7 Replies Latest reply: Jun 11, 2013 11:04 AM by SebastiaoV RSS

    PDF Comments and Google Docs

    SebastiaoV Community Member

      Hi guys,

      I have a PDF with many comments created with Acrobat Pro. I would like to preserve the comments and converted it to Google Docs PDF format. Is there any way to do that from Acrobat Pro? I just upload the PDF in Google Docs and the comments are not editable. Here is a screen capture

       

      Captura de pantalla 2013-06-08 a la(s) 12.54.07.png

       

       

       

      I have to use Google Docs because many of the people who correct and comment does not have the Acrobat Pro version which allow them to comment. They are just non-professional user.

       

      I guess that some users might think this is a question i should make in a Google Docs forum, but i think it should be a way from Acrobat Pro that i could save my comments in a universal format, don't you think?

       

      Any help please?

       

      Best,

      S

        • 1. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
          CtDave CommunityMVP

          PDF (the "universal format") is not a Google Doc. Or, if you will, a Google Doc is not a PDF.
          Yes, Google Docs does support upload of PDF (and other formats) - for viewing.
          Because PDF is an ISO Standard (ISO 32000) Google may decide to invest the time/$ in producing an application like Acrobat.
          Google has added a PDF viewer to Chrome.
          But, until there's a - what? Googlebat? - to do what you want I suggest you do a shared review and make use of Acrobat XI / Adobe Reader XI.


          To perform a shared review of a PDF use Acrobat.com or an internal server.
          Acrobat's Help provides a brief discussion of this.
          Adobe TV has videos the depict the fundamental "how-to".


          Inform the user who does not have Acrobat to download and install Adobe Reader XI. Reader XI has the same Comment and Mark Up tools you find in Acrobat.


          Be well...

          • 2. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
            Phillip Jones Community Member

            Google Chrome Browser can File out Forms from websiteand saved or sent PDF work just as well in Reader.

            • 3. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
              SebastiaoV Community Member

              Thanks for the good info, CtDave

               

              I thought PDF Comments were part of a text standard that were easily pick up by any PDF reading / viewing  / plugin software, etc. It is because of that i thought they could have worked across multi platform.

               

              On the other hand, from the usuability point of view I have to say i do like the Google Docs comments visual interface a bit better than Acrobat. 

               

              I will check Acrobat.com.

               

              Best,

              • 4. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
                SebastiaoV Community Member

                Good info Phillip,

                 

                just checking...could you let us know where the File out Forms can be filled in Google Docs? or just works in Google Chrome.

                 

                Best,

                • 5. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
                  Phillip Jones Community Member

                  Chrome apparent seems to use its own PDF system. I've tested fillig out forms within website and works great.

                   

                  And I  have many PDF on my own website until  just a few years ago I could click on button I have in a PDF Plugin called PDF Browser Plugin by Schubert That allowed for filling out forms and and Clicking Buttons They No longer work after the switch to Mountain Lion (OSX.8.x) The Acrobat Plugin hasn't worked in years on the Mac and there is no interest in fixing it. So the only way to view PDF within a Browser and fill out forms or cause buttons to work, is Chrome or Maxthon (a cloud based Browser Based on Chrome)

                   

                  There No Mozilla Support.

                   

                  If opening Reader will work, but requires downloading a new copy of the File everytime file is opened in Browser rather than as the browser plugin does opens in Chace and once finished the PDF disappears.

                  • 6. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
                    CtDave CommunityMVP

                    As I'd mentioned, PDF is one of the file formats Google Docs supports for upload.
                    To provide you a view of the PDF page content  Google Docs presents one with the renderable characters in a Google Doc viewing format.
                    If you convert a PDF to a 'real' Google Doc the result is an image of the PDF's page content.
                    In either situation you are not viewing the actual PDF; rather you are viewing a representation of what Google Docs can extract.
                    How good a representation of the PDF page content is depends on the quality of how the PDF was produced.


                    Example:
                    Some PDF producers make use of font encoding that is customized or non-standard.
                    Consequently such does not map properly to Unicode. So, what is extracted for presentation can be rather different then what is 'seen' in the PDF. 


                    Back to the PDF page content. You'll note I've made use of the phrase "page content" often. That is what Google Docs extracts for presentation.
                    Comments and Markups are PDF annotations. Annotations are not part of a PDF's page content.
                    (This is described in the ISO Standard for PDF, ISO 32000.)
                    Consequently annotations are not extracted by Google Docs.


                    There are several ways to get a shared review of information done.
                    Google Docs, Adobe's Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office applications and Skydrive and so forth.
                    But, as mentioned in my earlier post, if it is a "must" / "need" / "preference" to perform a shared review with PDFs then you use:

                    --| Acrobat.com (workspaces)

                    --| Internal Server

                    --| Current version of Microsoft SharePoint

                    One would be using Acrobat (XI first choice, X second choice) or Adobe Reader XI.

                    n.b., the orginator of the shared review should be using Acrobat Pro.

                     

                    If none of these three environments is desirable to use then the shared review will have to make use of something other than PDF.

                    Currently these 3 are know reliable for working with "live" annotations (Comment / Mark up tools of Acrobat or Adobe Reader XI).


                    Be well..

                    • 7. Re: PDF Comments and Google Docs
                      SebastiaoV Community Member

                      Hi CtDave,

                       

                      Thanks for the very abundant explanation on PDF. I thought everything in PDF's world was regarding standarts, like i could import, export and open and so on Comment in Google Docs like with any other app. It seems the world of standart does not work that way for all platforms.

                       

                      It is great to learn new stuff.

                       

                      Best,
                      S