PDF Authoring

Eomer · 09-23-2009, 02:42 PM

Pardon my extreme ignorance, but what are the options out there if you want to be able to modify PDF's and the like? Preferably free or fairly low cost, and I'm not looking for anything all that extensive, basically just to mark up drawings or site instructions in the construction industry.

Luthair · 09-23-2009, 07:19 PM

There is an import pdf extension for OpenOffice, might be worth starting there to see if it does the trick.

Aulirophile · 09-23-2009, 09:20 PM

Foxit editor. I believe it is shareware, the license is cheap either way.

Zeste · 09-23-2009, 09:21 PM

Do you have access to adobe illustrator? Do you want to actually change stuff on it, or just annotate it? And, this a one time thing or something you want to do often?

Alot of that can depend on how they exported the original file and what is embedded.

MrGraham · 09-24-2009, 12:28 PM

It's unlikely you're going to be able to do more with a PDF editor than you would print screening and opening it up in an image editor. PDFs sucks.

Zeste · 09-24-2009, 01:37 PM

PDF's can be placed into an illustrator file, and the outlined.

The text it's "highlightable and editable", but everything in there is now an object in illustrator.

Great for when you just need to do something to a PDF but there's no original to be found.

PM me if you want me to mess with any files, Eomer.

ToeMissile · 09-24-2009, 07:25 PM

Wouldn't it depend on the pdf? ie a pdf made from an image scan of a document will only have image info in the file as opposed to text/character info?

Zeste · 09-24-2009, 08:16 PM

Well, yeah if it's just a TIFF or JPG pasted into a PDF page, you can't really edit it, but you can still do whatever you want on top of it.

Acrobat Pro can annotate and draw boxes and lines and shit on top of any PDF, which would be the easiest way to do anything. Or just have me do it =D

ToeMissile · 09-25-2009, 05:05 PM

PDF-XChange & Tools seems like an option. Heard good things.

Tangurena · 09-26-2009, 09:48 PM

Scribus might also suit your needs.

Eomer · 09-27-2009, 09:12 PM

Thanks, been out of town and doing wedding shit for my bro, haven't had a chance to look in to this at all since I posted it. I'm looking for some pretty basic shit, since the idea is that my PM's can use the software without a huge amount of training/instruction. One of them didn't know where the tab key was on his keyboard the other day, if that puts things in perspective in terms of their computer knowledge.

09-23-2009, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eomer You mean I can change this? Neat! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,975 +66 Internets	PDF Authoring Pardon my extreme ignorance, but what are the options out there if you want to be able to modify PDF's and the like? Preferably free or fairly low cost, and I'm not looking for anything all that extensive, basically just to mark up drawings or site instructions in the construction industry.

09-23-2009, 09:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zeste Oooooooooooohhhh, yeeeeeeeeeesssssss Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,378 +69 Internets	Do you have access to adobe illustrator? Do you want to actually change stuff on it, or just annotate it? And, this a one time thing or something you want to do often? Alot of that can depend on how they exported the original file and what is embedded. __________________

09-24-2009, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
MrGraham The Next Orange Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,322 +11 Internets	It's unlikely you're going to be able to do more with a PDF editor than you would print screening and opening it up in an image editor. PDFs sucks. __________________ < HOOAC > - Gamehopping collective of ADD gamers.

09-24-2009, 01:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zeste Oooooooooooohhhh, yeeeeeeeeeesssssss Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,378 +69 Internets	PDF's can be placed into an illustrator file, and the outlined. The text it's "highlightable and editable", but everything in there is now an object in illustrator. Great for when you just need to do something to a PDF but there's no original to be found. PM me if you want me to mess with any files, Eomer. __________________

09-24-2009, 07:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
ToeMissile more than a feelin' Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: not Vegas Posts: 1,518 -34 Internets	Wouldn't it depend on the pdf? ie a pdf made from an image scan of a document will only have image info in the file as opposed to text/character info? __________________ Robots?

09-23-2009, 07:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Luthair Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,538	There is an import pdf extension for OpenOffice, might be worth starting there to see if it does the trick.

09-23-2009, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aulirophile Ultima Ratio Regum Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 1,866 +5 Internets	Foxit editor. I believe it is shareware, the license is cheap either way.

09-24-2009, 08:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zeste Oooooooooooohhhh, yeeeeeeeeeesssssss Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,378 +69 Internets	Well, yeah if it's just a TIFF or JPG pasted into a PDF page, you can't really edit it, but you can still do whatever you want on top of it. Acrobat Pro can annotate and draw boxes and lines and shit on top of any PDF, which would be the easiest way to do anything. Or just have me do it =D __________________

09-25-2009, 05:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
ToeMissile more than a feelin' Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: not Vegas Posts: 1,518 -34 Internets	PDF-XChange & Tools seems like an option. Heard good things. __________________ Robots?

09-26-2009, 09:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tangurena Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 96 +5 Internets	Scribus might also suit your needs.

09-27-2009, 09:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
Eomer You mean I can change this? Neat! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,975 +66 Internets	Thanks, been out of town and doing wedding shit for my bro, haven't had a chance to look in to this at all since I posted it. I'm looking for some pretty basic shit, since the idea is that my PM's can use the software without a huge amount of training/instruction. One of them didn't know where the tab key was on his keyboard the other day, if that puts things in perspective in terms of their computer knowledge.

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