When you apply one or more routine sets of commands to your files, you can save time and keystrokes by using an action—a defined series of commands with specific settings and in a specific order that you apply in a single step. You can apply an action to a single document, to several documents, or to an entire collection of documents. You can even scan documents and combine several documents into a single PDF before running an action.
Acrobat provides some predefined actions. You can also create your own actions. You can access and manage the actions by clicking Tools > Action Wizard.
Adobe Acrobat also lets you export and import actions and commands so that you can share them with others.
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The actions interface and architecture replace the batch script mode available in the earlier versions of Acrobat. Most of your Acrobat XI batch scripts can be imported as actions; some scripts require minor changes.
Acrobat includes several simple predefined actions that you can use to streamline your work. These actions represent common tasks that you routinely perform to prepare files for distribution. You do not have to open any of the PDF files before you begin to run these actions.
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You can avoid password prompts when you run a sequence on PDFs that require passwords. Automate password entry, or specify a security method for these files in the Action Wizard panel of the Preferences dialog box. If you select Do Not Ask For Password, PDFs that require passwords are not processed.
A progress indicator displays the status of the currently running process or task. A check mark identifies completed actions or tasks. On successful completion of all tasks, “Completed” status is shown in the panel.
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You can click Stop in the panel to stop processing an action. Acrobat saves any files that have already been processed as defined in the action. You can click Resume to continue the Action or click the cross icon before the action name in the RHP to exit from further processing of the action.
To make your action easier to follow, you can group steps into panels, add divider lines, and include instructions. You can limit the action to specific files, apply it to all files within a folder, or let the user choose a file from various sources such as a scanner, web page, or Clipboard.
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Fine-tune the action using the buttons on the right. Add a new panel grouping, instructions, or a divider line, or move or delete items in the list.
Creates a new panel grouping at the bottom of the current set of tasks. When prompted, type the name of the panel, and click Save.
Adds instructions below the currently selected task. When prompted, type the instructions, and click Save.
Adds a divider line below the currently selected task.
Moves the currently selected item up the list. You can move a task, instructions, a divider line, or an entire panel grouping.
Moves the currently selected item down in the list. You can move a task, instructions, a divider line, or an entire panel grouping.
Deletes the currently selected item. Be careful what you select. You can delete an entire panel grouping.
Use the Manage Actions dialog box to edit, rename, copy, delete, reorder, import, or export actions.
Before you run actions on PDFs that are encrypted or password protected, you can set your digital ID to enter required passwords automatically.
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Specify a security method for these files in the Action Wizard panel of the Preferences dialog box. If you select Do Not Ask For Password, PDFs that require passwords are not processed.
Custom commands allow you to preconfigure commands such as Watermark and Header & Footer to reduce the amount of time each command would take to set up. This saves time for repetitive tasks.
Custom commands are single-step and applicable to the current document, while actions are multi-step sequences and applicable to multiple files.