PDF, or the Portable Document Format is one of the most popular format
for document sharing. Its popularity is mainly because PDF files are
multi-platform (can be run on most devices without any change in
formatting), smaller in size, can be opened on most devices with free
software and are difficult to edit as they are "read only".
Despite PDF files being "read only" by default, there are certain tools
and software you can use to change the contents of a PDF file for free
without resorting to paid software like Adobe Acrobat.
Free Tools To Edit PDF files
Edit PDF Files Online
If you are looking for basic PDF editing (changing bits of text to hide
your personal information, filling a form etc.), you can try
PDFEscape
to edit PDF files right in your browser. It allows you to modify text,
images and add annotations with the help of custom shapes and arrows.
One of PDF Escape's great feature is its ability to password protect PDF
files. It also allows you to hide text with its white out tool (this is
different from deleting it). It even lets you edit password protected
PDF files and add hyperlinks to web addresses. To use PDF Escape, all
you need is a JavaScript enabled web browser.
2 step PDF Editing
This basically involves converting PDF files into another format and
then editing the converted PDF file. After editing, you can use a PDF
writer to reconvert the edited file back to PDF.
If your PDF file can be suitably edited as a Word document, you can use the converter from
BCL Research for instant conversion. Edit the converted file and then, you can use any free PDF writer like
PDF Creator to recreate a PDF file. If you have
Open Office, you can use its export as PDF feature to create a PDF file from almost any printable document.
Multivalent Browser: Multivalent browser
offers minimal PDF editing in the form of allowing to add annotations.
It also contains several command line tools which allow for merging and
compressing PDF files.
Edit Meta data of PDF files
Meta Data is the information that is associated with a PDF file. If you wish to change this information, you can use the free
PDFMetaEdit
to edit information like title, author name, bookmarks and other
creation data of a PDF document. PDFMetaEdit can also be used to remove
and add passwords (encrypt) to PDF files.
A-PDF Info Changer is also a similar product which allows you to change Author name, Title, Subject and Keywords of a PDF file.
Advanced PDF Editors (editing text, images etc.)
The
freeware tools mentioned above will be useful for most users with basic
PDF editing requirements. However, if you have advanced PDF editing
needs, the above tools will not be that useful. There are some advanced
PDF editing tools available that are as good as most paid products.
Inkscape:
Inkscape
is a vector graphics editor that allows you import and export PDF
files. You can use Inkscape to select text, image or any other object on
a PDF file and then change its position or even delete it. It also lets
you do free hand drawing on PDF files and add annotations. While
Inkscape does offer some really good features, its complex interface
makes it difficult for users to use it. Moreover, it only allows you to
edit only a single page at a time. You can, however, convert these to a
single PDF file using a PDF combiner.
PDFTools:
PDFTools
is a PDF management application that allows you to encrypt, decrypt
(remove password), join and split PDF files. Its Stamp feature allows
you to add text and images over a PDF file. You can stamp to the
location of your choice using the X and Y co-ordinates. It also includes
a PDF creator which allows you to create PDF files from any XML
document. It also allows you to re-arrange pages in a PDF file.
GIMP:
GIMP or
the GNU Image Manipulation Program can also be used as a PDF editor.
Just import any PDF file as an image or a layer, then edit it, and then
use its export function to get a PDF file. The only downside is that
like Inkscape, GIMP also allows you to edit only a single page at a
time. You can, however, easily combine these to get a single PDF file
using free software like the above mentioned
PDFTools.
PDF-XChange Viewer: The free version of
PDF-XChange viewer
can be used to type text directly on PDF files. This makes this
software a good PDF form filler. Its image stamp feature can be used to
insert images directly on any PDF document.
PDFEdit:
PDFEdit
is a full fledged PDF editor for Unix-Like operating systems. It's
downside is that it does not support editing protected or encrypted PDF
files. PDFEdit has a beta version for Windows, but it didn't work for
me.
Open Office Draw
The open source alternative to Microsoft Office can also be used as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat. All you need is the
PDF Import extension. Then you can use
Open Office Draw
to easily and quickly edit PDF files. With Open Office Draw's inline
editing features, you can edit any PDF document as easily as you can
edit a Word document. It also supports adding and replacing images,
changing font size and color, replacing default font-family, adding
annotations, charts, shapes, tables all through an easy to use
interface.
To load the PDF Import extension in Open Office, just open Extension
Manager from the Tools Menu, click on Add and then select the location
of the downloaded extension. For those of you who want a PDF Editor
without any initial setup,
LibreOffice,
an Office suite descended from Open Office, has this extension included
by default. If you don't mind the download size, Open Office Draw is
simply
the best free PDF editor available.
Credit to: http://www.tweakandtrick.com
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