Adobe Reader X: Common Functionality Questions

Can I create PDF files with Reader?

From the Reader XI Tools pane, you can access the PDF Pack online service, which has monthly and annual subscription plans available for purchase. You can also convert files to PDF using Acrobat XI.

Does Reader suuport electronic signatures?

Yes. Reader XI lets virtually anyone confidently sign and view PDF files. You can sign any PDF document viewed in Reader XI by typing or drawing your name or inserting an image of your signature. You can also sign and validate PDF documents with certificate signatures if the document author has enabled your PDF file to support this capability. In addition, the new Send For Signature feature lets you connect to the EchoSign online service* to ask others to sign documents electronically and track signing status online.

Can I fill out and save PDF forms with Reader XI?

Yes, with Reader XI you can now fill out PDF forms by typing directly on the page or clicking through fillable form fields. Upgrading to Reader XI also lets you save fillable PDF forms to your desktop.

Can I edit a PDF file using reader?

No. You cannot make permanent changes to PDF files using Reader.

What is protection mode?

To protect you and your organization from malicious code that attempts to use the PDF format to write to or read from a computer’s file system, Adobe delivers a cutting-edge implementation of "sandboxing" technology called Protected Mode. Enabled by default in Reader XI, Protected Mode extends the protection against attackers who attempt to install malware on your computer system, which was introduced in Adobe Reader X, to include the blocking of malicious individuals from accessing — and extracting — sensitive data and intellectual property from your computer or corporate network.

How can I help control access to sensitive documents?

Access rights and security settings for a PDF file cannot be set in Reader; however, they can be set using Acrobat and Adobe LiveCycle® software. Once they are set, authors can define who can open, view, print, copy, or modify a document. These capabilities help organizations protect the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Authors can set access privileges in Acrobat using the Encrypt tool in the Protection panel. They can define a password users will need to open the document, or they can use a certificate ID to encrypt the document so that select recipients can open the document by entering their own certificate IDs. Optionally, organizations that choose to set up an Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management ES3 server can apply digital rights management (DRM) to a PDF file, which lets them create policies to limit user access, audit document usage, and revoke a document after distribution.