Using Mac.com iDisk as a Shared Review comment repository

by Kurt Foss, Editor, AcrobatUsers.com

The ability to set up and manage a collaborative document review process isn't new in Acrobat 8, but it's much improved — simpler to configure, more versatile and less prone to glitches. 

In addition to the improved functionality for e-mail-based and browser-based reviews in Acrobat 8, there's a new method called Shared Review. For more detailed descriptions of the benefits, see our interview with Randy Swineford and also a blog posting by Barnaby James, both with Adobe Systems. With Acrobat 7, comments submitted in an e-mail review were seen only by the review initiator, but not by other participants. In Acrobat 8's Shared Review process, all comment-and-review participants — which can include enabled Reader users — with access to a properly enabled PDF can view all submitted comments, thereby reducing redundancies.

To conduct a shared review, you and your reviewers must have read-and-write access to the server you use for storing comments. In this tutorial, we'll look at one method for setting up and initiating a Shared Review workflow — using Mac.com's iDisk (WebDav server) as a shared comments repository. 

First, in Mac OS X > System Preferences > .Mac > iDisk, set your Public folder to be Read/Write. 

Then, in Acrobat 8 Professional:

1. Go to Comments > Send For Shared Review.

2. If prompted, enter your identity information to create a Review Profile.

3. Next, you must choose a Shared Location to Store Comments.

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Click Add New Location, then choose a descriptive folder name and specify the type of server; for iDisk, choose WebDAV folder, and click Next.

To use Mac.com’s iDisk as a Shared Folder Location…<4_shrrvw.gif>

Enter this path to your iDisk Public folder--replace the bracketed placeholder with your Mac.com account name—as the URL:

http://idisk.mac.com/[your.Macname]/Public 

NOTE: Path and folder names are case-sensitive.

Verify that the shared folder location is valid and can be accessed.

Click Add Folder. 

4. Note that the option to enable commenting for Reader users is selected by default. 

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You're now set up to take advantage of a Shared Review workflow using iDisk. You can proceed with the Shared Review Wizard to select a PDF to distribute for review, invite reviewers and create a preview message instructing them how to participate.