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Thread: New Acrobat Interface
Number of posts in this thread: 6 (In chronological order)
From: chagnon
Date: Mon, Aug 14 2023 6:12PM
Subject: New Acrobat Interface
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Wondering if any on the list have installed the newest version of Adobe
Acrobat, version 2023. And if so, what are your thoughts about the new
interface, which Adobe has called the "Modern Viewer."
I'm talking about Adobe Acrobat software, not PDF files in general which can
be made and used by more than 100 different programs from other companies.
Please let Adobe's engineers know your thoughts at their User Voice webpage
<https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sug
gestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat> ,
https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sugg
estions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
Your vote is critical to let Adobe's powers know that the latest version
doesn't meet our industry's needs, and in fact, makes the software less
accessible than before.
My reaction (disclaimer, I'm on Adobe's beta testing team and their
community forums) is like hundreds of others who depend on Acrobat to
create, use, and process PDF files:
1. It's inaccessible. So many features are not fully available to
screen readers and other A T: bookmarks panel, comments panel, redacting,
digital signatures, OCR, accessibility remediation are just a few.
2. The interface consists of many panels with small grey icons
scattered throughout in no logical order. I'm sighted and can't find tools
that I've been using for 20+ years.
3. They switched the left-hand panels to the right side, and the
right-hand panels to the left - for no apparent reason, other than to
frustrate every Acrobat user.
4. Many of its critical tools are still broken - creating accessible
PDFs, signing PDFs, filling out forms, OCR, combining PDFs, editing PDFs -
the list of problems in Acrobat is endless.
Thanks for your thoughts.
And if you want to disable the new interface and revert to the old,
instructions are at the end of the webpage listed above.
-Bevi Chagnon
- - -
Bevi Chagnon | Designer, Accessibility Technician | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
<mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
- - -
PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing
consulting . training . development . design . sec. 508 services
Upcoming classes at www.PubCom.com/ <http://www.pubcom.com/classes>; classes
- - -
From: Nick Bromley
Date: Tue, Aug 15 2023 2:17AM
Subject: Re: New Acrobat Interface
← Previous message | Next message →
The switching of the left- and right-hand panels was enough for me to revert back to the previous version as soon as I could.
I know we as users often grumble when the UI changes in any program/website, but in most cases you adapt in just a few minutes. But the level of changes here were so significant here I was staring at the screen not knowing even where to begin. The lack of insight into how this change would affect users' workflow is something else.
As for the accessibility failures - you really should expect better from a former sponsor of WAI, but maybe not given their recent track record. Perhaps it's all some colossal alpha version mistake release.
Thanks for posting those feedback links.
From: L Snider
Date: Tue, Aug 15 2023 5:13AM
Subject: Re: New Acrobat Interface
← Previous message | Next message →
I totally dislike the new interface on PC. No, I hate it. Been using this
program since it began. This is the worst version, terrible, they
completely changed it up.
I don't think they have the wizards anymore, I couldn't find them. I use
the Accessibility wizard a lot. I tried to do remediation with the new
interface, and went right back to the old one, I was mad at the new
interface, so I didn't do much with it.
I'm almost considering getting out of PDF remediation, because of the
acrobat interface. At some point they won't let me change back, and then
Iâll have to decide what I do.
I just don't understand adobe. Microsoft made changes in their culture and
products years past. They are not perfect, but their are way further ahead,
and have been for 7-9 years.
Adobe still doesn't take Accessibility seriously enough, except with
InDesign. I know they do a lot of stuff behind the scenes, and thank you
Bevi for helping then, but it isn't enough, and it hasn't been for over 8
years. This is a major worldwide software company, and I honestly don't
understand why they make the decisions they make.
I don't understand why Accessibility still has to be voted important with
them??? to me that shows the culture of adobe is still years behind… My
views only, and I know they wont change a damn thing. If there was an EPUB
viewer built into every browser, I would spend every waking hour, making
sure that that takes over from PDF.
Cheers
Lisa
On Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 9:12 PM < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Wondering if any on the list have installed the newest version of Adobe
> Acrobat, version 2023. And if so, what are your thoughts about the new
> interface, which Adobe has called the "Modern Viewer."
>
> I'm talking about Adobe Acrobat software, not PDF files in general which
> can
> be made and used by more than 100 different programs from other companies.
>
> Please let Adobe's engineers know your thoughts at their User Voice webpage
> <
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sug
> gestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> <https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat>>
> ,
>
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sugg
> estions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> <https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat>
>
> Your vote is critical to let Adobe's powers know that the latest version
> doesn't meet our industry's needs, and in fact, makes the software less
> accessible than before.
>
> My reaction (disclaimer, I'm on Adobe's beta testing team and their
> community forums) is like hundreds of others who depend on Acrobat to
> create, use, and process PDF files:
>
> 1. It's inaccessible. So many features are not fully available to
> screen readers and other A T: bookmarks panel, comments panel, redacting,
> digital signatures, OCR, accessibility remediation are just a few.
>
> 2. The interface consists of many panels with small grey icons
> scattered throughout in no logical order. I'm sighted and can't find tools
> that I've been using for 20+ years.
>
> 3. They switched the left-hand panels to the right side, and the
> right-hand panels to the left - for no apparent reason, other than to
> frustrate every Acrobat user.
>
> 4. Many of its critical tools are still broken - creating accessible
> PDFs, signing PDFs, filling out forms, OCR, combining PDFs, editing PDFs -
> the list of problems in Acrobat is endless.
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.
>
> And if you want to disable the new interface and revert to the old,
> instructions are at the end of the webpage listed above.
>
> -Bevi Chagnon
>
>
>
> - - -
>
> Bevi Chagnon | Designer, Accessibility Technician | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>
> - - -
>
> PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing
>
> consulting . training . development . design . sec. 508 services
>
> Upcoming classes at www.PubCom.com/ <http://www.pubcom.com/classes>;
> classes
>
> - - -
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > > >
From: Laura Roberts
Date: Tue, Aug 15 2023 3:59PM
Subject: Re: New Acrobat Interface
← Previous message | Next message →
I occasionally use autotag (like when I have a boatload of lists), but it's
error prone again. I'm thinking of rolling back to previous version. They
broke something. I should document the errors as I come across them but
I've been too swamped with work to do so.
Also, I wish I could turn their dang popups off. No, I don't want anyone to
e-sign it. No, I don't want to share for collabloration.
On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 7:13 AM L Snider < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> I totally dislike the new interface on PC. No, I hate it. Been using this
> program since it began. This is the worst version, terrible, they
> completely changed it up.
>
> I don't think they have the wizards anymore, I couldn't find them. I use
> the Accessibility wizard a lot. I tried to do remediation with the new
> interface, and went right back to the old one, I was mad at the new
> interface, so I didn't do much with it.
>
> I'm almost considering getting out of PDF remediation, because of the
> acrobat interface. At some point they won't let me change back, and then
> Iâll have to decide what I do.
>
> I just don't understand adobe. Microsoft made changes in their culture and
> products years past. They are not perfect, but their are way further ahead,
> and have been for 7-9 years.
>
> Adobe still doesn't take Accessibility seriously enough, except with
> InDesign. I know they do a lot of stuff behind the scenes, and thank you
> Bevi for helping then, but it isn't enough, and it hasn't been for over 8
> years. This is a major worldwide software company, and I honestly don't
> understand why they make the decisions they make.
>
> I don't understand why Accessibility still has to be voted important with
> them??? to me that shows the culture of adobe is still years behind… My
> views only, and I know they wont change a damn thing. If there was an EPUB
> viewer built into every browser, I would spend every waking hour, making
> sure that that takes over from PDF.
>
> Cheers
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 9:12 PM < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> > Wondering if any on the list have installed the newest version of Adobe
> > Acrobat, version 2023. And if so, what are your thoughts about the new
> > interface, which Adobe has called the "Modern Viewer."
> >
> > I'm talking about Adobe Acrobat software, not PDF files in general which
> > can
> > be made and used by more than 100 different programs from other
> companies.
> >
> > Please let Adobe's engineers know your thoughts at their User Voice
> webpage
> > <
> >
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sug
> > gestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> > <
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> >>
> > ,
> >
> >
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/sugg
> > estions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> > <
> https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/47082691-ditch-the-2023-user-interface-in-acrobat
> >
> >
> > Your vote is critical to let Adobe's powers know that the latest version
> > doesn't meet our industry's needs, and in fact, makes the software less
> > accessible than before.
> >
> > My reaction (disclaimer, I'm on Adobe's beta testing team and their
> > community forums) is like hundreds of others who depend on Acrobat to
> > create, use, and process PDF files:
> >
> > 1. It's inaccessible. So many features are not fully available to
> > screen readers and other A T: bookmarks panel, comments panel, redacting,
> > digital signatures, OCR, accessibility remediation are just a few.
> >
> > 2. The interface consists of many panels with small grey icons
> > scattered throughout in no logical order. I'm sighted and can't find
> tools
> > that I've been using for 20+ years.
> >
> > 3. They switched the left-hand panels to the right side, and the
> > right-hand panels to the left - for no apparent reason, other than to
> > frustrate every Acrobat user.
> >
> > 4. Many of its critical tools are still broken - creating accessible
> > PDFs, signing PDFs, filling out forms, OCR, combining PDFs, editing PDFs
> -
> > the list of problems in Acrobat is endless.
> >
> > Thanks for your thoughts.
> >
> > And if you want to disable the new interface and revert to the old,
> > instructions are at the end of the webpage listed above.
> >
> > -Bevi Chagnon
> >
> >
> >
> > - - -
> >
> > Bevi Chagnon | Designer, Accessibility Technician | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> > <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >
> > - - -
> >
> > PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing
> >
> > consulting . training . development . design . sec. 508 services
> >
> > Upcoming classes at www.PubCom.com/ <http://www.pubcom.com/classes>;
> > classes
> >
> > - - -
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > >
--
Best regards,
Laura Roberts
413-588-8422
From: Karen McCall
Date: Fri, Aug 18 2023 6:43AM
Subject: Re: New Acrobat Interface
← Previous message | Next message →
I too hate the new UI. It seems to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic because they don't know what to do or care about accessibility and the user experience.
When I first tried the new UI, I noticed that many of my keyboard commands didn't work and while I could "try" it in one place of the UI, I had to search through all items in the new UI until I found how to turn it off...and the language to turn it off was different from the language to turn it on. It is as if they want you to get permanently stuck using a UI that is inaccessible and not user friendly.
There are MANY other aspects to creating and remediating PDFs to be accessible but there is an insistence on just making cosmetic changes to the UI to make it even shinier without substance.
And if Foxit can let us increase the font size in the Tags Tree, why can't Adobe let us do it in all panels? That is the only think I like about Foxit...it lacks many of the tools Acrobat has...but letting us increase the font size in the Navigation panels seems like something easy to do!
Cheers, Karen
From: Duff Johnson
Date: Fri, Aug 18 2023 8:08AM
Subject: Re: New Acrobat Interface
← Previous message | No next message
> I too hate the new UI.
Happily, it's very easy to put the previous UI back in-place. Adobe provides instructions on this page.
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/new-acrobat-experience.html#:~:text=To%20disable%20the%20new%20experience,and%20choose%20Disable%20new%20Acrobat.
Note that the company attends to the number of people who choose this option, using this information to guide their future decisions.
HTH.
Duff.