6 Replies Latest reply: Oct 31, 2014 1:41 PM by Sabian Zildjian

Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

shawninvancouver Oct 30, 2014 3:03 PM

Hello all,

I am experimenting with Acrobat's collaboration function and I think I am almost there...

1) I built a webDAV server

2) Authenticated the document with the webDAV server.

3) Tested making edits to the document locally... in both Acrobat and Reader (I had to Save As Other the PDF as a Reader Extended Document)

4) Now, I think I have one last hurdle to overcome.

When another user received the test file, I was dismayed that PDF asked the user for the webDAV user name and password. Why? This security information should be stored in the document. It should automatically log into the webDAV server.

Anyhow, once the login information was provided, the reviewer can successfully enter comments into the document. So... sort of success. :]

I just need to solve that login problem because I can't be giving out the user name and password to the webDAV server.

Any ideas?

1. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

Sabian Zildjian Oct 31, 2014 7:08 AM (in response to shawninvancouver)

Authentication is a security measure that Windows/UNIX/Mac OS X servers require to access file/WebDAV shares. Microsoft Windows Severs do not allow anonymous authentication to WebDAV servers since Windows XP. UNIX/Mac OS X server do not allow anonymous authentication in their WebDAV modules either.
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions
2. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

shawninvancouver Oct 31, 2014 8:00 AM (in response to Sabian Zildjian)

Hi again Sabian,

I may not have explained my issue correctly.

I thought that when I set the Custom Server Location in Acrobat > Preferences > Tracker the saved PDF (to send out for review) contained (embedded) the authentication. That way, a reviewer would not be required to log into the webDAV server. Seems like an obvious feature.

Are you suggesting that it is normal to give out the credentials to a WebDAV server, when using Adobe's Shared Review feature?
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions
3. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

Sabian Zildjian Oct 31, 2014 10:18 AM (in response to shawninvancouver)

Yes, it is. Especially just about every WebDAV interface uses SSL/HTTPS to authenticate for access. Then you have the share permissions that must be granted on the more granular level. If it's not setup that way then the share is wide open and you have bigger issues.
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions
4. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

shawninvancouver Oct 31, 2014 11:38 AM (in response to Sabian Zildjian)

Sabian Zildjian wrote:

Yes, it is. Especially just about every WebDAV interface uses SSL/HTTPS to authenticate for access.

I understand that. Perhaps I am not explaining myself (or not understanding your reply)

What I am bothered by is that when the reviewer opens the PDF document, in Adobe Reader, the reader is asked to enter the user name and password of the webDAV server and then they are asked to enter their user name, email address, etc. That is a lot of steps I would love to eliminate in order to make the review process as easy and seamless as possible.

If anything, I would love to embed the webDAV authentication into the PDF.

Shall I presume that you are using PDF Shared Reviews with a webDAV server? Do your reviewers have to first enter the webDAV's user name and password and then second, enter their personal information, every time they wish to review a document?
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions
5. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

shawninvancouver Oct 31, 2014 12:04 PM (in response to Sabian Zildjian)

See this blog... Hosting a Shared Review: An Alternative to Acrobat.com

Notice the section, "What is the Shared Review experience like for the recipient?" There is no step when the reviewer needs to enter the webDAV's user name and pass. What am I doing different that required this extra authentication.

Any ideas how one can post a note to this blog? I see no log in options.
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions
6. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

Sabian Zildjian Oct 31, 2014 1:41 PM (in response to shawninvancouver)

You said it was WebDAV but what kind of server are you using? Windows, Mac OS X, or UNIX? Are you using SSL/HTTPS to get to the share? What authentication protocol have you configured on the share? Are the user machines part of a Domain that the share is hosted?

Regarding the link, the person who wrote the article is only storing the XML file not the PDF. Also note that what the author said about someone attempting to get to the share via the web browser:

"Each comment is saved as an obfuscated XML file. Anyone who would try to view the comments in a web browser by typing in http://webdavhost.net/YOURWEBDAVUSERNAME/ would be prompted for a log-in."
Like Show 0 Likes (0)

Actions

Go to original post

Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

1. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

2. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

3. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

4. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

5. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

6. Re: Acrobat "Send for Shared Review" - Reviewing with Adobe Reader?

Actions

More Like This

Legend