How do I open a "Acrobat X" document without the newest version?

Question

When I open a certain PDF file I get the following error:

For the best experience, open this PDF portfolio in 
Acrobat  X or Adobe Reader  X, or later.

Get Adobe Reader Now!

I have Foxit Reader 5.1.4 and Adobe Reader 8.3.1. Neither will open it at all, except for this error message. Brief google-ing showed that a similar thing can happen with version 9.

For the best experience, open this PDF portfolio in
Acrobat 9 or Adobe Reader 9, or later.

Apparently Adobe, in their wisdom, has invented a new format that in not backwards compatible, and someone saved this document in the non-backwards compatible mode. Spiffy-do for them. Great for Adobe in theory, but

1. I do not want to get the new version of Adobe.
2. I did try to download it, against my better judgement. The installer downloaded. I ran it. It failed to finish, and deleted itself as well so I couldn't just try again.

So now I am thoroughly against getting the new version, or using Adobe Acrobat at all. Good move Adobe.

Is there another way to convert this to something I can read? My first thought is to find someone who has Adobe Acrobat X, have them open it, and save it in a backwards compatible format. But I'd rather not involve others, I want something I can do myself for the next time this happens.

I tried uploading to Google Docs, to see if they would magically parse the document so I could read it in the web format. That had the same results, the dumb message/advertisement.

Since this is not something that I have to have, if I can't read it without version X, I will just go without it.

Answer 1

I'm 99% sure PDF's like these are assembled as portfolios of multiple standalone pdfs in Adobe Acrobat.

• SumatraPDF (windows only), bookmarks sidebar (F12) lists embedded documents.
• evince (gnome), sidebar (F9) and choose attachments from the heading dropdown menu.
• okular (kde), untested but others say it works.
• pdftk extract all pdf embedded attachments: pdftk <filename> unpack_files output .
• pdf-tools extract all pdf embedded attachments: pdfdetach -saveall <filename>

Answer 2

I'd say ditch Adobe Acrobat completely--it is just a waste of time, and they are trying to generate more sales with this new "feature" (read "bug").

You can bypass this with a conversion to ps and back:

pdf2ps file.pdf
ps2pdf file.ps

Or, avoiding creation of an intermediary file by piping pdf2ps output to ps2pdf input:

pdf2ps file.pdf - | ps2pdf - converted_file.pdf

Answer 3

PDF.js allows opening multi-file PDF's. It's the built-in PDF reader of Firefox, but it's also offered as a web app.

1. Visit the PDF.js web app at https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html
2. Click the "Open File" icon and select your file.
3. Expand the left sidebar
4. Click the "Show Attachments" icon.
   
5. Select one of the enclosed PDF's or other attachments to open the enclosed file.

Answer 4

The simple answer is get Adobe X or another app like PDF Creator Pro to handle the problem file. Most will have a cost associated where Acrobat reader X will not.

The event logs may indicate why the install failed and additional info on your Operating System might help get a better answer.

Consider that the version of Acrobat you have may have some significant security issues and that PDFs are a common malware vector. Upgrading to something is likely a good idea to close a security hole.