Since its launch, the PDF format has been notoriously difficult to edit for average users. Part of the appeal of this format is being able to send a document that can be viewed as a photo on all devices, with the formatting and text being the same for all.
Modifying or recreating a PDF can, however, be useful at times, for example if you no longer have the original document.
There are many websites that allow you to edit PDFs online or through a software download. Some claim to offer this service for free, others for a subscription. But there are other ways to modify a PDF, without having to go through potentially dangerous sites. Microsoft Word and Adobe tools are two safe ways to perform this manipulation.
With Microsoft Word
The easiest way to turn a PDF into an editable document is to open it in Word. Since the software is very popular, in addition to being included in the Microsoft 365 subscription, it is probably the most practical option for many people.
Step 1: Open Word
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Step 2: Click Open
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Click on Openeither from the Word home screen or by going to the menu File.
Step 3: Select the PDF
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Choose the PDF you want to edit.
Step 4: Edit your PDF
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Once you select the PDF to open in Word, it will be editable like a regular Word document. Some formatting may be lost during conversion, so be prepared to do some reformatting.
Note that this same process also works on Google Docs.
Once you are done editing your document, you can save it as a Word or PDF file, just like with any other document.
With Adobe tools
You can also edit a PDF on Adobe.com using the company’s online tools. The creation of an Adobe account is however necessary. This is an interesting option that you can use for free up to twice a month. If you want to use it more frequently, you will need to purchase a subscription.
Step 1: Go to Adobe.com.
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Step 2: Click PDF and electronic signatures and on See all online tools.
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Step 3: Select All tools.
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Once you have reached the page dedicated to online tools, you can click on All tools. You’ll find a plethora of tools to edit PDFs online, add text and comments, rearrange pages, delete pages, rotate them, or split documents.
Step 4: Download and edit your PDF
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With the free option, however, editing a PDF on Adobe.com is limited to annotations and comments as well as highlighting or filling out forms. This last option is very useful for digitally filling out forms that come in the form of non-editable PDFs.
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As with all of Adobe’s free online tools, you’re limited to two PDF edits per month. A subscription will allow you to modify the text on the PDF itself, as it is possible to do with Word or Google Sheets.
FAQs
Can we edit the text of a PDF?
Yes. When you open a PDF through Word or Google Docs, it turns into a regular document where you can edit the text. So if you need to make corrections, add a paragraph or change the formatting, you can do it with these word processors.
Can you open a PDF in Pages?
Unfortunately, Pages does not currently support opening PDFs.
Can a PDF be made editable?
Adobe Acrobat allows subscribers to edit PDFs and offers many other options and features not available to non-subscribers. The subscription to access these features costs $12.99 per month.
Source: “ZDNet.com”