◆ Acrobat · edit

Version Comparison Review

Compare the current loan agreement to the previously signed version for loan [loan=2024-899] to confirm no unauthorize…

2ready prompts
1real task
3roles

When to use it

real situations

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one
AExecute — “help me do it”Compare the current loan agreement to the previously signed version for loan [loan=2024-899] to…+
Compare the current loan agreement to the previously signed version for loan [loan=2024-899] to confirm no unauthorized changes were introduced.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.
BImprove — “do it better”Before certification for loan [loan=2024-899], produce a comparison report between the current…+
Before certification for loan [loan=2024-899], produce a comparison report between the current and prior signed agreement that highlights textual changes, flags altered monetary terms or signature blocks, and produce a one-page summary that I can attach to the file for compliance sign-off.
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. 1

    Open Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.

  2. 2

    Go to the Tools pane and select Compare Files.

  3. 3

    In the Compare Files dialog, click the file picker button under 'Old File' and choose the earlier version of your PDF.

  4. 4

    Click the file picker button under 'New File' and choose the revised or updated PDF.

  5. 5

    If needed, click on the settings or options icon to adjust comparison settings such as comparing text only or including images and annotations.

    Best practiceFor best results, set your comparison focus (text or graphics) based on your document type.

  6. 6

    Click the Compare button to start the comparison.

  7. 7

    Review the summary report that appears, which highlights all insertions, deletions, and modifications between the two PDFs.

  8. 8

    To view changes side by side, use the side-by-side view option in the comparison results window.

  9. 9

    To save the summary report, click File > Save or use the export option available in the comparison results.

    NoteThe summary report can be saved as a PDF for record-keeping or sharing.

You can quickly switch between summary and side-by-side views to better understand all changes between your PDF versions.

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

Glossary

words on this page
Compare filesThis feature shows you the differences between two PDF documents.
Security settingsThese are protections on a PDF that stop people from changing or comparing it.
DiffThis is a short word for 'difference' and means what has changed between two versions.ExampleThe software showed a diff highlighting the new paragraph added to the second version of the contract.

The real tasks

the one, listed here
Compare the current loan agreement to the previous signed version to confirm no unauthorized changes were introduced.

Who does this

3 roles
EditorLegal AssistantProject Manager

FAQ

about this task
  1. Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
  2. Select 'Compare files'.
  3. Choose your 'Old' and 'New' PDF files.
  4. Click 'Compare'. Acrobat will then show you the differences.

The 'Compare text only' option tells Acrobat to ignore any pictures or graphics in your documents. It will only look for changes in the written words. This is useful when you only care about text edits and not visual changes.

Compare Files fails if either PDF has security settings that stop it from being changed or read fully. Acrobat needs to fully access both files to find differences. You must remove any protection, like passwords, from both documents before you can compare them. This ensures Acrobat can do its job.

When comparing signed document versions, Acrobat focuses on changes made after a digital signature was applied. It helps you see if the document was altered in any way after it was officially signed. This is very important for legal and official documents where integrity is key. Acrobat highlights these post-signature modifications.

  • Autodetect: Acrobat chooses the best mode for you; good for general use.
  • Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers or data tables, like financial reports.
  • Presentation Decks: Ideal for slides or presentations, focusing on layout and visual elements.
  • Use 'Compare text only' if you only care about words, ignoring pictures.

Sources

where this comes from
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