Using the File Attachment tool

You can use the File Attachment tool to attach or append another file (not necessarily saved as a PDF) to the PDF document you’re reviewing. You can use this feature to attach new copy and graphics that you’d like to see replace particular text passages and images in the PDF file. You can also use this tool to attach a memo or some other text document that outlines the review steps or special instructions to the design or review team. Don’t use this feature to attach files saved in other file formats besides PDF unless you’re sure that each reviewer has the software necessary to open it installed on his or her computer. Of course, the way to be sure that each and everyone concerned will be able to open and evaluate all the files you attach to a PDF document under review is to save them as PDF files before you attach them.
To attach a file to the PDF file you’re reviewing, follow these steps:

1. Click the Attach File tool on the Advanced Commenting toolbar or press Shift+J until its icon (the one with the pushpin) is selected.
2. Click the Pushpin pointer at the place in the PDF document’s text or graphics where you want the File Attachment icon (a paper clip by default) to appear, indicating to other reviewers that a file has been attached. Acrobat responds by opening the Select File to Attach dialog box.
3. Open the folder and select the icon for the file that you want to attach to the current PDF document, and then click the Select button. The File Attachment Properties dialog box opens.
4. Change the properties of the file attachment as follows:
• To select a new icon besides the default paper clip, click the Appearance tab and choose an item in the Icon list box.
• To change the color of the File Attachment icon, click the Color button and then click the new color in the palette.
• To increase or decrease the opacity of the file attachment icon, type in a new percentage number in the Opacity text box or use the slider button.
• To modify the ToolTip description that appears when the user positions the mouse over the File Attachment icon, click the General tab and replace the filename in the Description text box. Acrobat automatically displays the filename as the ToolTip if you don’t modify this text box.
• To change the author or subject associated with this file attachment, click the Author or Subject text box and edit the default text that appears there.
5. Click the Close button to close the File Attachment Properties dialog box. As soon as you close the File Attachment Properties dialog box, you see the File Attachment icon (a paper clip unless you changed it) at the place you clicked in the document. To move this icon, drag it with the arrowhead pointer. To display the ToolTip with the name of the attached file (or some other description if you modified the Description text box), position the arrowhead mouse pointer over the File Attachment icon. To open the attached file, double-click its File Attachment icon, or right-click (Control+click on the Mac) the icon and then click Open File on the context menu. Acrobat responds by displaying an Open Attachment alert dialog box, warning you about possible dangers in opening the file. When you click the Open button in the alert dialog box, Acrobat then goes ahead and opens the file.

If the attached file is a PDF document, Acrobat opens it and makes it the current document (you can then return to the original PDF document by selecting its name at the bottom of the Windows menu). If the attached file is saved in some other file format, your computer’s operating system launches the program that created the file (provided that it can be identified and that the program is installed on the computer), opening it in a new window. You can then return to the original PDF document by clicking its program icon on the Windows taskbar or clicking the Application icon on the OS X Dock. To remove an attached file from the PDF document, right-click the File Attachment icon (Control+click on the Mac) and then click Delete on its context menu. To save the attached file on your hard drive before you delete it, click Save Embedded File to Disk on its context menu, select the folder in which you want it saved, and click the Save button.