Acrobat Pro X batch processing different in Win 7

Question

Greetings,
My company just completed moving everyone from Win XP to Win 7 (yes, I know, but better late than never). I regularily use Acrobat Pro X to batch process and password protect large numbers of a variety of documents (Word, Publisher, Excel and PowerPoint 2-up printouts.)
Under Windows XP the process was pretty straight forward:
1) Open Acrobat Pro
2) Secect "Batch Process" File -> Create -> Batch Create Multiple files... (a window appears).
3) Drag a large group of documents into the window (you can drag over 50 docs, it doesn't matter), then begin the process (which automatically walks through all the documents and PDFs them.)
4) When the process is complete, open up the Action Wizard File -> Action Wizard -> Select the appropriate action
5) A window appears, drag the PDFs into the window and go. All PDS quickly get the security applied.
Done
With Windows 7 the functionality is different (I really don't know if it is the operating system change or some type of policy change that I am unaware of). The process is far slower because I literally have to PDF and Apply Security to each document one at a time. The process goes like this:
Under Windows 7:
1) Select a group of documents, but NO MORE THAN 15.
2) Drag the documents over the "Acrobat Pro X" icon and launch them this way. Each document created a "temporary PDF". Multiple windows open up, stacked on top of each other.
3) Go to each window individually and first save the file (that way the file name is preserved), then go to the Action Wizard and apply the security. Then close the PDF.
4) Repeat this process for each open window (document).
5) Repeat as necessary until you have the several hundred documents processed.
Literally this is a "hands-on" process for each document. Is there a better way? Am I missing something in the Acrobat or Windows 7 settings?
If I try to batch process the old way under Windows 7 I get a series of error messages for each document. (I can't even get to the action wizard process.)
Any suggestions?
Is there a third party app that will work without having to administer it so much?
Thank you,
TPK

Answer 1

Hi Test Screen Name,
While reproducing the problem I realized I was in error as to how far in the sequence the problem occured. I actually do get as far as batch creating PDF,. The only difference there is that I can no longer "drag and drop" files in the batch create window. I have to use the "Add files..." command in the upper left of the batch create window.
So, the application batch creates the files. Afterward, I use the Action Wizard to batch "Password Protect" the files. It is during this command run that the error occures. (Note: I am trying to save over the old files by having them save to the same directory under the same name, just like I used to be able to do.) The error I get is:
Action Completed.
Saved to: \\HOME\path-to-original-files\
Warning/Errors
The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document in a different
Document: Name of document1.pdf
Output: Name of document1.pdf
The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document in a different
Document: Name of document2.pdf
Output: Name of document2.pdf
The error message loops through all the documents. I don't have the documents open or in use. By default they shouldn't be "read-only". This all did not occure when I previously used the application with Windows XP.
I have not yet tried saving them to a different directory. I will try that later today. (I didn't want to have a lot of versions of the same documents, it tends to be confusing.)
Thank you for your reply,
TPK