How do I compare two versions of an invoice PDF in Acrobat?

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Then, select 'Compare files' from the list of tools. Choose your older invoice PDF as the 'old' file and your newer one as the 'new' file. Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes between the two invoices.

What are the different comparison modes available in Acrobat's Compare Files tool?

Autodetect: This mode tries to figure out the best way to compare your files automatically. It works well for most general documents. Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this mode when comparing files that are mainly tables, numbers, or data, like financial reports. Presentation Decks: This mode is best for comparing slide presentations, where the layout and visual elements are important.

Disputed Invoice Versions in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Accounts payable sent me a vendor [invoice] with three line items that don’t match our [po].…+

Accounts payable sent me a vendor [invoice] with three line items that don’t match our [po]. Different teams have annotated separate copies and there’s confusion about the correct numbers. I need to share a single annotated version so we all agree on discrepancies before escalating. Tell me how to assemble that agreed version, what to keep visible versus what to hide, and a short cover note that asks for confirmations from each stakeholder.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat on your computer.
2
Go to Tools and select Compare Files.
3
Click Select File under 'Compare' and choose your first PDF (the older or original version).
4
Click Select File under 'With' and choose your second PDF (the newer or revised version).
5
Click Compare to start the comparison.
6
Review the results in the comparison summary and use the side-by-side view to examine highlighted differences.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using scanned PDFs as input files, as text recognition may be inconsistent.

In the appWith the API

You can filter the comparison results to focus on text, images, or formatting changes for a clearer review.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Compare FilesThis tool helps you find differences between two similar PDF documents.ExampleYou use this tool to quickly spot the differences between an original and a revised PDF document.

Security SettingsRules that protect a PDF file, like preventing changes or copying.ExampleThe security settings on the PDF prevented anyone from printing or copying its contents.

VersionA version is a specific copy of a file at a certain time, like 'version 1' or 'version 2'.ExampleYou save your report as 'report_v1' and then 'report_v2' after making major edits.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorLegal AssistantProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
Then, select 'Compare files' from the list of tools.
Choose your older invoice PDF as the 'old' file and your newer one as the 'new' file.
Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes between the two invoices.

The 'Compare text only' option tells Acrobat to ignore any images or graphics in your PDF files. It will only look for differences in the words and numbers. This is useful when you only care about text changes and not how pictures might have moved or changed.

This message appears because one or both of your invoice PDFs have security settings that block the comparison feature. These settings are often used to protect documents from changes or viewing. To compare them, you must first remove the security protection from both files. Look for options to 'Protect' or 'Unprotect' the PDF.

Yes, Acrobat's Compare Files feature can show you what changed in a signed document. It is specifically designed to help you manage and compare different versions of signed documents. This means you can see if anything was altered after the document was signed, which is very important for legal and business checks.

Autodetect: This mode tries to figure out the best way to compare your files automatically. It works well for most general documents.
Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this mode when comparing files that are mainly tables, numbers, or data, like financial reports.
Presentation Decks: This mode is best for comparing slide presentations, where the layout and visual elements are important.

Disputed Invoice Versions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails