On this page: System Requirements | Downloading and Installing | Activating by Email | Using CommonLook PDF | Help with Installation Issues | Training | Legal Notices

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Please note:  You will find the download link for the software in installation Step Number 2, below.

System Requirements

IMPORTANT: Before installing CommonLook® PDF, please ensure that the workstation meets the following minimal requirements.

  • Windows 8 or higher
  • Adobe Acrobat: Standard or Professional (Pro is Recommended), Acrobat 2018 or higher
    Note: Adobe Acrobat, Standard or Professional is required.  CL PDF will not work in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader because the free PDF reader does not allow for editing PDFs as is required during remediation.
    Critical Note:  CommonLook PDF will run in Adobe Acrobat Standard.  However, CommonLook PDF will not run on PDFs that are untagged and the only way to add tags to an otherwise untagged PDF is with Adobe Acrobat Professional.

Downloading and Installing

Please note: the screenshots below show the installation steps using the 64 bit version of CommonLook PDF.  The installation will be exactly the same for the 32 bit version except that the dialog boxes will not show “(64 bit).”

  1. Uninstall the previous version:
    Note 1:  If you have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Acrobat on your machine, you must decide which bit version to keep and completely remove the other one.  Unfortunately, Acrobat does not make this easy and you may need to get help from your IT department to completely remove it.
    Note 2: If you are manually installing the software, you must ensure that the previous version is uninstalled. If you are updating using the auto-update functionality of the newer versions of the software, you can skip this step.
  2. Download CommonLook PDF
  3. Open and run the CommonLookPDF.exe executable.
  4. Select “Install.”
    The "Install" button is highlighted on the CommonLook PDF installation splash screen.
  5. Allow Changes?  Select Yes.
    Screenshot of User Account Controls in Windows, asking if you want to allow CommonLook PDF to make changes to your device. The "Yes" button is highlighted.
  6. Welcome to the Setup Wizard.  Choose “Next.”
    The CommonLook PDF Setup Wizard with the Next button highlighted.
  7. Read the licensing agreement.
    The CommonLook PDF Setup screen with the instructions to read the licensing agreement carefully before downloading or using the software.
  8. Agree to the terms and conditions by selecting the checkbox.
    Screenshot showing the checkbox checked indicating agreement with the licensing terms and conditions.
  9. After agreeing to the terms, select “Next.”
    The Next button is highlighted in the CommonLook PDF License Agreement dialog box.
  10. Select the “Register Now” button.
    The Register Now button is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog box.
  11. Choose the Single licensing model.  (The “concurrent” licensing model is no longer offered.)
    In the Register CommonLook PDF dialog, the Single Licensing Model radio button is highlighted.
  12. Enter your Product Key (the 10-digit number included in your Welcome email).
    The Product Key field is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog.
  13. Choose Internet (Recommended) or Email.
    Note 1:  If you’ve already had CommonLook PDF, unless you had to completely uninstall the software, including “Settings” files, etc., you’ll be able  to choose “Internet” and continue.  IF you had to completely uninstall, including system folders, then you may, depending on your organization’s requirements, need to choose email activation and follow those steps.
    In the Register CommonLook PDF dialog, the recommended option, to get the Activation Key through the Internet, is highlighted.
    OR
    In the Register CommonLook PDF dialog, the option to get the Activation Key by email is highlighted.
    Note: If registering by email for the first time, refer to the Activation by email instructions below.
  14. Select “Register.”
    Note:  If you try to activate through the Internet and get an error message stating “Failed to connect to the NetCentric server,” try the activation again following the steps for Email Activation.
    The Register button is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog box.
  15. On the “Register CommonLook PDF” screen, choose “Next.”
    The Next button is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog box.
  16. On the “Ready to install” screen, select “Install.”
    The Ready to Install CommonLook PDF screen with the Install button highlighted.
  17. On the Completed screen, select “Finish.”
    The CommonLook PDF Setup Wizard's Completed screen with the Finish button highlighted.

After installation is complete:

After installation, please open CommonLook PDF to ensure it has installed properly.

  1. Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Professional – not Acrobat Reader).
  2. Navigate to the Plugins tab and expand it.
  3. Select CommonLook.
  4. Select CommonLook PDF.

If CommonLook PDF opens then your software is installed properly and you are ready to begin making your documents accessible!  If CommonLook PDF does not open, please refer to additional help below.

Getting the Activation Code by Email (after Step 13, above)

  • After inputting the Product Key (Step 12, above), use the button to copy the Information Number (Important:  Please do not take a screenshot. Copy the text!)
    The Copy button, next to the Information number field, is highlighted. Use this copy button to copy the information number.
  • Send the Information number to support@allyant.com
  • Enter the Activation Code provided by Allyant and press the Tab key on your keyboard  to move the cursor to the “Register” button.
    The Activation Code field is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog. When registering by email, copy the Activation Code that Allyant emails to you and paste it in this Activation Code field.
  • Select the Register button.
    The Register button is highlighted in the Register CommonLook PDF dialog box, after entering the Information and Activation Code numbers.
  • Return to Step 14, above.

Using CommonLook PDF

Once CommonLook PDF has been installed and registered, you’re ready to begin using it!

TIP:  To get started, you may find the “Quick Start Guide” particularly helpful.  Please navigate to our Knowledge Base and create your (FREE!) account, or login, to use the CommonLook PDF Quick Start Guide.

Open a tagged PDF in Adobe Acrobat and, in the toolbar at the top, select “Plug-Ins.”  In the menu that opens, navigate to “CommonLook” and then choose “CommonLook PDF.”

The Plug-ins menu in Adobe Acrobat expanded to show the option for CommonLook and CommonLook PDF.

If the PDF is not tagged, an error message, like the one pictured below, will appear, stating that the document is untagged and that you should add tags in Acrobat before opening CommonLook.

The error message from CommonLook stating that the document is untagged and asking you to add tags in Acrobat before using CommonLook.

Help with Installation and Registration

If you encounter any issues during installation/registration, please email support@allyant.com . Try to include as many details as possible (screenshots are also very helpful) and our support team will assist you promptly.

Training

For information regarding formal training in using CommonLook PDF, please visit our Training page.  In addition, check out our Knowledge Base and speak with your Account Executive about gaining access to our online, self-paced training modules.

Legal Notices

Trademarks

All trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Warnings and Disclaimers

Every effort has been made to make this document as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an “as is” basis. NetCentric Technologies Inc. (d.b.a. CommonLook) shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this document.