Acrobat Reader is a PDF viewer and converter, available as a free download from Adobe. Users can view, sign, collaborate on and annotate PDF files, or edit and convert PDFs into file formats like Excel and Word.
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Apryse
Score 6.5 out of 10
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The Apryse PDF SDK (formerly PDFTron) enhances software applications with dynamic document viewing, annotation, processing, and conversion capabilities, as well as features such as document understanding, data extraction, and redaction. The SDK supports PDF, Word documents, CAD drawings, and also includes a video SDK.
After creating a document, converting it into Adobe Acrobat Reader is usually very easy for storage in my computer, sending/sharing via emails, etc. This also saves a significant amount of unnecessary printing and paper waste, which is great for reducing waste. I don't have to worry about not having the right software/app to view, edit, and share with anyone.
PDFTon is best suited for larger organizations in order to maximize the multiple features and functionality and to justify the cost. The users will need a programmer that can develop solutions to deploy using multiple programming languages. They need to be able to understand how the different types of code can interact. Small organizations would have a hard time justifying the cost and may not have the skill sets to deploy it easily.
Edit PDFs. One of the biggest challenges faced in document heavy workflows is editing a PDF. Adobe Reader DC does a fantastic job of allowing you to edit pdfs on the fly without having to go back to the original form and reconverting it.
Sign PDFs. I spend a lot of time signing contracts and approval forms. Adobe Reader DC allows me to do that quickly without having to use my mouse or another third party platform. I can do all I need right in the Adobe Reader DC workflow.
Merge PDFs. I find quite often that I need to put two or more documents together in one form. I can do that with just a few clicks in the Adobe Reader DC merge workflow.
To be honest, I do not have any say in the renewal of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. It is managed at an enterprise level, and the decision to renew or not renew is handled well above my pay grade as an external consultant.
Again, Adobe Creative Suite is widely used and backed by an industry leader, making the experience very familiar and common for anyone who has used a PDF and wants more features to interact with it. It also makes copy text a lot easier than just previewing the file.
The Word app included with Office 365 offers similar collaboration functionality when compared to Adobe reader but with the option to fully change the original document while reviewing. This is both an advantage and disadvantage when compared with the Adobe reader app. Documents left in the Microsoft Word format also have a tendency to appear different depending on screen size and device used and this can be frustrating for some users. Basically, if you need what you have created and formatted to stay put and to appear as you intended and be printed as you intended if needed, use the Adobe PDF format.
PDFTron was our first choice because it was the best solution we could find at the time. it was the most versatile and easiest for us to deploy mostly because of the great support they provided. I had the opportunity to meet with them prior to purchasing and they seemed like a company that would continue growth of the product and listen to their customers for improvements.
It has had positive impact in that it has save considerable costs vs. investing in cloud-based/subscription based software.
In terms of security, it also has had a positive impact, in that it doesn't really require IT staff to take the time to patch the software or work on issues with the software.
It has also had a positive impact in that it has not required formal training for users to be able to use the software.
