Content editing is improved in Acrobat XI. Here an image is being replaced.

 

The latest major update to the PDF utility program Adobe Acrobat is due to ship in the next month or so.

Acrobat XI will remain a product you can purchase as a standalone program despite Adobe’s desire to rent software though its Creative Cloud. However, there will be a couple of new add-ons that are Cloud-only.

New features include: new one-click editing tools, export to editable Microsoft PowerPoint slides; touch-friendly capabilities on tablets; and newly integrated cloud services, including sophisticated web contracting with the Cloud-based Adobe EchoSign and forms creation, plus data collection and analysis with Adobe FormsCentral.

With emphasis on office use, Adobe says that Acrobat XI has ‘seamless Microsoft Office and SharePoint integration,’ though it’s been saying that for most of the previous versions too. SharePoint is a web based collaboration system.

Products included in this release are: Acrobat XI Pro, Acrobat XI Standard, Adobe Reader XI and the new document services, Adobe FormsCentral and Adobe EchoSign.

New and improved features include:

• Editing of PDF files, paragraphs, images, and objects by simply clicking and dragging using a new, intuitive Edit Text and Images tool. Content and multiple documents can be arranged and visually merged into one organised PDF file, while retaining source file integrity.

• Electronic signatures for apprivals can be applied the integrated EchoSign electronic signature service. Forms creation, distribution and results analysis can be handled by the FormsCentral desktop app.

• Enhanced mobile capabilities. Touch-friendly Adobe Reader for tablets and smartphones can annotate and add comments, as well as fill in, sign and save forms.

• PDF documents can be saved as PowerPoint, Word or Excel files. Parts or entire PDF files can be reused as Microsoft Office documents and Web pages without retyping or need to reformat.

• Improved protection of all PDF files created from Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel to help prevent copying, editing, or printing without permission.

As before, Acrobat XI Standard is only available for Windows and will cost £235 (£111 as an upgrade). Acrobat XI Pro, which includes preflighting and other press-friendly functions, is available for Mac OS X and Windows. This costs £378 (£163 as an upgrade). The Adobe Reader is free for all platforms.

Subscriptions for FormsCentral start at £9.52 per month. EchoSign is a subscription service, starting with five free signatures per month but with extra services, signatures and users available for a range of fees.

There are discounts for education and government purchasers.

Contact: www.adobe.co.uk