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Bluebeam Review

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superboyac:
I'm sure you guys have heard me rave about Bluebeam.  It's my favorite pdf utility.  I've just put up my review for it on my website:

http://aram.dcmembers.com/engineering/bluebeam-pdf-revu/

ganrad:
I tried Bluebeam and liked it.
Ran into a problem though.
Prior to trying Bluebeam I used Foxit editor to edit pdfs.
Edits and text additions done with Bluebeam (not markups) do not appear if the pdf file is opened with foxit editor later on.
I dont remember but I think the changes done with Bluebeam did not appear when the file was opened in foxit reader as well.
I was so used to foxit editor that I had to abandon the new entrant in favor of the old horse

I still think this is some protocol/layer issue that might have gotten fixed by changing some default options or by flattening before saving. Did not bother to investigate though

superboyac:
Interesting, ganrad.
I know Bluebeam has flattening features and stuff like that.  The other thing I've run into is actually having to turn on visibility for markups.  I'm not sure if that's part of the problem in your case, but it might be worth exploring.  I've had experiences where the markups wouldn't print because it was set to not print the markups.  I think I've also seen situations where the markups were hidden in the viewer itself.

But you're right, it could also be a compatibility issue.  Maybe the markups from Bluebeam can't be read by foxit or acrobat.  I have personally never run into a problem where Acrobat couldn't read my edits from Bluebeam.

superboyac:
I just noticed something in your post:  what's the difference between text edits and markups?  I consider any kind of editing on a pdf a "markup".  At least that's how I've been using the word so far.

ganrad:
Well, I distinguish between text edit and markup like these:

Example of text addition/Edit:
(a) Add text: I use this to fillup "wire transfer" information in pdf application form that I download from my bank's site. I open the pdf in an editor, add text in the appropriate places, save, print, sign and send.
(b) Edit text: In other instances, Pull up an old filled (such) form, open in an editor, edit earlier filled text like $$amount, account number, beneficiary details (as may be the case), save as a different pdf
(c) Markup: More general usage - like markup of comments / remarks / inputs in a pdf quotation / invoice sent by my staff. One can turn comment on / off. The basic text of pdf is not altered

Foxit editor does a pretty neat job of (a) and (b) - something I am used to.
Bluebeam probably treats everything as (c)

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