Annotating pdf files - how ?

[wearetheborg]

I'd like to underline, write comments in pdf or ps files. Any suggestions ?

1) I only have a normal non-tablet laptop. Is there a gadget which will allow me to connect and write to a laptop ? Like a pen attachment or something ?

2) Assuming I have the necessary hardware (either a pen attachment or a tablet), what program is good for writing/unlerlining pdf files ?

[basketb]

I used Adobe Acrobat (the full product, not the Reader) to annotate PDFs (you can generate PDFs from ps files easily). However, I don't use any fancy equipment, just mouse and keyboard.

[wearetheborg]

I used Adobe Acrobat (the full product, not the Reader) to annotate PDFs (you can generate PDFs from ps files easily). However, I don't use any fancy equipment, just mouse and keyboard.

How does anotating work ? Can you only type or make figures/underline etc ? Is it only in one color ?

[loyukfai]

1) A pen tablet will do, such as those from Wacom.

2) Acrobat (not the reader) and bunches of commercial application (Google "pdf annotate").

PDF-XChange Viewer is the app out there (that I'm aware of) doing PDF annotation with the most liberal limitations.


Links:
http://www.wacom.com/index2.cfm
http://www.docu-track.com/home/prod_use ... fx_viewer/

[ptantra]

Get Bluebeam Revu Standard (www.bluebeam.com) to make PDF annotations. It's far easier, versatile, and more intuitive than Adobe Acrobat. Bluebeam works great with, without or in conjunction with a tablet. It's also almost half the price of Acrobat 8 Standard.

Gottabemobile.com recently did an "inkshow" (aka video review) of Revu v6.2 so go check that out.

As others mentioned, the Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet is a good entry level tablet. However, I'd recommend downloading and using the Bluebeam fully functional demo before buying the tablet. You may not need it. I bought a tablet for my desktop with the intention of using it to make all my annotations. I find I now only use it for signing my name electronically in PDFs.

Hope this helps.

[basketb]

...
How does anotating work ? Can you only type or make figures/underline etc ? Is it only in one color ?

I'm using the rather old Acrobat Professional 6. Newer versions may provide more functionality, perform better (or worse), etc. but I wouldn't know since I hardly use 10% of my current version.

You can markup text using highlighting, underlining and strike-through (all in different colors that you can choose) and add notes to these markups. You can also just place a note (similar to a post-it note on real paper) anywhere on the page. You can also indicate text edits in a similar fashion.

There is a pencil tool, with which you can draw more or less any shape (I guess that's where a tablet and pen may come in handy). In addition, shapes like rectangle, oval, arrow, line, cloud, polygon, and polygon line are predefined. Border thickness, filling, color of these object can all be adjusted.

[wearetheborg]

Get Bluebeam Revu Standard (www.bluebeam.com) to make PDF annotations. It's far easier, versatile, and more intuitive than Adobe Acrobat. Bluebeam works great with, without or in conjunction with a tablet. It's also almost half the price of Acrobat 8 Standard.

Gottabemobile.com recently did an "inkshow" (aka video review) of Revu v6.2 so go check that out.

As others mentioned, the Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet is a good entry level tablet. However, I'd recommend downloading and using the Bluebeam fully functional demo before buying the tablet. You may not need it. I bought a tablet for my desktop with the intention of using it to make all my annotations. I find I now only use it for signing my name electronically in PDFs.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
Is their "one seat" revu only installable on one computer ? I have a couple of laptops and I'd like to have it on them both if possible.

[ptantra]

Thanks.
Is their "one seat" revu only installable on one computer ? I have a couple of laptops and I'd like to have it on them both if possible.

Unfortunately from what I can tell, Revu is only installable on one computer at a time. Multiple computers will require multiple licenses.

The Revu demo is a fully functional demo for 30 days. If/when you buy the license, you're given keys to remove the 30 day time limit. When you input the key, Revu contacts Bluebeam's servers to confirm the key and the number of seats available under your license. I think I recalled reading that there was a way of releasing a seat so you can move a license to a new computer, but I haven't tried that yet. If you have problems, their tech support is great, and wait times to speak to a human is usually very short (<5 min), if not immediate. I've spoken to tech support on a number of occassions and not once did they ask for my name, license/customer number, credit card, etc. They just try to answer the question.

I've bought multiple licenses for my various computers. I guess if you had to look at the bright side, they offer volume discounts after 10 seats.

[loyukfai]

PDF-XChange Viewer is the app out there (that I'm aware of) doing PDF annotation with the most liberal limitations.

Sorry was talking it specifically as a free solution.