7 Replies Latest reply: Jun 13, 2014 2:33 PM by yoyodao RSS

    Automate PDF comparison

    magesh

      Does anyone know how to automate two pdf files using adobe acrobat. I want to do this because we want to compare hundreds of file every day through some automated process.

       

      I have posted this query in acrobat javascript forum, it seems there is no solution by using javascript. I have been asked to check with acrobat SDK forum members.

       

      http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1402691

       

      Please let me know is there any programmatic(API or SDK ) solution available to do this?

       

      Any kind of help will be greatly.

        • 1. Re: Automate PDF comparison
          lrosenth Adobe Employee

          There is a C/C++ API available to plugins to Acrobat for this.

           

          However, Acrobat CANNOT be used in a server or unattended environment (except for very special cases).

          • 2. Re: Automate PDF comparison
            magesh Community Member

            Hi Irosenth,

             

            Thanks for your response. Can you please provide me the details of the API or any link which helps me to implement the functionalities in ACROBAT PRO.

             

            Thanks,

            Magesh

            • 3. Re: Automate PDF comparison
              Test Screen Name CommunityMVP

              Do you need this to run unattended? Or is it OK to run with a click once a file is open?

              • 4. Re: Automate PDF comparison
                magesh Community Member

                I want it to run this unattended, means i will provide two folder location with bunch of PDF files. The plugin should take two pdf files with same name from those two folders, compare it and store the report in different folder which should also be configurable.

                 

                I am not clear with "run with a click once a file is open". Can you please elaborate it?

                • 5. Re: Automate PDF comparison
                  Test Screen Name CommunityMVP

                  The normal way to use the SDK and plug-ins is that

                  1. You open a file.

                  2. You use a UI element in Acrobat (for example a menu item or button), which runs a routine in your plug-in.

                  3. Some process is done to the current file.

                   

                  Now, it is entirely possible to have a plug-in which does more than this. For example,

                  1. You click a button, which runs a routine in your plug-in.

                  2. The routine reads a list of files.

                  3. Each file is opened, processed, saved, closed.

                  This is fine too.

                   

                  But what do you mean by "unattended". This is crucial. For example do you mean one of these

                  * overnight, on your own computer, the plug-in "wakes up" somehow and processes a list of files.

                  * on a server, once a day, the plug-in "wakes up" somehow and processes a list of files.

                  * on a server, the plug-in wakes up because a client somewhere sent a file, and the plug-in does something

                  * something else completely.

                   

                  Please give details of your requirements, so we can give the appropriate advice, and tell whether Acrobat is suitable to your needs.

                  • 6. Re: Automate PDF comparison
                    magesh Community Member

                    The below given requirement provided by you is what exactly I am needed for

                    PDF comparision

                     

                    Now, it is entirely possible to have a plug-in which does more than this.

                    For example,

                     

                    1. You click a button, which runs a routine in your plug-in.

                     

                    2. The routine reads a list of files.

                     

                    3. Each file is opened, processed, saved, closed.

                     

                    This is fine too.

                     

                     

                    On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Test Screen Name

                    • 7. Re: Automate PDF comparison
                      yoyodao Community Member

                      hi, magesh,

                       

                      we are looking to implement a similar plugin with adobe sdk 8. Could you share the progress of your plugin project? was your routine ran successully? which sdk version did you use? and is there any compatibility issues of running in the latest adobe XI version? Your experience will be invaluable for our project, which is just getting started.