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It’s GiveAway Time - Win Adobe Acrobat 9.0 Pro Extended.

Started by Josh M · 11 months ago

This is the 500th post here at SolidSmack and what better way to celebrate than giving away an expensive piece of software that will make you so productive you will probably start shaking and fall to your knees… in a happy, unpainful way.
I’ve been using Acrobat 8.0 with all the 3D features added to that version. I’ve been thoroughly ... Continue reading »

55 comments

  • melvynm

    11 months ago

    Count me in! Wow what a prize! I'm a freelance technical writer and I write a lot of support documentation. Being able to insert a video showing part or all of a procedure for field support engineers sounds like a really good way forward.
    Additionally, I produce descriptive documentation explaining systems and their internal flows. A flash movie animating these would really draw attention and set my productions apart.
    reply
  • Federico Cantoni

    11 months ago

    Would use video in PDF to add 3D overviwe of projects in documentation submitted to clients.
    Anyway, I've never used those advanced PDF features, so maybe could come up with something else after a few practice...
    reply
  • Marijn

    11 months ago

    We are one step away from interactive teaching! I could use it for adding text information next to how to video.
    reply
  • Jeff Kuchta

    11 months ago

    We use PDF's of CAD drawings mainly for legacy archiving. Sometimes to communicate with vendors. however...Video in PDF... now that could bring yet another way for us (designers) to communicate our 'design intent' to our shop floor (fabricators, assemblers, etc. Gets us away from bad interpretations of drawings, etc. Would be great for vendors too.
    reply
  • Elizabeth McCartin

    11 months ago

    We use PDF for just about everything outside the designer's cube. Video in PDF would be so cool to show assembly order to the shop floor. Or sales brochures
    reply
  • John D.

    11 months ago

    We would use video in PDF's to demonstrate the use of our gages and assembly procedures of our gages.
    reply
  • Michael M

    11 months ago

    I am constantly writing installation instructions and other PDF documents for the designs I do. Being able to show of video of how it works would save me several pages of explanation and a lot of time.
    reply
  • JAlbert

    11 months ago

    As an Instructor for a Technical school, using video in PDF would help our students as they enter the field of Design. From the High School students to the most advanced students, every edge we can give them will benefit our community.
    reply
  • Bradley Grzesiak

    11 months ago

    Video in a PDF? I'd use it to embed fly-arounds, explode steps, and simulations of stuff I've designed in SolidWorks. Mostly it'd be off-planet stuff like a lunar mining machine or a spacecraft life support system.
    reply
  • Bradley Grzesiak

    11 months ago

    Video in a PDF? I'd use it to embed fly-arounds, explode steps, and simulations of stuff I design in SolidWorks. It'd mostly consist of off-planet stuff like lunar mining machines and spacecraft life support systems.
    reply
  • whagen

    11 months ago

    This sounds like a winner, it would be great for making work instructions on how to put equipment together
    reply
  • wulfheir

    11 months ago

    I'd embed a video of my cnc router running as part of a marketing package.
    reply
  • Jon Bravard

    11 months ago

    The ability to demonstrate our products and have a client see it in action would be a great tool for sales.
    The added plus of being able to show the factory floor how to assemble something is an easy bonus.
    reply
  • Karen B

    11 months ago

    Our maintenance manuals could be greatly simplified with a video clip as well as making us look high tech. Every little bit helps in a tight market!
    reply
  • tonycantrell

    11 months ago

    We use pdf for archives at work. But I would use it for showing animations for traing and maintenance manuals.
    reply
  • JABIRNER

    11 months ago

    COOL SOFTWARE!!!! i WOULD USE VIDEO TO SHOW PARTS OF THE SOLIDWORKS MODEL, TO USE AS TRAINING TOOLS FOR NEW HIRES AND FOR UPDATE TRAINING
    reply
  • DanO518

    11 months ago

    SOLID-ACROBAT-SMACK I would use the 3d and animation capablities to convey our designs quickly to our clients. We could quickly show why a part needs to be molded a particular way, with Acrobat v9 we would get a lot more "OH I get it" s from out clients.
    reply
  • Mark Kaiser

    11 months ago

    PDF video? It depends on how easy it is for others to view. If it's like any other pdf, it'd be awesome. I'd use it for showing vendors new parts, quote requests, I've made an instructional/informational DVD, I imagine I could PDF that also! Sign me up!
    reply
  • Jason

    11 months ago

    Videos in PDFs...animations of the model would be cool....maybe photo render fly-thru....or perhaps how to assembly the darn thing. Better yet.....maybe I could send grandma a pdf video of the grandkids.
    reply
  • Brice

    11 months ago

    I work at a research and design firm, and frequently am required to present design concepts and ideas that are often far too complicated to visualize with a 2D drawing. In the research world you live or die based on how well you are able to collaborate and communicate with your peers.

    E-Drawings has been an invaluable tool to circumvent the limitations of designing in a 3D world but presenting the ideas to a 2D audience; however, it is a specialized software that many people do not have or are unwilling to install.

    Adobe, with the recent implementation of the 3D model viewer embedded in their software, has drastically made my life easier because I can send part designs to the entire project team knowing that they will be able to view the file with software they already have on their PC.

    The addition of PDF video is huge. Imagine sending a relatively small file that anyone will be able to open with little to no difficulty containing a video where you are able to precisely control what information you want to present. Relevent features and design decisions can be featured by the designer, outlining what is most important in the part. It would be the closest thing to standing over the shoulder of the designer while they discuss the part as you can get.

    The portfolio is an added perk which will allow for very high levels of professionalism when communicating with other companies or contracters, and would greatly simplify keeping track of complicated designs with large numbers of parts and features. I can imagine this being very handy for giving the design to a build team with a single document containing detailed 2D drawings, easy to manipulate 3D models, and static documents such as bill of materials and comments.

    So yes, I'm fairly excited about the opportunities presented by this software!
    reply
  • Ivan

    11 months ago

    Peaceful stuff Josh... I would use video to show walk-throughs and fly-bys of art and architectural projects, as well as simulations, explodes, etc. This gives clients the clear understanding of processes, work flows, you name it. Huge tool!!!
    reply
  • bvrclvr24

    11 months ago

    I would use video in a PDF portfolio to put together the business proposal I've had on the back-burner for almost a year now. This would be the perfect utility set to create the proposal - The company would be built around closely integrated hardware and software.
    reply
  • cbosch_us

    11 months ago

    Wow, video in a PDF would be a great way to show assembly details in instruction manuals. I've developed several installation manuals for custom automotive products and it's difficult to clearly show installation details with only pictures and text descriptions. Video clips would enable actually demonstrating the operation rather than just describing it.
    reply
  • mingsish

    11 months ago

    I would use it to circulate videos of drunken caroling from last years Christmas party.
    reply
  • iQ

    11 months ago

    I sat in a discussion group meeting at SolidWorks World on EDrawings. The question was brought up on how was the usage of this software going in the community. It was posed to me and I stated, “the software runs great but I was having difficulty getting this as an accepted software in some corporate ran engineering departments due to IT approving requirements at these locations.” They would filter many filetypes so no file from unaccepted software would be allowed for use in one of their corporate locations. We could not even send them an EDrawings file (this was with the embedded EDrawings, their computers would not access them and the file was moved to a quarantined location. I told the group that I could get a PDF file into the company. If they could just embed the capabilities of EDrawings into a PDF file. Now this was quite a few years ago now. It is amazing how these little items come true.

    I also would like to get more paperless. And one of the items that I look forward to is the paperless assembly document that is a movie or animation. This capability in a PDF file is just the item that I am looking forward to.
    reply
  • chudson1226

    11 months ago

    Rock on! Sign me up!

    At my company, we produce a large number of documents. Most of these are static images with text out the proverbial, and not-so-proverbial whazoo. All this text has to be translated into dozens of languages because we ship products worldwide.

    With video we can make a more informative document without any translation.

    Thanks!
    reply
  • mbacon

    11 months ago

    We use Acrobat every day to post our documentation online for others to download and print. It saves us from having to send all of the associated SolidWorks files via the internet when all a customer or engineer needs is a few dimensions off of the technical drawings. With video, we could have fantastic presentations that would help make our products even that much more understandable. Most important when you're dealing with a manufacturer that doesn't speak your language well. It would also be a fantastic sales tool when we launch a new product. Our marketing department would go crazy with a tool like video embedded .pdf file! The possibilities are endless. I'd love to be able to have a go at that!!!
    reply
  • LWK

    11 months ago

    I have been sooo considering going off on my own -full time.
    The initial cost of buy in for all this software adds up fast.

    This would be a nice addition to SW for a small, one man start up!
    reply
  • Sherry

    11 months ago

    Wow this a great giveaway, I haven't try any video emdedded before. It should be fun!
    reply
  • jnpeter

    11 months ago

    Videos of exploded views embedded in a PDF would make it so much easier to describe an a assembly.
    reply
  • TX80

    11 months ago

    I would use video to update my coworkers and superiors of my work progress.
    reply
  • Kyle Mason

    11 months ago

    I would use video to reduce my carbon footprint, and reduce global warming, save polar bears, get rid of harmful NOx gases, build a refuge for pandas and penguins, freeze the thawing ice caps, rebuild the ozone layer, bring back the do-do bird, and U.S. americans like such as...

    Or I might do something useful like make a video of the latest CAD project I'm working on.
    reply
  • Gwen L

    11 months ago

    Wow! I could distribute PDF sewing patterns that include video instructions for assembling the pieces.
    reply
  • Tammy Kennedy

    11 months ago

    I really want to win this for my 12 and 16 year old. They take online class's and they are in advanced class's at school. My son was voted student of the year for his work at school with their video news show and programs. They are always complaining about my pc not having the correct programs to do their homework assignments. So the video would be one of the projects required by my children's teachers.
    I know they would use the program so much and with this their assignments would be a top notch.
    My children strive for better grades and are maintaining a 4.0 and 3.65 with the coming school year approaching their school work will be even more demanding. So winning this will not only do one video on PDF but many for maybe years to come with what they will learn form this program.
    reply
  • jeffreymehr

    11 months ago

    Our field engineers are constantly asking for better visuals demonstrating our maintenance procedures. Video would really enhance our products!
    reply
  • scubapop1

    11 months ago

    use it to amuse people andme also
    reply
  • Tina hartley

    11 months ago

    Every-one in my house would and could use this everyday
    reply
  • jkrisken

    11 months ago

    I could use this to easily send my massive family all of the kids home made movies.
    reply
  • Dave K

    11 months ago

    A 3D overview of design specs or a requirements document's swimlanes presented with moving graphics, or video, would be a tremendous tool!
    reply
  • weblynx

    11 months ago

    I would love to use this for training on embedded videos
    reply
  • Ruth C.

    11 months ago

    I'd use it to document CosmosWorks stress simulations.
    reply
  • Dena Oliphint

    11 months ago

    I did not know that it was even possible (video in a PDF). WOW! I could use this on projects for my nephews motocross racing (which he will be turning pro at the end of the month). Would love to give it a shot. What a great contest!
    reply
  • Pamela White

    11 months ago

    I would use this program to make interactive displays. I would love to import pictures and images to our presentations.
    reply
  • Babalu

    11 months ago

    I would use it to compilate a movie with the family members that have passed away, and distribute it to the cousins.
    reply
  • sweetsue

    11 months ago

    Oh my gosh! I wanted to take this class for the fall semester, but can't afford this. I would use it to learn on.
    reply
  • James

    11 months ago

    This is a wonderful software
    reply
  • peggy1116

    11 months ago

    I would use Video in a PDF in a project for a class to teach "how to's" I would be so much easier teaching if the students could see a project from start to finish. I give Video in PDF the WOW factor!! Please count me in to win
    reply
  • Chris

    11 months ago

    Awesome!
    reply
  • Khyle

    11 months ago

    I will use it for learning. The truth is I have no idea with this and Im planning to study it by myself.

    Afterwards, when I know how to use it, I'll make some video tutorials :)
    reply
  • tinkmh

    11 months ago

    I have to transfer art from Graphic Designers to neg format, this would make my life so much easier!! I'll send you cookies!!!
    reply
  • Michael Lord

    11 months ago

    Like many of the comments, I spend as much time explaining how to download and use eDrawing as I do trying to get people to accept my designs. Now I have the choice, make a video on how to use eDrawing Or make a video of my project!!!!
    reply
  • craigsink

    11 months ago

    It seems as if many customers will only look at files you send them if its something familiar, and for many eDrawings is not. Soooo......unless they can "click & look" they just ignore what I send them. I'd use video to demonstrate installation and/or procedures in new software. Also I could record some video of my screen while interrogating an assembly and send that to them as well.

    As CAD Manager I would also use this for training videos or "tech support" help. It seems like creating videos accessible to everyone without being bloated can be finicky. Buried in PDF sounds like a breeze.
    reply
  • Charles Culp

    11 months ago

    I would use it to interact in 3D with everyone. Customers, our machine shop downstairs, everyone needs 3D.
    reply
  • Bruce Buck

    11 months ago

    Geez, I'm late in the game. But PDF is definitely the most useful in terms of collaboration with people, especially those outside your organization.

    Now as far as video, geez, the possibilities are endless. For one, I could thing of assembly instructions, for the manufacturing plant, or even the end customer. These of course could be animations created in SolidWorks or some other program, or raw video shot by corporate. Currently work at a place that designs car shredder plants. These are huge, complicated plant installations, and no doubt, plant layouts with general assembly videos and installation videos would be a HUGE benefit. Good stuff. I know for sure if I got my grubby little hands on this, I'd be able to whip something up to so its usefulness to the big wigs where I currently work to convince them to invest in it company wide. You listening, Adobe?
    reply
  • solidworm

    11 months ago

    i would create an interactive \ documentation for each part i send to the machine shop and let them extract the model from the pdf file.
    reply

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