How to Edit in PDF Format

Editing software specifically designed for PDF files is available online.

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It is a digital file format created in the early 1990s by Adobe. PDF files are usually much smaller than the formats from which they are converted. Its original purpose was to be a view-only format. Adobe distributed and still distributes a free Acrobat Reader to view the documents. However, in the years since this file format was established, various software applications have been developed that allow the editing of PDF documents without the need for the original files.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• PDF editor
• Internet connection
• PDF file

1. Choose PDF editor software. Some PDF editors, such as NitroPDF and PDF Escape, are free, while others such as Adobe Acrobat are not. The editing software you choose will depend upon your budget and the extent of the editing you wish to perform on the file. Research the editing software packages carefully with your needs in mind.

2. Boot your computer and open the PDF editing software interface. Some editors are online. If you need an Internet connection for this, ensure you have one.

3. Open the PDF file you want to edit. In Nitro PDF, click on the open folder icon in the top left corner which opens a search box so you can find your file. For the online application PDF Escape, click on Upload PDF to PDF Escape, which brings up a dialog box for the file name to upload. Click on the Browse button to search your computer for the file you wish. You can also search for files on the Internet or upload a previously edited PDF.

4. Use the editing tools in the software to make changes to your file. In Nitro PDF, click on the Insert and Edit tab. To insert text, click the Text group, and then Insert. Then click on the document where you want to insert text. To edit existing text, click on Tools, Copy Text, and Edit Text & Images. Double-click on the text you wish to make changes to. In PDF Express, click on the Insert tab at the left of the screen, click on the Text button below it, click on the document where you want to insert text, and begin typing. Keep in mind that you cannot edit the text already in the document. You can only add text boxes. You can use the Whiteout button to draw white masks over text you wish to hide.

5. Save the changes to your file when you are finished. In Nitro PDF, click on the button at the top left of the screen and choose Save. In PDF Express, click on the disk icon on the left side of the screen to save your file. When you are satisfied the file has been saved, close the PDF editing software.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always best to edit the original files in the original format if possible and then convert them to new PDF files after the edits are made. If this is not possible, then use a PDF editor.

• Nitro PDF editor offers a free trial version that you can download and install on your computer to edit PDF files.

• PDF Escape is a PDF editor that you can use online without having to download anything. You can open files from your computer or from the Internet with this editor.

• If you want to perform more sophisticated tasks than text editing, such as manipulating images or inserting pages, you must make sure the PDF editor is capable of these tasks.

• Save the modified PDF file under a different name so you will always have the original as well as the edited files.

• If an online editing application asks for your email address to send you the edited file, be aware that you will probably receive spam because of this.

References

• Digital Inspiration: How to Edit PDF Files Without Adobe Acrobat
• Prepressure: How to Edit PDF Files

Resources

• NitroPDF
• PDF Escape