Safe (Free) PDF editing software

50Twuncle
50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
I am trying to find some free, alternative to Nitro Pro (PDF editing software)- after discovering that they no longer allow multiple installations (ie previously, I used the free 14 day trial - then undeleted the program - then reinstalled the trial) - that is no longer an option - so I am looking for an alternative, freeware ..
I can import PDF's to Word (using OpenOffice) - but not export Word to PDF
Any suggestions ?
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  • Figment
    Figment Posts: 2,643 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    21Twinkle wrote: »
    I am trying to find some free, alternative to Nitro Pro (PDF editing software)- after discovering that they no longer allow multiple installations (ie previously, I used the free 14 day trial - then undeleted the program - then reinstalled the trial) - that is no longer an option - so I am looking for an alternative, freeware ..
    I can import PDF's to Word (using OpenOffice) - but not export Word to PDF
    Any suggestions ?

    Is the editing of PDF's or saving to PDF the issue?

    If the latter, try CutePDF Writer. It installs as a printer and 'prints' (saves as) PDF files
    How do I add a signature?
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Figment wrote: »
    Is the editing of PDF's or saving to PDF the issue?

    If the latter, try CutePDF Writer. It installs as a printer and 'prints' (saves as) PDF files

    Mainly the former - I am trying to edit some docs - saved as PDF's
    I can save them as PDF's using OpenOffice but need to convert then back to Word to edit them ...
  • paddyrg
    paddyrg Posts: 13,543 Forumite
    Just a bit of background for you - PDF was created as a shrinkwrap delivery format, to deliberately be a PITA to edit. This is why it is a big fight for you!
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 7 April 2013 at 2:35PM
    paddyrg wrote: »
    Just a bit of background for you - PDF was created as a shrinkwrap delivery format, to deliberately be a PITA to edit. This is why it is a big fight for you!

    Nitro Pro did it with ease - but I can't afford the cost of a full licence - hence the question !!
    AND - I have got it the wrong way round - OOOPs !!
    I can export from DOC to PDF
    NOT import PDF to DOC !!
  • dogmaryxx
    dogmaryxx Posts: 2,446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Go to PDF Online, www.pdfonline.com/pdf2word/index.asp, where you can convert a PDF document to Word and immediately download it. Click “Browse” to select your PDF file, then click “Upload and Convert.” Wait while the file converts, then right-click the displayed link to download the Word file. Open the downloaded file in Word.

    http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6793600_import-pdf-file-microsoft-word_.html
  • Toxteth_OGrady
    Toxteth_OGrady Posts: 3,958 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    PDF Escape
    604!
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 7 April 2013 at 3:14PM
    dogmaryxx wrote: »
    Go to PDF Online, www.pdfonline.com/pdf2word/index.asp, where you can convert a PDF document to Word and immediately download it. Click “Browse” to select your PDF file, then click “Upload and Convert.” Wait while the file converts, then right-click the displayed link to download the Word file. Open the downloaded file in Word.

    http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6793600_import-pdf-file-microsoft-word_.html

    The problem with PDFONLINE is that the output is a Rich Text not a DOC - and doesn't format properly for grids/boxes etc....
    Plus occassionally - I have some "personal" docs to deal with - that I would prefer to stay "local" - rather than go out of my control on a website - GOD KNOWS WHERE !!
  • spenderdave
    spenderdave Posts: 702 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    LibreOffice (not OpenOffice) can edit pdf's in its Draw package then exported as a pdf. Maybe not do the same as Nitro but worth looking at.
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    LibreOffice (not OpenOffice) can edit pdf's in its Draw package then exported as a pdf. Maybe not do the same as Nitro but worth looking at.

    OpenOffice and LibreOffice are one and the same - both WRITER packages can export docs as PDF's - neither can import them though.......
  • fenlander_uk
    fenlander_uk Posts: 631 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 8 April 2013 at 11:37AM
    There are many ways of getting editable text out of a pdf, but editing the file directly while preserving the original formatting usually costs money. Free pdf readers like Foxit often have an editing function available, but only in a premium (paid) version.

    Also, bear in mind that a pdf made by scanning a document will be a very different prospect from one saved in pdf format from a word processor or via a pdf driver like CutePDF.

    PDF-Xchange viewer can be very useful for scanned documents. It has an OCR function that overlays a text layer on top of the scanned (graphic) layer underneath. The text can then be selected and copied via the clipboard. Formatting is not preserved, of course.
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