"Release" - or alpha?

[brauner]

Are you sure that PDF-XChange Editor version 3 (b300) is a release version?, it more looks like an alpha version (even not beta).

alpha = under developing.
beta = development finished, under QA

Many features of the PDF Xchange viewer are missing, for example:

1) page reorder,
2) Typewriter and many other annotations.
3) Object properties... I created a line object and wanted to change the color from red to black - missing!!!

If this product is intend to replace the viewer, so it must have all viewer features and the new editing features.

Change the status to alpha !!!!

[justposted]

Please don't be too harsh, brauner. It may not be quite feature complete, in the sense of duplicating all of the features from the previous version, but it certainly isn't alpha software. It is far superior to Viewer in many ways and the features that it has implemented are working well. I'm sure they'll bring the final couple of things into a new build very soon.

Personally I'm just pleased that the massive stumbling block that this release has been over the last few years has finally been got out of the way. They got it out in March rather than missing another deadline, so they can now sort out the last couple of things with a bit less pressure.

In terms of your three points:

1) Yup. It's a real shame. Hope it comes in soon.
2) Isn't it just typewriter and callouts that are missing? Presumably for the same reason.
3) I can do this without a problem. Maybe check that you are changing Stroke Color rather than Fill Color.

1 and 2 are fundamental to what I used PDFX for, so I'm still waiting for the next release. Having seen that I can now edit dimension text, including changing its position with an elegant callout line, I'm very keen to move fully to Editor now though. Fingers crossed that the next release comes soon.

[Victor Warner]

I agree this is not an 'alpha' version but it is certainly not finished and certainly not 'gold' (if you mean final).

As noted there are several essential features missing (the typewriter tool and text boxes are both available now in Acrobat Reader XI, ie a free program, though far less capable than what PDF-XChange 2.5 offers). It is unfortunate and disingenuous to call this a good-to-go version when key features which set PDF-Xchange apart are missing and continue to be missing and we still with-out currently a date when they might be available. This is not the first beta (or whatever Tracker wish to call this) release and none of the features mentioned in the first post are available.

Essentially what we have is an enhanced pdf viewer-only program from Tracker, as if there are not maybe a dozen competitors as far as PDF-viewing programs available.

The continual delay in finishing (and for every deadline set, when is passes, something is not done), is not encouraging. At present we are offered:

And all of the new features are in there already. just a few things like the typewriter tool and stamps are still missing, but they would be added in the next few weeks

This is a curious use of syntax as "would" seems wrong here. Either it is typo or just a way of confusing users (ie avoiding 'will' which is too certain or definite and 'could' which is too vague).

I guess what I find saddest here is there continual delays and the continual lack of clarity of why it has taken so long and what the problems are.

Here is a fourth item to add to the list:

Regarding the new features:

4. No properties for sticky notes (it is greyed out).

Therefore it is not possible to set right-to-left text entry (ie at present it is only possible to enter text right-to-left as long as you do not want any punctuation...)

I still believe that PDF-XChange 2.5 is far superior to competitor products (unless you want to do right-to-left text entry). I have recently tried PDFpenPro 6 (an Apple Mac program). Given that it costs more than PDF-XChange Pro it is more limited. Also is unable to handle Text Boxes or Text Boxes / Typewriter properly created in Adobe Acrobat or PDD-XChange.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Victor,

thanks for the post. Your observations about the features are certainly true. And thank you also justposted for your supportive comments.

I would suggest that the naming is a case of semantics. You might note that the "New Viewer" is released under a different product name of PDF-XChange Editor. As such you may choose consider it a different product if you wish until such time as all the features of the Viewer are incorporated into it.

As justposted noted the effort was made to release the Editor on this deadline regardless of the missing features of the Viewer specifically to get to our loyal users something solid that works with the main new feature for editing PDF documents directly. I personally feel that they have done an outstanding job in this. I think the editing capabilities are superior to our competitors and shows the quality of the work done and should inspire confidence it what is yet to come. There are already many other enhancements "under the hood" so to speak that lays the groundwork for a very good application once all the Viewer features are implemented. It is fast, it renders beautifully, it installs super quickly and is very stable. Once all the Viewer features are in it you can choose to call it what you like, an editor that is a different product to the Viewer or a polished upgrade to the Viewer.

And all of the new features are in there already. just a few things like the typewriter tool and stamps are still missing, but they would be added in the next few weeks

This is a curious use of syntax as "would" seems wrong here. Either it is typo or just a way of confusing users (ie avoiding 'will' which is too certain or definite and 'could' which is too vague).

I see that quote comes from this post: https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/ ... 62&t=17106 Please understand that many of our developers and also support staff are in or have come from Europe and English is not their native language. Given that these developers are here on the forum "in person" helping first hand to people that ask for it I think we should be a little more forgiving of what is most likely nothing less than doing their best to help. Stefan has excellent English even though it is not his native language. I would ask for a little leeway here. There is no intention to mislead.

Regards