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Tech Stuff - I'm Dense...

by Steve The Copywriter
11 replies
I know I should be asking this in the tech forum - but I always feel happier here (and if I went elsewhere I might never find my way back).

So a tech question.

I have a client who wants to convert a word doc to a Pdf (I actually know how to do this).

But...

She then wants to be able to type on the PDF (in other words it can't be a "read only" one).

Then she wants to be able to type a bit - save it - and come back to it.

So what software does she need to do this?

I'm guessing it'll be some kind of Abobe - but which one?

Thanks so much.


Steve
#dense #stuff #tech
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    Diana Heuser can help you with all of your technical questions Steve...

    View Profile: DianaHeuser

    Warmest regards,


    Mark Andrews
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew Gould
    I'd advise your client that's not what she wants to do.

    I'd use PDF as the finished format, but keep the file as something that's easier to work with while it's being edited.

    That said, Adobe Acrobat is the "official" PDF editing software:

    create PDF, edit PDF | Adobe Acrobat

    And here's a cheaper alternative that I use when there's no option other than editing the PDF directly :

    Nitro | Create, Convert & Edit PDF Files
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    Andrew Gould

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    • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
      Thanks chaps - I do appreciate the advice.

      The client is determined to use PDF's (I won't try and explain because it'll bore us senseless).

      Can you confirm that Adobe Acrobat will let you -

      Turn a word doc into a PDF

      Let you type on the PDF

      And let you save what you have typed


      Sorry to have to ask but the Adobe site went rambling on about "sharing files" and all sorts of techie jargon.

      And as Acrobat is not shy on the price - if I recommend it to the client and it doesn't do all the above.

      She'll have a blue fit and insist that I write her copy for ever and pay her for the joy of doing it.


      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew Gould
    Can you confirm that Adobe Acrobat will let you -
    The easy, and risk free, way to find out is to tell her to download the trial to see if it does everything she wants and if she can get on with it:

    https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/i...bat_pro&loc=en
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    Andrew Gould

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  • Profile picture of the author MRMagMark
    Originally Posted by Steve The Copywriter View Post

    I know I should be asking this in the tech forum - but I always feel happier here (and if I went elsewhere I might never find my way back).

    So a tech question.

    I have a client who wants to convert a word doc to a Pdf (I actually know how to do this).

    But...

    She then wants to be able to type on the PDF (in other words it can't be a "read only" one).

    Then she wants to be able to type a bit - save it - and come back to it.

    So what software does she need to do this?

    I'm guessing it'll be some kind of Abobe - but which one?

    Thanks so much.


    Steve
    Steve, you're right that it would require a special program that could edit a PDF (and not just read it, which is what Adobe Reader does). The Adobe product is Adobe Acrobat X Pro. It runs at $385.99 on Amazon at the moment.

    However, please pass this on to your client (and for anyone here who wants the same capability):

    Get Serif Software's PagePlus (Desktop Publishing Software PagePlus X6 from Serif). Their latest version is PagePlus X6. It is a phenomenal program and MUCH less expensive than Adobe products. However, it is compatible with Adobe files and has a whole slew of functions and templates, plus some great stock photos. Street price? $99.

    But here's the great part: If you go to the website www.freeserifsoftware.com and download a free version of PagePlus (Which you can use forever, by the way. No trial that will auto-remove it at the end of 30 days.), you can then head over to Serif.com and purchase the latest version for the upgrade price, which usually falls around $60.

    I've been using Serif's products for years and not only can I make gorgeous PDFs, but I'm able to go into other PDF's through the program and edit the document. They're getting better with retaining text and original formatting, but believe me -- I'm very pleased with it for such a reasonable price.

    Good luck to you both.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Hill
    PDFs are a pain to edit beyond editing a word or two - they are really meant as a destination format, and not as a working format.

    As Andrew said, the client can download a trail version and see. I'm guessing she will change her mind pretty quickly.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
      Once again thank you everyone.

      I'll have a bash at the trial and the others that were mentioned and see what happens.

      If it doesn't do what she wants at least my life won't be an absolute misery for the next 27 years plus.

      Assuming I live that long - with her creating about the full cost.


      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
    Hi Steve,

    Mark alerted me to the fact that you needed some help. The only way to write on an existing pdf is to use PDF writer, create PDF | Adobe Acrobat X Standard or try the suggestion that MrMagMark gave.

    Di
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce Wedding
    Is she creating a "form" to fill in the blanks? If so, you can easily to that with Acrobat in PDF form.

    As others have said, Acrobat ain't no word processor and wasn't ever intended to be used as such.
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  • Profile picture of the author erin.banister
    It sounds like your client wants to have a PDF form - a structure of a doc that she just has to go and fill in at her convenience. If this is the case, then you really do need the Acrobat X Pro in order to achieve this. However, if you can ease her away from using a PDF to store the form data, you can do the same thing in google docs, for free.

    Best,
    Erin
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