Adobe DC Portfolio Guide

Revised 01-30-19

Table of Contents
Adobe DC Portfolio Guide ............................................................................................................................. 1
Web Browsers ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Viewing.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Navigating Sections ................................................................................................................................... 3
Navigating Pages within Sections ............................................................................................................. 4
View and Window Options ........................................................................................................................... 5
Preferences ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Verifying Signatures ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Printing .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
NDDOT Plan Addendums .............................................................................................................................. 9
Web Browser and Default File Adjustments ............................................................................................... 10
Changing the Default Browser on a Windows 10 Computer .................................................................. 10
Changing default PDF viewer to Adobe Acrobat .................................................................................... 11
Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Internet Explorer ......................................................... 12
Chrome and Firefox Browsers................................................................................................................. 12
Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Chrome ........................................................................ 12
Chrome Browser Default Download location ......................................................................................... 13
Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Firefox .......................................................................... 13
Firefox Browser Default Download location ........................................................................................... 13
An Adobe Portfolio file is a special type of pdf file. A Portfolio file has additional organizing tools that
allow multiple files to be combined while keeping the individual files properties. One of the important
individual file properties involves digital signatures. The Portfolio format allows the NDDOT to create
one document without affecting all digital signature properties. These features make it easier to create
one document for the construction plans that incorporate current addendums without having to redo as
many digital signatures.

The NDDOT is creating separate pdf files for each section of the plans. These sections will be digitally
signed and incorporated into the portfolio. If an addendum is required, an individual section of the
plans can be swapped out without having to redo the sections of the plans not affected by the
addendum.

To view a portfolio pdf, you will need an Adobe product such as Acrobat Reader, Acrobat Standard or
Acrobat Pro. Below is the link to the latest version of Acrobat Reader: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

There are 2 different file formats for adobe portfolios. The old format used Adobe Flash technology. The
new format doesn’t use this technology. Older portfolios required additional, free, software to be
loaded on computers in addition to a pdf reader. NDDOT projects posted after September 1, 2018
should use the new portfolio format and the Adobe Flash player will not be needed if viewed with
Adobe Reader DC or Acrobat DC.

This document discusses reviewing files that use the new portfolio format. There is an older guide
similar to this one that discusses reviewing portfolios in the old format (see following link).
http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/design/caddmanual/UG_Meetings/Adobe%20Portfolio%20Guide.pdf

Most of the screen views shown in this document are from the Adobe Acrobat Pro DC version. Many
tools discussed in the guide (using the DC version) also exist in the “reader” and “XI (version 11)”
versions.

Web Browsers
Most web browsers will not be able to open a portfolio directly.
For example, Microsoft Edge will not directly open a web link to a
portfolio. You may get the notice shown to the right.

The most common work around for this problem is to download

the file and open the file directly with your pdf reader
application. To download the pdf, right click on the web link and
select the option “Save target as”. A “Save As” dialog box will
open that allows you to adjust the file name and storage location.

When opening portfolios on Ipads, use the “Open In” option. This is a popup option that you won’t see
unless you touch the screen. The “Open In” tool will provide the “Copy to Adobe Acrobat” option. The
split screen portfolio (layout/files) view will not display. Only the list of sections – pdf files will display.
Select the section to open. Use the back button to get back to the list.
Note, the browser “Internet Explore” can open Adobe Portfolios directly. However, some adobe tools
are not available while being accessed through the browser. Near the end of this guide there is
additional guidance on “Web Browser Adjustments”.

Viewing
A portfolio file has the same file name extension as a regular pdf. The main way to tell that the pdf is a
portfolio is by opening it. A portfolio will usually open with the “Layout” or “Default” portfolio panel.
This panel may be at the top or left side of the application window. The portfolio panel shows all of the
individual pdf’s embedded in the portfolio.

The pdf content will be displayed in a preview panel. The preview panel can be used to review all the
pages within each section.

Navigating Sections
There are 2 ways to change sections (embedded pdf’s) within a portfolio. The section can be selected
from the “Layout” or “Default” portfolio panel or the navigation arrows can be used in the top left
corner of the preview panel.
Navigating Pages within Sections
Move the cursor to the lower middle area of the preview panel. A popup tool bar should appear with
arrows that allow page navigation within the section. The scroll bar in the preview panel can also be
used to change pages. Keyboard buttons such as Page Up, Page Down, Arrow Up and Arrow down also
work.

The page navigation tools will only work for the active previewed section. The page navigation tools will
not navigate to first page of the next section or to the last page of the previous section. The Section
navigation tools must be used to change the section.

The individual sections can be opened by accessing the “Open File” icon in the upper right corner of the
preview panel.
View and Window Options
The Portfolio format may look different if viewed on different version of pdf readers. The portfolio may
have been created with non-Adobe software (Bluebeam Revu) and this can also affect default view and
window options.

From the adobe menu, the following options change the portfolio panel view.
• View > Portfolio > Layout
• View > Portfolio > Details

If you are using Adobe version XI, there is an important functional difference with this option. In version
XI, the “Layout” Option doesn’t have a scroll bar in the portfolio panel. In the XI version, only the
“Details” option has the scroll bar in the portfolio panel. Most people prefer the “Details” option for
navigating a portfolio with many sections.

If you are using an Adobe DC version both the Layout and Details options include the scroll bar.

The location of the portfolio panel can also be changed from the adobe menu by selecting one of the
following options.
• Window > Split Horizontal
• Window > Split Vertical
Preferences
The “View > Portfolio > Layout”
and “View > Portfolio > Details”
option discussed previously are
only for the active adobe
session. The “Layout” view is
default preference. To set
“Details” view as the default
preference, select “Edit >
Preferences > Accessibility >
Show Portfolios in Files Mode”.

Opening a large set of plans with

many signatures can take long time
if all signatures are verified.
Signatures may not need to verify
every time a document is opened.
This setting can be turned off in
order to increase file opening
speeds. Select “Edit > Preferences
> Signatures”. Then select the
“More” button under the
“Verification” heading. Turn off
the option to “verify signatures
when the document is opened”.
Verifying Signatures
Click on the “Signature Panel” button in the ribbon or navigation pane. If the option to “verify
signatures when the document is opened” is turned off, select the “Validate All” option.
Printing
To print an individual page or part of a section of the plans you will need to open the individual section
of the plans and use the printing tools. You will not be able to print an individual page within a multiple
page section from the portfolio preview pane.

To print the entire portfolio, close any files you opened. Close the enlarged view with the X in the upper
right corner.

Close this view

with the X.

Select the print button in the upper left

menu. In Adobe DC you will be prompted
“What do you want to print?
With older versions of
Adobe, look for “Pages to
Print” options.

To print certain sections within the portfolio, select them first from the thumbnail view at the bottom.
Use Ctrl+Click to select. Then click the print button in the upper left menu and choose Selected PDF
Files under Pages to Print.

NDDOT Plan Addendums

When the NDDOT has an addendum with a plan set that uses digital signatures, the NDDOT may re-
stamp all the sheets in the section even if the addendum only changes construction information for just
one page in the section. A section of the plans is considered as a group and any change to this group
will require new signatures. Reviewers should look at the revised date in or near the upper right title
block to see if a plan sheet has actually changed instead of the signed date.
Web Browser and Default File Adjustments
Computers installed with windows 10 typically have the default browser set to Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft Edge is not able to directly open a pdf file with adobe acrobat. Microsoft Edge uses its own
pdf viewer that is not able to open a portfolio. Changing the default browser to Internet Explorer is
another solutions to viewing a pdf portfolio.

Changing the Default Browser on a Windows 10 Computer

1. From the windows start menu select “settings”. The settings icon looks like a gear.
2. From the settings window select Default apps > Web browser.

3. Select a default browser such as Internet Explorer.

The default pdf viewer on Windows 10 computers may also be setup to use Microsoft Edge. This
typically need to be changed to Adobe Acrobat.

Changing default PDF viewer to Adobe Acrobat

1. Continuing from the “Windows
Start Menu > Settings > Default
apps” window discussed on the
previous page, scroll down and
select “Choose default apps by file
type”.

2. From the “Choose default apps by

file type” window, scroll down to
the pdf extension and select Adobe
Acrobat as the default app for pdf
files.
You may have Internet Explore setup as your default browser so that pdf portfolios can be opened.
However the pdf viewer used in Internet Explorer is only Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may have the
professional (Pro) version of acrobat loaded on your computer and you may prefer to open pdf files with
all of the tools associated with the Pro version. Adobe Acrobat Pro can be launched directly from
Internet explorer by disabling the Adobe PDF Reader Add-on.

Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Internet Explorer

See the following link
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/display-pdf-in-browser.html#

Chrome and Firefox Browsers

The internet browsers Chrome and Firefox have settings that can be adjusted to open a pdf portfolio by
automatically downloading the file and opening it directly with Adobe Acrobat.

Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Chrome

1. Within an open Chrome
browser, click 3 dots in the
top right. Select “Settings”
from the drop down menu.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the settings and choose Advanced.

3. Toward the bottom of Privacy and Security section, click Content Settings.
4. Toward the bottom of that section click PDF documents.
5. Toggle on “Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome”.
Chrome Browser Default Download location
1. From the Chrome advance settings (see steps 1-2 on the previous page), scroll down to the
Downloads section.
2. Click the Change button to change the default Chrome download location.

Open PDF files directly in Adobe Acrobat from Firefox

1. Select the 3 bars in the top right. From the drop down menu select “Options”.
2. Make sure General is selected on the left and scroll down to applications.
3. Enter pdf in the search or just select pdf from the list.
4. Under Action change it to your Adobe Acrobat application. It defaults to “Preview in Firefox”.

Firefox Browser Default Download location

Firefox uses 2 different download locations. There is a “Save files to” and a “%Temp%” location. If you
right click on a pdf link in Firefox and use the “Save Link As…” tool, Firefox will use the “Save files to”
location. If you use the open pdf file directly in Adobe Acrobat option discussed above then Firefox will
use the “%Temp%” location.

The “%Temp%” location is typically c:\Temp or C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Temp.

The “Save Files to” location is typically c:\users\%username%\Downloads.