It means those tools I use for markup (text, comments, highlighting) and for signing are easier to see. The interface remains simpler than Acrobat Reader, with a toolbar rather than a Tools menu that shows upsell options that are unavailable. I use NitroPDF’s free reader, which is actually its basic Pro product after you complete a 14 day trial. It’s a good idea to keep a standalone reader for those times when a PDF renders weirdly in-browser. If I need to read an internal document or add things to a PDF, then I fall back on a PDF reader.ĭespite PDF being a standard format, not all PDFs will appear the same in every viewer. Since most web browsers will load a PDF natively, I often don’t use a PDF tool outside the web browser. Each time you try to access one of the tools (take a snapshot, sign a PDF, add a comment), it is unclear whether you need to have a paid Adobe subscription or not. In fact, the most recent versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC seem primarily as an upsell vehicle. There are still web sites that point to the Adobe Acrobat Reader but there’s no reason to use that. But for the rest, a lot of what we do can be done with free tools. For those who with complicated PDF needs, we’ll need to purchase software.

We’re undertaking a needs analysis to break down the workflow that staff use when they’re engaging with PDFs. Like most information groups, people on our teams require a wide range of PDF tools.

If I’m going to spend that amount on a software utility, I’m going to want to make sure we need it. That’s a lot of reference hours, or part of a database, or professional development for staff.

Add to that the premium they charge for working on the format they developed but that is now an open file format, and using Adobe makes little sense for a law library that has to keep an eye on its bottom line.Īlso, $2000 is a lot of money each year to spend on a utility. I have a pretty poor opinion of Adobe and its subscriptions, in light of their inability to protect client information. When I was quoted $2,000 for our team’s annual Adobe license, I knew it was time to look at alternatives. Where we once bought a license and owned software, PDF tools are increasingly provided by subscription. The tools for working with PDFs have changed just as law library collections have. It’s over-used by people who prioritize format over usability on the web, but it’s a necessity for law libraries. The PDF is pervasive in legal information.

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