The Preflight functionality in Acrobat Pro can be found using the "Tools" sidebar for example or with the shortcut "CMD, Shift + X" (in MacOS) or "CTRL, Shift + X" (using Windows).

The Profile window lists a number of Profiles, Checks and Fixups. Also a separate "Standards" area gives easy access for conversion of PDF files into PDF-based ISO standards.

When a PDF is open, a fix or an analysis can be executed on that file.

Using Profiles, which only contain checks and/or validation of standards (and with Checks within the respective group), only the "Analyze" button is active. When a Profile contains Fixups and conversions into a PDF standard (and for single Fixups of course), "Analyze and fix" can be used.

After processing, the result is shown and can be reviewed.
A click on the "Profiles" tab within this window allows further processing or analysis.

Using the pdfToolbox installer, a Desktop version and a Plug-In for Acrobat Pro can be installed (the latter of of course only if Acrobat Pro is installed on the respective system).

pdfToolbox can be found using the "Plug-Ins" menu or within the "Tools" sidebar.

A click on the "pdfToolbox Profiles" entry opens a window with a number of predefined Profiles, Checks and Fixups (as well as ProcessPlans).

You will notice that the Preflight Profile window looks quite similar to the one of pdfToolbox.
The reason for this is quite simple: Adobe uses technology from callas software for the Preflight functionality in Acrobat Pro.

There are several functions available in pdfToolbox (Plug-In and Standalone) only, which are not part of Acrobat Preflight:

• ProcessPlans
• Custom reports (based on HTML-Template)
• Quick Checks
• Quick Fixes
• Actions
  
  
• Several Fixups like:
• Place text
• Place barcode
• Place page number
• Place content (based on HTML-Template)
• Convert colors to n-channel

In general, pdfToolbox has a more frequent update interval than Acrobat Preflight.
Therefore new features, adjustments and fixes are earlier available in callas software products.

You can use Acrobat Preflight and callas pdfToolbox Plug-In in parallel.

Using the pdfToolbox Plug-In allows to use pdfToolbox-only features like placing custom content using a Fixup.

For example placing a text, a barcode, numbering pages or a custom content (using a HTML template) as additional content into the PDF.

When upgrading Adobe Acrobat on Windows (for example to go from version 9 to Acrobat X), Adobe Acrobat is completely reinstalled and the old version of the software is removed by the Adobe installer. To ensure pdfToolbox remains working, follow the following steps:

• Your preferences should not be affected by this upgrade. But it is always wise to have a backup of your preferences before doing big changes, so head on over to the callas preferences folder and make a backup.
• Make sure you have the pdfToolbox installer handy. If necessary you can download it from the callas download page.
• Run the Adobe Acrobat installer to upgrade your Acrobat installation.
• When Adobe Acrobat is installed and properly working, run the callas pdfToolbox installer to reinstall the pdfToolbox plugin in your new version of Adobe Acrobat.