In today’s fast-paced digital environment, dealing with document revisions is a common challenge. Imagine receiving multiple PDF versions of a crucial contract or design, and needing to pinpoint exactly what has changed. Manually sifting through pages is time-consuming and prone to errors. Fortunately, Adobe Acrobat Compare PDF functionality offers a robust solution to efficiently identify modifications between two PDF documents.
Whether you’re managing legal agreements, tracking design iterations, or simply ensuring document accuracy, understanding how to effectively compare PDF documents is invaluable. While tools like Deltaview or built-in word processor features might suffice for comparing editable files, PDFs present a unique hurdle. This is where Adobe Acrobat Professional steps in, providing a powerful PDF comparison feature to generate detailed, side-by-side reports highlighting every alteration.
Deletions are clearly marked with a red strikethrough, making them instantly recognizable:
Example of deleted text identified during an Adobe PDF comparison.
Additions are emphasized with blue underlines, ensuring you don’t miss any new content:
Continue reading to learn the simple steps to compare PDFs using Adobe Acrobat and streamline your document review process.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Adobe Acrobat Compare PDF Feature
Adobe Acrobat Professional 7 and later versions, including Acrobat 8 and the updated Acrobat 9, provide a straightforward method to compare two PDF files. Here’s how to utilize the Adobe Compare Pdf feature:
- Open the Original PDF: Begin by launching Adobe Acrobat Professional and opening the older or original version of the PDF document you wish to compare.
- Access the Compare Documents Tool:
- In Acrobat 7: Navigate to the top menu and select
Document -> Compare Documents. - In Acrobat 8 and later: Choose
Advanced -> Compare Documents.
- In Acrobat 7: Navigate to the top menu and select
- Select the Revised PDF: In the “Compare Documents” dialog box, click the “Choose…” button. Locate and select the newer or revised version of the PDF document you want to compare against the original.
The “Compare Documents” dialog box in Adobe Acrobat, prompting the user to select the new PDF version for comparison.
- Configure Comparison Settings: Ensure the “Textual Differences” radio button is enabled if you are primarily concerned with text changes. For a side-by-side view of the comparison, select the “Side by Side Report” radio button.
- Initiate the Comparison: Click “OK” or “Compare” to start the PDF compare process.
Acrobat will then generate a new PDF document that summarizes the comparison results on a cover page titled “Text Comparison Summary.”
Scrolling down within this new PDF, you will see a side-by-side report. The original document will be displayed on the left, and the revised document on the right, with all identified changes clearly highlighted.
A side-by-side comparison report generated by Adobe Acrobat, showing the original PDF on the left and the modified PDF on the right, with changes highlighted.
Additional Considerations for PDF Comparison
Remember that Adobe Acrobat creates a temporary comparison document. If you need to refer back to the comparison report later, be sure to save this newly generated PDF.
Beyond textual changes, Adobe Acrobat Compare PDF is also capable of detecting visual differences. This is particularly useful when comparing documents with graphics or drawings. However, it’s important to note that Acrobat is highly sensitive and will register even minute alterations, such as a single pixel change, as a difference.
By leveraging the adobe compare pdf feature in Adobe Acrobat, you can significantly enhance your document review workflow, ensuring accuracy and saving valuable time when dealing with multiple PDF revisions.
