How to Fix Discontinued Acrobat.com Shared Review Support in Acrobat XI
Question details
The user wants to host a shared PDF review using Acrobat.com but needs to know if the service has been discontinued and how to proceed.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to host and manage collaborative shared PDF reviews using Adobe's Acrobat.com online services.
- Observed behavior
- The Acrobat.com hosting service for shared reviews was officially discontinued in January 2015, preventing users from initiating cloud-based reviews through this specific platform.
Ensure you have active access to an internal network drive, a SharePoint workspace, or a web server folder with appropriate read and write permissions for all invited reviewers.
Use Alternative Servers to Host Shared Reviews
Since Acrobat.com cloud hosting is discontinued, you must configure a local network or web-based server to initiate and track shared PDF reviews.
Adobe officially ended support for hosting Shared Reviews via Acrobat.com in January 2015. However, the core shared review functionality in Acrobat XI Pro remains active if you utilize your own hosting infrastructure to synchronize comments.
Launch Acrobat XI Pro, open your target PDF document, and navigate to the 'Comment' pane on the right side. Click on 'Reviews' and select 'Send for Shared Review'.
In the shared review setup wizard, choose an alternative routing method instead of Acrobat.com. You can select to route the review through an internal server, SharePoint workspace, or a network folder.
Provide the exact file path or URL to your chosen SharePoint workspace or network folder. This location will act as the central repository where all reviewer comments are stored and synchronized.
Enter the email addresses of the reviewers, add a customized invitation message, and click 'Send'. Reviewers will receive an email and can submit their comments back to your specified server.
Use WPS PDF for Seamless Cloud Document Sharing and Review
Instead of relying on outdated local servers or discontinued cloud services, you can use WPS Office to share PDFs via WPS Cloud. It provides a modern, hassle-free way for multiple users to view, comment, and collaborate on documents.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your computer and open the PDF document you want to send for review.
- 2. Upload to WPS Cloud: Click the 'Share' button located in the top right corner of the application window. If the document isn't saved to the cloud yet, prompt WPS to upload it securely to your WPS Cloud.
- 3. Set Sharing Permissions: In the sharing dialog, configure the permission levels for your reviewers. Select 'Anyone with the link can comment' or specify exact users.
- 4. Share the Collaboration Link: Click 'Copy Link' and distribute it to your team via email or any messaging app to start collecting their feedback instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my shared review stop working on Acrobat.com?
Adobe officially discontinued the shared review hosting service on Acrobat.com in January 2015. Documents previously hosted there can no longer sync comments, requiring users to switch to internal servers or SharePoint for hosting.
Can I still use Acrobat XI Pro to collect PDF comments?
Yes. While Acrobat.com cloud hosting is no longer available, you can still use the 'Send for Shared Review' feature by routing the review file through a local network folder, web server, or SharePoint workspace.
Do my reviewers need Adobe Acrobat Pro to participate in a shared review?
No, reviewers can generally use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to add and publish comments back to the shared server, provided you enabled the necessary commenting rights when initiating the review.
How do I change the server for an ongoing shared review?
You cannot change the server location for an active review once it has started. You must initiate a new shared review and select your new network folder or SharePoint workspace during the initial setup process.
