Adobe is calling this Preflight, but any analysis of a PDF file is POST-FLIGHT. True Preflight is proactive and is done on source files creating the PDF, the final result. POST-FLIGHT is not good production methodology because it just ensures extra work because you aren't catching and fixing the problems at an early stage, thus you ensure rework. So, please, educate yourself and start with a good preflight procedure and preflight checklist for both you and your file providers.

Sometimes the PDF came from somewhere else, thus it's just too late to do it right. You need to verify that it's OK to use. So here's how to create a droplet with Acrobat 8. In Adobe Acrobat 8 you can more easily preflight PDF files automatically. The application has functionality to create droplets much like Adobe Photoshop has. Not only can you create a droplet, you can edit a droplet for preflight of your PDF files too.

By inspecting your files with a droplet, you can more quickly and easily identify problem files. Then, there's an optional report giving you the dirt on those bad PDF files that were not properly preflighted before they were created.

First, You Create A Preflight Droplet
(A) Choose Create Preflight Droplet from the Options menu in the Preflight dialog box.
(B) Choose a Preflight profile from pop-up menu. Create new one if exact profile you need is not listed.
(C) Specify settings for handling the PDFs after the preflight inspection, and then save the droplet.

Next, You Edit Your Droplet Settings
(A) Double-click the Droplet icon , or Edit Preflight Droplet from Options menu of Preflight dialog box.
(B) Change the settings you want to modify, and then save the droplet.

Here's Details on Available Droplet Settings
Droplet options can specify how your Preflight droplet will processes PDF files dragged to the your Droplets icon. I would recommend if this is working well for you, put that Droplet icon into the Dock, or Left sidebar of OS X so you can easily drop files to it anytime anywhere.

Keep Profile [profile]
Means to use currently selected profile for the preflight inspection.

Capture
Will insert the profile being used to the profile list under the Imported Profiles category.

Change Profile
Shows a menu of all available profiles. You can select a different profile for the preflight inspection.

Run Preflight Profile Without Applying Fixups
Reports on problems without correcting them. Available only if you choose a profile with a fixup for correcting problems.

Copy PDF File
Copies the PDF to the Success or Error folder.

Move PDF File
PDF will be moved to the Success or Error folder.

Save Alias Of PDF File
Alink to the PDF created in the Success or Error folder, PDF file is not moved from its location.

Create Report And Save In Success/Error Folder
Can change the type of preflight results reported and detail in that preflight report.

Settings
Change report options here.

Success/Error Folder
Specify the folder for the files and reports generated.

Display A Summary PDF
A summary can be generated showing mismatches from the preflight process indicating location of each file with an active link to each PDF listed.


I hope this article and directions prove useful to Prepress and Graphic Design Professionals. If yoy run in to problems or have further questions, join our Prepress Forums & Graphic Design Forums and there are many very experienced users to assist with anything you need help with. On our forums you can ask and answer questions, collaborate with others in your field. Currently almost 20,000 members worldwide.

About the Author:

© Samuel Hargis 2007—Freelance Custom Software DeveloperQuarkXpress Xtensions and Adobe InDesign Plug-Ins—for years, the author has provided development, consulting, and technical guidance to many of the largest, most successful printing and publishing companies in the graphic arts. Also has trained hundreds of designers, publishers and printers in PDF workflow, Font Management, and PrePress Preflight process automation. The author runs a free prepress support community. Software-Robotics Plug-Ins, Xtensions - Prepress Forum, Computer to Plate
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Automating Preflight Pdf With Acrobat 8 - Automatic Preflight Software