How do I compare two versions of a PDF using Compare Files?

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Then, select 'Compare files'. Choose your older PDF and your newer PDF. Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes found, making it easy to review.

What is the purpose of comparing text only in Compare Files?

Comparing text only means Acrobat will ignore any pictures or graphics in your documents. This is useful when you only care about changes in the words, like in a text-heavy report or legal document. It helps you focus on the written content without being distracted by image differences.

Why does Compare Files sometimes fail and say 'These documents have security settings'?

Compare Files fails when a PDF has security settings that prevent changes or comparisons. This is a protection feature. To fix this, you need to remove the security settings from both PDF files before trying to compare them. Look for the 'Protect' feature in Acrobat to manage these settings.

If I compare two signed document versions, what does Compare Files show me?

When you compare two signed document versions, Compare Files focuses on changes made after each signature. It helps you see if any content was altered once a document was signed. This is very important for legal or official documents where preserving the integrity of a signed version is critical. The tool highlights these post-signature modifications.

What are the different comparison modes available in Compare Files?

Autodetect: Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files. Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers or tables. Presentation Decks: Good for slides or visual documents. 'Compare text only': Ignores pictures and only looks for text changes.

Integrate PDF comparison into automated document workflows in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Compare these two PDF files and show me the differences:…+

Compare these two PDF files and show me the differences: [PDF file 1] and [PDF file 2].

when the reply comes backWant tips on making your workflow faster?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest ways to make my automated PDF comparison more accurate and reliable.…+

Suggest ways to make my automated PDF comparison more accurate and reliable for [type of documents or workflow].

when the reply comes backNeed help setting up automatic email alerts for changes?

CDecide — “help me choose”Help me choose the best tool for comparing PDFs in…+

Help me choose the best tool for comparing PDFs in my automated workflow for [purpose or document type].

when the reply comes backCurious about comparing more than two files at once?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Sign in to your integration platform account (e.g., Power Automate or Zapier).
2
Add or create a new workflow (Flow in Power Automate, Zap in Zapier) where you want to include PDF comparison.
3
Search for and add the Adobe PDF Services connector to your workflow.
NoteYou may need to authenticate with your Adobe account and approve permissions to use PDF Services.
4
Configure the trigger for your workflow (such as new file upload, email attachment, or scheduled time).
5
Add the action to compare two PDF files using the Adobe PDF Services connector (look for an action like 'Compare two PDF files').
Best practiceEnsure your input files are true PDFs, not scanned images, for the most accurate comparison results.
6
Map the source and target PDF files from your trigger or previous workflow steps to the comparison action inputs.
7
Specify the output location or next action for the comparison result (such as saving the comparison report to cloud storage or sending via email).
8
Save and test your workflow to verify that PDF comparison is running as expected within your automated process.

In the appWith the API

When automating PDF comparison, always test with sample documents to confirm the workflow detects differences as intended.

Adobe PDF Services API offers an endpoint for comparing two PDF files and generating a difference report.

Glossary

words on this page

PDFA common file type used to share documents that look the same everywhere.ExampleShe saved the brochure as a PDF so everyone would see the exact same layout and fonts.

CompareTo look at two things and find the differences between them.ExampleYou look at two versions of a contract to identify any changes made between them.

Automated workflowA set of steps done by a computer without needing you to do each one.ExampleAn automated workflow can rename and move all new project files into the correct folder.

The real tasks

all 2, listed here

Compare files for differences in dreamweaver

Two versions floated during last-minute edits; I don’t know which to deploy.

FAQ

about this task

You can set up your workflow to automatically compare two PDF files whenever a new version is added, so you can quickly see what has changed without checking manually.

PDF comparison highlights the differences between two documents, such as added, changed, or removed text and images, so you can spot updates quickly.

Automated PDF comparison helps you catch even small changes in contracts, which is important for making sure everyone agrees on the same details and nothing is missed.

Yes, but scanned PDFs may need to be converted to text first using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) so the software can compare the contents accurately.

Automated PDF comparison is faster and less likely to miss small changes, while manual checking can be slow and mistakes are easier to make if the documents are long.

Integrate PDF comparison into automated document workflows

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails