How do I compare two versions of a PDF contract in Acrobat?

Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Select 'Compare files'. Choose your old and new contract files. Acrobat will show a summary of changes and let you navigate them.

What is the difference between Autodetect and Reports/Spreadsheets modes in Compare Files?

Autodetect: Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files automatically. This is good for general documents. Reports/Spreadsheets: This mode is best for documents that look like tables or data reports. It helps Acrobat find changes in numbers and structured text more accurately. Presentation Decks: This mode is for slides, like PowerPoint files saved as PDFs, to compare visual and text changes in presentations.

Show Only Substantive Contract Edits in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”A 60-page contract returned with redlines lands on the exec's desk and I need to summarize what…+

A 60-page contract returned with redlines lands on the exec's desk and I need to summarize what matters legally and commercially. I can't advise on law, but I can flag where finance, dates, pricing, and obligations changed. Tell me how to prioritize and present those differences in a one-page digest so the CEO can decide whether Legal needs to dive in.

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 and select 'Tools' from the main menu.
2
Choose 'Compare Files' to launch the comparison tool.
3
Select the older version of your PDF as the 'Old File' and the newer version as the 'New File.'
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using scanned documents as input; text-based PDFs yield more accurate comparisons.
4
Click the 'Compare' button to start the comparison process.
5
Review the comparison results summary to see an overview of all detected changes.
6
Click 'Go to First Change' to navigate through individual changes if detailed review is needed.
7
Export the comparison summary by selecting the option to export comments or the summary report, choosing your preferred format (e.g., PDF, Word, or FDF).
NoteOn Windows, you can export comments directly to Word or AutoCAD using Acrobat Pro.
8
Share the exported summary file with your team or approvers for collaborative review or approval, using Acrobat's sharing features or your organization's workflow tools.
Best practiceStreamline approvals by sharing the summary with all reviewers simultaneously rather than sequentially.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly export a summary of changes after comparing PDFs to streamline team review and approval.

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

Glossary

words on this page

Substantive EditsThese are important changes to the text or content, not just small formatting fixes.ExampleRewriting entire paragraphs to improve clarity and flow are considered substantive edits.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

I must ensure the executive only sees substantive changes in a 60-page contract sent back by the vendor

FAQ

about this task

Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
Select 'Compare files'.
Choose your old and new contract files.
Acrobat will show a summary of changes and let you navigate them.

The 'Compare text only' option tells Acrobat to ignore pictures and other graphics in your documents. It focuses only on the written words. This is useful when you only care about text changes, like in a contract, and not how images might have shifted.

No, if your PDF contract has security settings, Compare Files will not work. Acrobat will show an error message. You must first remove the password or security from both the old and new contract files. After removing protection, you can then compare them.

Comparing document versions is crucial for contracts because even small changes can have big legal impacts. It helps you quickly spot every edit, ensuring nothing is missed. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors, making sure you agree to the exact terms.

Autodetect: Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files automatically. This is good for general documents.
Reports/Spreadsheets: This mode is best for documents that look like tables or data reports. It helps Acrobat find changes in numbers and structured text more accurately.
Presentation Decks: This mode is for slides, like PowerPoint files saved as PDFs, to compare visual and text changes in presentations.

Show Only Substantive Contract Edits

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails