Assalamu Alaikum, how are you all? Hope you are well. As always, I have come up with a new post (tune) today.
You might have tried to edit a PDF (Portable Document File) at various times and, at the same time, been surprised that while editing a Word file is easy, editing a PDF file is not that simple. The main reason for this is that PDF is a format designed in such a way that it is not meant to be edited easily.
When Adobe first introduced PDF in 1992, the entire idea was that you would use the PDF on the screen exactly as you use physical files on paper. PDF was created as a virtual print-out, an on-screen equivalent of a hard copy. In short, it is like a printed copy that was not created for editing.
Naturally, sometimes we need to edit PDFs. Various productivity software offers this feature, but it is not as easy to edit as a Word document. Today, I will try to show you how you can easily edit a PDF file, but before that, let's find out why PDF editing is difficult and what challenges you will face.
Why PDF File Editing is So Difficult
The journey of PDF files began before people started using web browsers. Once a file is created, there is no scope to add a new word or line to it. Although many apps claim they can edit PDF files, in reality, they mainly don't edit; they place something on a separate layer above the PDF's content. However, those apps can also comment on any PDF. You cannot change any data in a PDF file with a regular PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader, but you can add Comments.
It is wrong to say that PDF cannot be edited with any app or software. With a true PDF editor, you can change, add, move, or delete the content inside the file if you wish. This is possible if you use a high-priced editor like Adobe Acrobat DC, but there are also some cheaper solutions like PDF-Xchange Editor (Windows) or PDFelement 6 (macOS or Windows) which are also good. Except for a few specific issues, the basic principle of the editor remains the same in all cases.
Editing PDF Files
Adobe Acrobat DC is the ultimate PDF editor. With a great interface, you can easily edit PDFs and images here. (The post then details how to use Adobe's Document Cloud for commenting and minor annotations).
How to Add Comments (Annotation Tools)
Sign in to Adobe Document Cloud.
Click Edit > Add Comments from the top navigation bar.
Select the file. Click Documents > Your Documents.
After selecting the file, you will see the Add Comment toolbar with Annotation Tools like:
Sticky Note
Highlight Text
Underline Text
Strikethrough Text
Add Text Comment
Drawing Tool
Sticky Note requires you to type the text in the right panel and click Post. Other annotations are added instantly.
Edits are saved every 10 seconds. Close the toolbar to save immediately.
Managing Comments - Edit, Undo, Redo, or Delete
To edit a comment, select it, click the three-dot menu on the right panel, and click Edit.
The Comment toolbar also provides Undo and Redo icons.
To delete a comment, select it, click the three-dot menu from the right, and click Delete.
You can also change the color, line thickness, and text size of any comment.
Sharing the PDF for Others' Comments
Click the Share button. You can share in two ways:
Anonymous or public link via email: Click the Link icon and then Create Link. Copy and share the link.
Personal Invitation: Enter the email address and click Send.
You can track shared files by going to Document > Shared By You.
Downloading the PDF
To download the latest PDF, click the three-dot menu and click Download This file.
Conclusion
Although editing PDF files is difficult, it is possible through Adobe. Adobe has dominated this field for a long time. Hopefully, through this post, you have learned why PDF editing is difficult and how to edit it.
So, that's it for today, stay well until the next post, Allah Hafez.