How to enable commenting in PDF?

[Guest]

Using RH9. Generating a PDF for review from WebHelp. RH shows me the Create PDF for review dialog box but the Enable commenting in Adobe Reader option is dimmed. How can I activate this feature?

[Peter Grainge]

It is a Technical Communication Suite only feature. Would I be right in thinking perhaps you have the standalone version of RoboHelp rather than TCS?

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Guest]

Thank you Peter.

Yes, it is stand-alone. I feel a bit P.O.'d (or words to that effect) about this -- neither the RH documentation nor Adobe's promotional material makes it clear that this is NOT available in the stand-alone version.

If we use Adobe Acrobat, it is possible to use the RH9 PDF review feature or must we shell out for the whole TCS package?

Ankur Jain, if you are reading this -- how about clearing up this matter in your sales literature?

[Peter Grainge]

I don't think it stops you using the feature. I believe all you need to do is create the PDF, open it in Acrobat and then enable commenting. It's just an extra step.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Guest]

Thanks Peter. I can probably get the boss to pop for Acrobat, however before I do I would like to know whether the automated comment accept/reject procedure will work in the RH project without the full TCS package.

[Peter Grainge · Accepted solution]

The answer marked as correct is in fact incorrect so perhaps when you have read this you will unmark it and this one as the correct answer.

To use PDF Review you do need to have Acrobat Pro installed (Version 9 or 10) but it does not have to be part of TCS. Pricewise if you are purchasing both RoboHelp and Acrobat, the suite is not much more but that's another matter.

If you have Acrobat X Pro, then the button you referred to will be enabled. If you only have 9, it will not be enabled but you could open the PDF created by RoboHelp and enable commenting.

I hope that clears things up and apologise for misleading you.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

Just a comment and observation here on a couple of things.

Sure, it's Adobe's sandbox and they are free to do what they like with their products. However, they do tend to listen to customers in order to decide which features to add, remove or enhance. And if they hear from several different customers, they pay more attention. You get their ear by completing a Wish Form/Bug Report. These are always read by the product teams.

Soooo, you (and any others reading this that feel this way) should please submit a Wish Form to advise Adobe that you want to see these "suite only" features work with the stand alone versions of the product. But here's the kicker. The features should only work if you have the other required Adobe software. What I mean by this is that many folks purchase Acrobat separately and RoboHelp separately as individual items. It seems ridiculous to me (as I'm sure it does to you) that if you have both pieces of the required software, that a feature requiring both would also require a "special version" of both so they are now integrated. It forces the customers into making an additional purchase and duplicating software just to get a feature working.

And your comment about Ankur? Well, completing that Wish Form (link is in my sig) will put your comment in front of his eyes. Really it will! Posting here probably won't do it. It's like shouting at the wind and hoping the president hears it. Completing the Wish Form is like making a direct telephone call to the president's answering machine.

Cheers... Rick

Helpful and Handy Links RoboHelp Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form Begin learning RoboHelp HTML 7, 8 or 9 within the day! Adobe Certified RoboHelp HTML Training SorcerStone Blog RoboHelp eBooks

[Guest]

Thanks Rick,

Will do as you suggest, however even in the absence of an enhancement request, a bit of truth in advertising would be refreshing.

Mike