Ebook Project: Auto-Update Feature for PDF Files?

Hi Caroline,

what a great idea!! Never thought of that but it sure would be a clever thing to have.
Anybody out there who could do that?
I would jump on that piece of software right away.

Have a nice weekend
Regards
Kirsten

Hi Caroline,

Never say never, but even Aaron Wall got fed up with his PDF-based SEOBook. At least, that’s the impression I got from a recent email.

Rather than fret over this issue, just put a big ‘ol “CHECK FOR UPDATES” link at the bottom of every page.

Then, just use revision numbers on each updated edition.

There is another option, which is not as good – expire each edition.
http://www.adobe.com/security/pdfs/acrobat_security_wp.pdf

Cheers,

Mitch

I guess that’s one advantage of exchanging giveaways for an email address – you can let people know when there’s an updated version for download…….I know that’s not the solution you want – but it works!!!

Hi Caroline,

I do this for a medical records transfer application using PDF’s embedded in encrypted XML that’s distributed by a web service but that’s not a viable public solution since it requires an application other than Adobe on the users’ systems.

One way you could do it would be to setup an update page on your site and point to it from your PDF. The nice thing with that is it will make it easy for you to try out new affiliate offers on your update landing page.

Hi Caroline,

I noticed When we type in “auto-update pdf files” on google this post is showing as N°1 on the results page.

Anyway your post reminds me in my past job on 2004 when I wanted to mix online & offline content into the help file (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help, CHM file) so our customers can always have access to updated informations. The starting point of idea is here

So maybe you can release a CHM version of your ebook pointing to pages on your website.

By the way that’s definitively a niche for internet marketing if someone (maybe you Caroline) develop a plug in for adobe acrobat to auto-update PDF files trough internet. Adobe inc. will certainly pay millions for that, knowing also that ever ebook publisher will do it also.

So who wants to take the challenge :-)

I haven’t heard of an auto-updating PDF application, but the nice thing about an upgrade is that it gives you a good reason to email your list, and as Frank says, you also get the opportunity to get more eyeballs on your current offers. You can also throw in some additional bonuses, too – it can really help you develop a relationship with your list.

I don’t know of any auto updating PDFs but I bought an ebook from Tiffany Dow. She promises updates for the life of her e-book and dose email with updates and new downloads. It keeps me allowing her to email and keeps her services in my mind. this goes along with Belle’s comments above.

What about this Caroline…

You don’t have email addresses of the people who downloaded your eBook, but I would bet 50-75% of the people that downloaded your eBook are repeat visitors to your blog.

Could Design Farmer create a new nav bar that would include a small starburst graphic directly below (and connected to) your “My Books & Guides” link?

The starburst would mention that your eBook has been updated…that way visitors would know to click on the link to download the most recent version if they’re interested.

I guess you could do a blog post about the new version as well…but the starburst would be a constant reminder.

And then after an X amount of time, you could just swap back in your old nav bar without the starburst.

I don’t know how complicated this would be to do, but I bet it would work.

-Ryan

One thing you may want to check out for future ebooks and update options would be to use ebook.exe files that links to a browser, that way you update your publications on your host site and anyone who logs in gets instant access to the update regardless.

I have never used this software before but i have purchased a few ebooks in the past which have updated me instantly, of course they were not in Pdf format so this is just for consideration.

For e better exolanation you may like to check out this link.
(replace the **)

h**p://www.htmlexe.com/features.htm

Best of luck!
Daniel

Good idea, I wish there was an option like that to do to PDF files. Anyway some of your readers would be able to find one.

Gosh I have a lot of ideas to look into from these responses – thanks guys.

A new-version notifier software for PDF document is a great idea you got Caroline. And if somebody can come up with one such piece of tool, I am sure his is on his way to millionaire.

Caroline, you are programmer, I think you should give it a try!

Yes that feature could be really amazing and coudl change pdf ebook world! :)

@VaGnaka, if I knew how to get started then I would give it a go! It would probably we worth trying to get in tough with Adobe to see what they have to say about it…

Hi Caroline,

I was wondering if you have had any success on trying to auto-update a PDF yet?

I have been looking for some time also, but not as technically experienced as you are.

Thanks.
(You can email me direct if you wish)
Ted

@Ted, No I haven’t. I’m not likely to now as I’ve completed this project and have no plans to release any PDF files in the near future.