How to compile a PDF

You have to fill out a form in PDF format but, instead of printing it and entering the required data in pen, would you like to do everything directly from your computer, smartphone or tablet? It is possible and, I’ll tell you more, it is also very simple. To deepen the subject, take a few minutes of free time just for you and concentrate on reading this guide of mine dedicated specifically to the thing.

In the following lines, in fact, you will find explained in a simple but at the same time detailed way how to compile a PDF. You already anticipate that to succeed in the enterprise you need a PDF file viewer equipped with functions for editing the documents in question or tools for editing. Anyway, nothing particularly complex to use or that is out of your reach, do not worry.

Then? May I know what are you still standing there? Position yourself comfortably and immediately start focusing on the following. I am sure that, in the end, you will be able to tell yourself very happy and satisfied with what you have learned, as well as, of course, that you have finally succeeded in your intent without unnecessary headaches and waste of time. What do you say, we bet?

Index

  • How to compile a PDF with PC and Mac
    • LibreOffice (Windows / macOS / Linux)
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Windows / macOS)
    • Preview (macOS)
  • How to fill out a PDF online
    • DocHub
  • How to compile a PDF with Android, iPhone and iPad
    • Xodo PDF (Android / iOS)
    • PDF Editor (iOS)

How to compile a PDF with PC and Mac

Are you interested in understanding how to compile a PDF acting as a computer? Then use the programs listed below: There are both for Windows and for macOS and Linux and they are all quite simple to use.

LibreOffice (Windows / macOS / Linux)

The first of the tools for compiling PDFs that I invite you to consider is LibreOffice. Haven’t you ever heard of it? Strange, it is very famous. In any case, there is no problem, let’s fix it immediately. Yes, it is a famous free productivity suite, open source and considered by many to be the best free alternative to Microsoft’s Office package. It allows you to perform practically all the operations that can be performed with the latter and, in addition, it also offers many useful functions for editing PDFs, which is why I chose to tell you about it in this tutorial of mine.

To download it to your computer, go to the program website and click on the  Download version xxx button .

Once the download is complete, if you are using Windows, start the .msi file obtained and, in the window that is shown on the desktop, click on the Run button. Then, click on the Next button, select the Typical option, click on the NextInstall and Yes buttons and finish the setup by clicking on the Finish button.

If, on the other hand, you are using macOS, open the .dmg package obtained, drag the LibreOffice icon into the Applications folder on your computer, right-click on it and select the Open item from the menu that is shown to you. Then press the Open button in response to the warning displayed on the desktop, in order to start LibreOffice going to circumvent the limitations imposed by Apple on applications from non-certified developers (operation that must be carried out only at the first start).

At this point, again if you are using macOS, go back to the LibreOffice website and click on the Translated user interface button, to get the Italian translation of the suite (chevsu Windows is already included). Once the download is complete, close LibreOffice (by pressing the combination of keys cmd + q on the keyboard), open the .dmg package obtained, right-click on the LibreOffice Language Pack executable inside it, select the Open item from the menu that appears and press on the Open and Install buttons.

Afterwards, select the entry / Applications / LibreOffice.app from the window that appears and press the Install button. If you are shown a warning about permissions, click the Yes button, identify me, type the password of your user account on macOS and click the OK button twice in a row.

At this point, start LibreOffice by selecting the link added to the Start menu (on Windows) or by selecting its icon in the Launchpad (on macOS), then click on the Open file button located at the top left and select the PDF document saved on your computer you want to fill out. Yes will then start the LibreOffice editor to edit PDF documents ( Draw ).

Now, to fill in the various parts of your PDF, all you have to do is select the Insert Text Box tool (the icon with the “A” in the text box ) from the toolbar at the top and create a selection at the point of the document in which you want to add text, then start writing. If you want, you can also change the size and type of font using the appropriate menus on the right side.

If the PDF contains text that can be freely modified by the user, you can also select the latter with the mouse and write what you want or modify and/or delete the existing text. If, on the other hand, you are dealing with a PDF with menus and radio buttons, to be able to compile it you only have to select the correct information (there is no need even to resort to the tool for editing the text).

Once the changes are complete, save your compiled PDF by clicking on the File menu, located at the top left, and selecting the Export to PDF from the latter item. In the window that opens, click on the Export button, select the location on your PC where you want to save the file, type the name you want to assign it and click on the Save button to complete the operation.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Windows / macOS)

Another tool you have on your side to compile files in PDF format is Acrobat Reader DC: it is a program made available by the famous software house Adobe, free, easy to use and usable on both Windows and macOS. Allows you to view PDFs and edit them easily. By subscribing to the Pro version (with costs starting from 18.29 euros/month, after a free 7-day trial) it is also possible to unlock some additional functions, such as the ability to change the text already entered in the documents.

To download it to your computer, go to the program’s website and click on the Install Now / Download button.

When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, start the .exe file obtained and click on the Yes button in the window that opens on the desktop. Then wait for all the components necessary for the software to work to be downloaded and click on the Finish button.

If, on the other hand, you are using macOS, open the .dmg package obtained, start the .pkg file inside it and, in the window you see appear on the desktop, click on the Continue button (twice in a row). Then press the Install button, enter the Mac administration password and finish the setup by clicking on the Install softwareClose and Move buttons. Afterwards, start the program by clicking on its icon that has been added to the Launchpad.

Now that, regardless of the operating system in use, you see the software window on the screen, click on the File menu at the top left, then on the Open item and select the PDF you are interested in acting on.

Once the document is open, to add text, select the Fill and sign item located in the menu on the right, click where you want to write and type your text as well. Using the menu you see appear on screen, you can also change the font size.

And if you are working on a PDF with menus and radio buttons, to compile the document, all you have to do is select the correct information from those available, without even having to call up the tool to enter text.

Once the changes are complete, click on the floppy disk icon (on the toolbar, at the top), indicate the location on your computer where you want to save the file, type the name you want to assign it and click the Save button, to save the completed document.

Preview (macOS)

Do you own a Mac? If so, I’m happy to let you know that if you want, you can avoid using third-party tools to compile your PDFs. In fact, you can rely on Preview: the application already included in all Apple-branded computers, thanks to which it is possible to view and edit both images and PDFs.

To use it, just double-click on the PDF of your interest, in order to open it directly in Preview: if this does not happen, because Preview is no longer set as the default software for PDF files, right-click on the document of your interest, choose the Open with item from the menu that appears and then the Preview one .

Now, click on the button with the pencil located in the toolbar, at the top, select the Text tool (the icon with the “T” inside the square ), move the text input box just pop up on the screen at the point of the PDF to be filled in and start writing. If you want to change the font size, formatting, alignment and font, click on the letter “A” icon, located in the toolbar, and select the options you prefer from the menu that appears.

If what you are working on is a PDF with menus and radio buttons, to fill in the document, all you have to do is select the correct information from those available, without even having to call up the tool to enter text.

Once the changes are complete, simply close the document by clicking on the  “x” located at the top left (the red dot) and all changes will be automatically saved to the current file. If you prefer to create a new file with the changes made without touching the original, after clicking on the File menu (top left) select the Export item from the latter, indicate the name and position you want to assign to the document and press the Export button.

How to fill out a PDF online

Don’t want, or can’t, download new programs to your computer? So would you like to know how to fill out a PDF online? Well, then continue reading: below, you will find those that, in my humble opinion, represent the most interesting services in the category.

DocHub

The first of the web services for compiling PDFs that I recommend you consider is DocHub, which allows you to make virtually any kind of modification to various types of documents, including PDFs. It’s easy to use, works from any browser, and it’s free. Eventually, however, it is also available in a paid version ($ 4.99 / month) that allows you to unlock some extra features, such as the ability to send faxes. As far as the privacy of users is concerned, the service does not declare how the uploaded data are treated.

To start using DocHub, connect to the home page of the service and register with your e-mail address, with the Google account or with that Dropbox account, by clicking on the appropriate items visible on the screen and then providing the requested data.

Once logged into the service, click on the New button located at the top left and import your PDF from your computer or from one of the supported cloud storage services ( DropboxGoogle Drive and OneDrive ), by clicking on the relevant buttons.

Once the import procedure is complete, select the Text tool, clicking on its icon (the one with the  “A” ) located on the toolbar (top), click on the point in the document where you want to insert your text and type it in the appropriate box that you see appear. If you want, you can also format the entered text as you see fit, highlighting it and using the appropriate commands that are shown in the bottom right part of the toolbar.

Once all the changes have been completed, download the PDF to your computer, by clicking on the button with the three lines horizontally (top right), selecting the Download / Export item from the menu that appears and then press the Download button, in the window that opens. opens on the screen. Alternatively, you can save the compiled PDF on one of the supported cloud storage services or send it via email by selecting the relevant icon and pressing the appropriate button.

How to compile a PDF with Android, iPhone and iPad

Finally, let’s see how to compile a PDF from a smartphone or tablet, to be precise using Android or an iPhone or iPad: below you will find all the explanations you need.

Xodo PDF (Android / iOS)

There are several applications that allow you to view, edit and compile PDFs from mobile: among the many, however, I suggest you try Xodo PDF, which is easy to use and is available for both Android and iOS. It allows you to perform all the operations I have just indicated and what’s more it’s free.

To use it, first, download it to your device. If you are using Android, visit the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button. If you are using iOS, on the other hand, access the relevant section of the App Store, press the Get / Install button and authorize the download via Face IDTouch ID or Apple ID password. When the download is complete, tap the Open button that appears on the screen to start the app.

Now, grant the app permissions to access your files (if necessary) and select the PDF document you need to fill out from the screen that appears. Once the PDF is open, tap on the pencil symbol at the top right, press the icon with the “T” and the sideline to select the tool for inserting text, tap in the point of the document you have need to fill in and type your text. Then press anywhere else on the screen to confirm the changes.

If you want, you can also change the font, color and size of the text by selecting it again by pressing the icon representing the palette attached to the menu you see appearing and using the various options available on the screen.

When you have finished compiling your document, click on the  “x” at the top: by doing so, the changes made to the document will be saved automatically.

PDF Editor (iOS)

If you are using an iPhone or an iPad, I inform you that you do not necessarily have to resort to the use of third-party apps to compile your files in PDF format. Starting from iOS 11, in fact, Apple has added to the integrated PDF file viewer also some convenient functions for editing documents of this type which, of course, can be useful for the purpose of this tutorial.

That said, open the document in relation to which you are interested in going to act, tap the sharing button (the one with the rectangle and the arrow ) and choose the Create PDF option or, if not available, the Save to File option (in the latter also indicates the local or cloud location where you want to save the file).

Once the document screen is displayed, tap the pencil symbol at the top right, press the [+] button at the bottom, select the Text item from the menu that appears and move the box for entering the pop-up text on screen at the point of the PDF to be filled in

At this point, double tap on the box that appeared previously, delete the example text inside it and type yours. Then press anywhere outside the text box to confirm the changes made. To change the color, size and font of the writing, however, tap the text again and use the appropriate buttons and menus that you see appearing below.

When you have finished all the changes, select the item Finish at the top left to make sure that they are saved. Easier than that?

 

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