDFs. It might say, "This portfolio is best viewed in Acro or Reader 9/Upgrade Now/It has opened as a package/as attachments for compatibility."

Or, when making a portfolio in Acro 9, you could elect to create one that's either "fully featured for Reader 9" or "backwards compatible with Reader 8/ Reader 7 or 8." If you choose a compatibility option, then some things would be greyed out (like, you couldn't choose a Flash movie for your welcome message, because Acro can't convert that to a PDF cover sheet).

Without the above, my ability to use PDF Portfolios to distribute documents is severely limited. Reader 7 is only 4 years old! (Acro 7 was announced in November 2004.)

So I have to assume that most of the people I'd send multiple files (PDFs and others) -- to general business users -- will be on 7, or 8; and probably a good number on Reader 6 too. And even if they were game to updating, most of them would not have the admin privileges to do so.

I never again want to see a message from a sales lead or a new vendor like the one I quoted in my first post in this thread. I'll continue to look for opportunities to use portfolios, sure ... they are very cool ... but without friendlier backwards-compatibility, it'll be limited to other Acrobat trainers and seminar leaders, and Adobe staff, I guess. ;-) For at least the next couple years.

Bummer!

AM
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2008-11-28 08:29:46
#5
AnneMarie
Registered: Jul 26 2006
Posts: 18
"You can take a screenshot of the screen you want the end-user to see, then copy/paste it on the Cover sheet. Since it's the page that end-users of previous version will see.
View menu > Portfolio > Cover sheet."Merlin, excellent ... this helps!

Merci ...

AM
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2009-01-12 14:57:19
#6
txblissett
Registered: Jan 12 2009
Posts: 1
Hello AnneMarie. It appears you are having the same issue I am having. One of the reasons I purchased Acro 9 was the portfolio feature. It appeared to be the exact feature I have been searching for, for some time now. But the lack of backwards compatibility is going to render the Portfolio feature somewhat useless for me. I don't need my data organized better for me; I need it more organized for the people receiving it. I do not want any of the recipients to be prompted to download a new version or risk the information appearing incorrectly to them.

My Company would like to be able to put together a large collection of PDF's from several thousand scanned pages but still have them somewhat organized (by year, project, etc) through a Master index or Table of Contents. (or in this case a Portfolio)

So my question is - Has anyone on this thread made any new developments in regard to this issue? I'd be curious as to what others are doing as a work around, if anything. Or maybe someone has another idea as to how I can present my data without a Portfolio.

And yes I have read through the 4 part tutorial but it didn't really seem applicable to my situation.

Thanks,
Travis
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2009-01-13 01:17:32
#7
UVSAR
Expert
Registered: Oct 29 2008
Posts: 1357
Travis - fully understand your frustration, but please bear in mind that the new features in Acrobat/Reader 9 are precisely that - new features. Reader 8/7/6... simply have no concept of what the "Portfolio" code within a PDF means, irrespective of if the design uses Flash or not, all they can see are the elements which they were designed to see - i.e. a list of attachments.

The only possible thing you can do is make it obvious to your readers that they need to upgrade. There's no concept of legacy Readers being "fixed" to understand Portfolios - that's effectively what Reader 9 is, and it'd still mean they all had to download new software.

As with everything, when a new feature comes out, there's a lag between creators and users. Millions of people are already using Reader 9, but there'll never be a 100% penetration. If your document benefits from the new features and people [i]want[/i] the document, they'll usually do what you ask and install R9 - after all you're not making them pay for anything. Ultimately it's the tease of exciting stuff you can't open which makes people upgrade - if nobody issues R9 files, nobody needs to install the thing in the first place.
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