Read Out Loud

This tip is provided by Diane Ebersole with the State Bar of Michigan.

Adobe Acrobat Standard will read PDF files to you! This feature is called Read Out Loud and it is easy to use. Using the feature is a two step process. First the feature is activated; next you command it to read.

To use the feature, open a PDF:

1. Click on View > Activate Read Out Loud.

2. Click on View > Read Out Loud > Read This Page Only or Read To End of Document.

The Read feature will remain activated until you close Acrobat. If you have voices installed (SAPI 4 or SAPI 5) you can choose your voice. If not, the voice will be the rather mundane Microsoft voice.

The following keystrokes will also control the Read Out Loud feature.

Activate Read Out Loud Shift + Control + Y

Read This Page Only Shift + Control + V

Read to End of Document Shift + Control + B

Pause Shift + Control + C

Resume Shift + Control + C

Stop Shift + Control + E

This Adobe link http://tinyurl.com/lg7v2z provides additional information and instructions to change the default settings for Read Out Loud.

The voice is not stimulating, and the listening comprehension process requires some extra level of concentration. Even so, listening to a PDF document while driving is far superior to trying to read one!