Expert: Amy - 2/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi my question is
if I create file in illustrator and I save to pdf, I have now file in illustrator and another in pdf with the same name, if next time I open the Illustrator file and I make changes,
How can I link thos changes from illustrator to the pdf file.
because right now each time achange something in illustrator I have to save as pfd.

Is there any way to link from Illustrator and without saving as the changes take effect in the pdf file as well?

Thanks

I'm using Mater Collection CS4

Miguel Coronado

ANSWER: Hi Miguel,

You cannot do that, as far as I know.

If you prefer to work off of the AI file, you need to save a new PDF each time.

I supposed you could simply work from a PDF file as long as you retain Illustrator editing capabilities, don't compress your images when you save, and don't optimize the file after saving. The trade off is that you will always have a much larger PDF file than you want or need.

But I believe one way to achieve "automatic" PDFs is to use "watched" folders. You must have Acrobat to do this.

Watch this video:
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/acrobat/articles/acr7am_watchedfolder.html

-Amy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks I appreciate your time.

Is there any may to do that I have the CS4 Master Collection,
the thing is I have over a 1000 files in pdf, and each year I need to change the 2009 to 2010 at the bottom of the page etc,from each file, right now I'm doing one by one, but, last year they change the company logo, and the same problem I had to change one by one, and im just wondering, am I using the wrong software, from CS4 Master Collection maby I can use different way to do this?

I really appreciate your advice!!

thanks very helpful

Answer
If it was me, I would LINK the logo file into those 1000 documents, instead of embedding it. That way, when you change the logo, it will change automatically.

I would also create a graphic for the date at the bottom and LINK that in each one as well. Then When the new ones need to be generated, I believe you simply have to drop all the files into the "watched" folder. If you need to, watch that video, it should show you how to set up a watched folder.

This might be the answer for you:

Open one of those PDFs in Acrobat, and do an Advanced > Redaction > Search and Redact

Do a Search for the word you want to change (the date) and select the folder that contains all the PDFs you need to change. The Search box will list all occurrences of the name in all of those docs. At the top of the search box select "check all", and at the bottom check "Mark Checked Results For Redaction".

Then choose Advanced > Redaction > Redaction properties and check the "Use Overlay text" box. Make the box white fill. Use "Autosize text to fill redaction area" and pick a font and below that select "custom text" and enter in the new date phrase. Hit OK.

You can then select Advanced > Redaction > Apply Redactions and all the 2009's are changed in the documents to 2010.

It allows you to batch process the entire folder of PDFs. Unless your forms all have more instances of 2009 dates scattered throughout, I think this would work beautifully for you. Also, you might have to play with the size of the overlay text before it looks right.

Make SURE you back up your originals!!!!!!!!

-Amy