PDF Readers
The PDF file format is an insurance industry standard for sharing many types of documents. Insurance companies almost always use the PDF file format when delivering client documents to an agency electronically.
Originally created by Adobe, many agencies use the Adobe Acrobat software to create and read these documents. One of the drawbacks to using Adobe software is that it can be expensive (especially for a smaller agency) and slow.
The good news is that there are other options. A number of software companies have created PDF readers that have almost as much functionality as the full Adobe Acrobat software. Two programs that offer PDF viewing and creation software are Foxit Reader and Pdf995.
Both of these programs offer polished and complete alternative PDF viewers. The basic versions of these programs are free. They have a smaller installation footprint and are quite a bit faster than Adobe Acrobat software. Best of all, they support most, if not all, of the most important features of Acrobat.
What about creating a PDF file? Again, you could purchase a professional PDF-creation program – or you could just download the version that installs a PDF print driver in Windows. Both companies have programs that allow you to change output settings (resolution, paper size, etc.) through Windows Printers and Faxes utility. These programs allow you to create PDF files from any Windows program that’s capable of printing.
Both of these programs have limitations and don’t provide all of the features available in the full Adobe Acrobat software. If you need the higher-end functions available in Adobe software, these programs won’t work for you. However, if you just need to view and create simple PDF documents, you may be able to save a lot of money by giving these versions a try.
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