Adding text to a PDF file

Ally

Hi

I would really appreciate help with adding text to a pdf file. I've done a search and installed a few of the progams mentioned on here but still can't add the soddin text, and if I do manage to add it, it prints with a water mark. I've managed to edit and and text with onenote but when I print, it comes up much smaller than the pdf file despite fiddling with the page set-up etc etc

When I checked the pdf file properties it says there are no security setting. Does that mean it can add text with the right program? I tried using word too, but it doesn't copy all the boxes/boarder.

Any help appreciated ... TIA

allie_online

Ally wrote: »

Hi

I would really appreciate help with adding text to a pdf file. I've done a search and installed a few of the progams mentioned on here but still can't add the soddin text, and if I do manage to add it, it prints with a water mark. I've managed to edit and and text with onenote but when I print, it comes up much smaller than the pdf file despite fiddling with the page set-up etc etc

When I checked the pdf file properties it says there are no security setting. Does that mean it can add text with the right program? I tried using word too, but it doesn't copy all the boxes/boarder.

Any help appreciated ... TIA

It depends on what end result you are looking for.
If you want to edit the pdf so that it doesn't look like it's been edited (matching font style & height etc editing the pdf directly is very tiresome (i guess you know this already.

Try a pdf to text converter instead. You convert to text edit in Word or other text editor formatting as you like and then convert it back to pdf. If you have pdf writing software you can just print the word document to pdf.

If the pdf contains URL's they won't be preserved but most pdf editors can do this and much less fiddly than the editing of text.

I know this sounds like a lot of extra work but in my experience saves way more time in the long run.

isofa

If you have Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional (neither are free like Adobe Reader) then you can edit PDF files - as long as they aren't encrypted and have been correctly produced with all the fonts.

If you use Adobe Illustrator, you can open a PDF directly (it's just a subset format of an EPS file) and run edits there.

There are several cheaper packages, such as CutePDF Professional (not the same as just the free CutePDF which creates PDFs), which enables you to edit the files.

The final way is to get the original file from which the PDF was produced from, e.g. the Word, or Excel, or InDesign file, (or whatever), and providing you have the application that was used to create the file, edit the master and recreate the PDF from there.

Editing PDFs is usually just to fix basic errors and change markups, the best method is to edit the original file and recreate the PDF as listed above.

Ally

Thanks guys. I don't have the original (it's a job application) and I would prefer for the added text to be in a different size/ font so it stands out. I've done it previously by scanning the pdf and saving as an image and then adding text boxes without the boarder .... I no longer have the patience to do that

Will have a look into the Acrobat thingy


Edit: Forgot to ask ... any recommendations for good pdf to text converters?

isofa

If it's a application form, and the creator has set it up correctly with forms and local-save enabled, you should be able to add text to the form fields to print it out or re-save as a completed application using the latest version of the free Adobe Reader. If they haven't set it up correctly (or don't wish you to do this), then you won't be able to! Have a look at the FAQ on the Adobe website.

Many job applications are keen to see your handwriting so don't set these functions up...

Ally

Hi guys, I just wanted to say thanks for your help. I managed to solve the problem with Adobe Acrobat