How to edit a PDF file

There is no point in continuing to browse through the menus. With the program you usually use to view PDF documents, you will never be able to fill out the form you just downloaded from the Internet. If you want to edit a PDF file, you need to turn to other solutions. How do you say? In fact, you had already thought about it but you don’t have the faintest idea of ​​which tools to use to succeed “in the business”? Well, but you have absolutely no reason to worry … I can provide you with all the explanations you need. Therefore, dedicate a few minutes of your precious free time to reading this tutorial and you will see that in the end you will have much clearer ideas on what to do.

As we said, to be able to edit a PDF file it is essential to resort to the use of special tools. If you usually act as a computer, you can turn to some special programs for Windows, OS X and Linux at no cost or to some online services that can be used directly from a Web browser, without having to download and install anything. If, on the other hand, you have the habit of operating on the move, from a smartphone or tablet, just download specific apps for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices. and that’s it, trust me. In all cases these are fairly simple tools to use even for those who, a bit like you, do not consider themselves exactly a computer genius.

Having said that, if you are therefore really interested in finding out what you can do to edit a PDF file, I suggest you get comfortable and focus on the information that I will provide you in the following lines. I am sure that in the end you will be able to tell yourself more than satisfied and that if necessary you will also be ready and willing to explain to your friends eager to receive similar tips how to edit a PDF file in a nutshell. So let’s ban the chatter, roll up our sleeves and start immediately to get busy!

Edit a PDF file from a computer

Nitro PDF Reader

If you use a PC with Windows installed and are looking for a tool that allows you to edit a PDF file, I invite you to contact Nitro PDF Reader. It is a program that allows you to edit PDF files for free and in such an easy and fast way that you will be surprised. Moreover, with it you can create PDF files compatible with all programs to read this type of documents starting from any file, including those of Office and images. Here’s how it works.

To edit a PDF file with Nitro PDF Reader just to begin, connect to the software website by clicking here and then fill in the fields attached to the form visible on the screen by typing your name, your surname and your e-mail address and click on Download  Free orange button. Then indicate whether you intend to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the program depending on the operating system in use on your computer by clicking on the relevant button.

When the download is complete, double-click on it and open the file you just downloaded and, in the window that opens, put a checkmark next to I accept the terms in the License Agreement and click on the Install button. Then click on Yes and then on the Finish button and then wait for the program window to be visible on the screen.

At this point, close the window through which you are asked if you intend to set Nitro DF Reader as the default program for managing PDF files by clicking on the x then click on the folder-shaped button located at the top left and select the PDF file that you intend to edit in Nitro PDF Reader. Then click on the Type Text button and click anywhere in the open document to add a text to it. You can adjust the properties of the text typed in the PDF document, using the tools that appear in the program toolbar.

Then use the drop-down menu located at the top left to select the writing character, the one located below it to set its size, the buttons in the Alignment section to select the type of alignment, and so on. You can also move the text by clicking on it and moving it with the mouse. When you have finished typing, click on  Click to finish to save the changes.

To create PDF documents starting from Office files, images or simple text files, all you have to do is click on the Create from file button, which is located in the program toolbar. In the window that opens, click on the Browse button to select the document to be transformed into PDF, put the checkmark next to  Open PDF file after creation and click first on  Create and then on  Save to create your PDF and open it in  Nitro PDF Reader. At this point, you can freely edit your PDF as seen above.

When you have completed your changes and are satisfied with the result, you can save the PDF file by selecting the  Save As item from the File menu.

Preview

Do you have a Mac? In this case you can edit a PDF file using  Preview, the default application of OS X for viewing photos and, in fact, documents in PDF format.

Its operation is extremely simple. After opening the document to be edited by simply clicking on it twice consecutively, click on the briefcase icon located at the top right and a toolbar with all the tools to edit PDFs will appear. By clicking on the Aa | button you can select the text present in the document, by clicking on the  T  you can add custom writings, by clicking on the icon with the square and the circle you can insert geometric shapes and arrows to the document and so on.

By default, changes are saved directly to the original file. If you want to save a different copy of the document, select the  Export as PDF…  item from the  Preview File menu.

LibreOffice

Did the solutions for editing a PDF that I have already indicated to you have not been able to attract your attention in a particular way? No? Well, then I suggest you turn to  LibreOffice. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a no-cost productivity suite that’s usually used as a Microsoft Office alternative. LibreOffice can be used without problems on all operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (it is included as standard in numerous distros, starting from Ubuntu) and, among the many operations it allows to perform, there is no lack of the possibility to act on PDF file.

To download LibreOffice, connect to the suite’s website by clicking here and then press the green button  Download now. Subsequently, presses the button  Download the xxx version located under the heading  Main installation program and wait for the download of the suite to be started automatically.

If you are using a Mac, remember to also click on the Translated User Interface button to download the Italian language pack which in the version for OS X is not included in the basic installation package as is the case for Windows.

When the download is complete, if you are using a Windows PC, double-click on it, open the installation package called  LibreOffice_x.x.x_Win_x86.msi  and first click on  Next twice consecutively and then on  Install,  Yes and  Finish to complete the setup.

If you are using OS X, open the LibreOffice package in .dmg format you just obtained and drag the software icon to the Applications folder,   then open the package with the language pack and start the LibreOffice Language Pack file by right-clicking on it and selecting the Open item from the menu that appears. In the window that opens, click the Install button twice in a row and the LibreOffice interface will be automatically translated into English.

Now you can finally take action and get started and start editing a PDF file from your computer! To do this, start LibreOffice by double-clicking on the suite icon, wait for the program window to be shown to you then click on the Open file item located at the top left and select the PDF document saved on your computer that you want to modify.

At this point, the  LibreOffice Draw application will open through which you can modify the PDF content to your liking by simply selecting the elements to act on with the mouse and then pressing the appropriate buttons located on the toolbar.

After making all the necessary changes to the PDF document, you can save the edited file by selecting the  Export in PDF format item from the File menu and then clicking on the Export button in the window that will open. Easier than that?

Edit a PDF file online

PDFescape

Do you want to edit a PDF file but don’t want to install additional software on your computer? Then I suggest you to use  PDFescape. It is in fact a free online service that allows you to edit PDF documents directly from the Web browser and in an extremely simple and intuitive way. You do not believe me? Well, try it and you’ll see that you’ll agree with me right away!

To edit a PDF file with PDFescape, to begin with,  click here so that you can connect to the main page of the service and then drag the file you wish to act on in the box with the word  Drop PDF Here. Alternatively, press the Choose file button, select the PDF file stored on your computer that you want to edit and then click the Upload button.

Then wait a few moments for the file upload to start and complete, after which you will find yourself in the presence of an editor divided into three tabs through which to make changes to the PDF. In the Insert section, you will find the buttons to insert text, images, drawings and other customized elements into the document, in the Annotated section you will find the highlighter and annotations while using the Page section you can modify the pages of the document by rotating, cutting and deleting them.

After making all the necessary changes to the document, click on the green icon on the left side of the editor in order to download the modified file directly to your computer.

DocHub

As an alternative to what I have already proposed, you can also edit a PDF file with  DocHub. It is a completely free Web service through which it is possible to edit documents in PDF format by adding texts, highlights, notes and much more.

To edit a PDF file with DocHub, click here to connect to the home page of the service and create a new account using your email address or your Google or Dropbox account by choosing one of the appropriate items located at the top right. When the operation is completed, access DocHub and press the + button located at the top right.

At this point, select the  Import new document item from the menu that appears, press the Computer button, select the PDF you want to edit and click the Create document button to access the online editor offered by the service.

Once this is done, all you have to do is select the tools at your disposal by clicking on the icons at the top to make the desired changes to the PDF and save the final result by first clicking on the hamburger icon at the top right and then on the items  Download and Download PDF  in the menu that opens. Very easy, right?

Edit a PDF file on smartphones and tablets

To conclude, I would like to point out some apps thanks to which you can edit a PDF file even on smartphones and tablets. There are for all tastes and for all platforms (iOS, Android and Windows). You choose the ones that you think can do the most for you.

• Readdle PDF Expert– It is one of the best PDF editors for iPhone and iPad. The application provides users with functions to add texts, highlights, notes, geometric shapes and other customizations to documents. The possibility to export annotations separately is certainly noteworthy. The application is only available for iOS and costs 9.99 euros.
• Notability– This is a great application for annotating PDF documents. It is ideal for taking notes because in addition to allowing you to type texts in a “standard” way it also supports handwriting. The application is only available for iOS and costs 7.99 euros.
• Xodo PDF– This is a renowned and widely used app for editing a PDF file from mobile. Modo PDF allows you to add writings, highlights, notes, arrows and signatures to documents and supports the main cloud storage services, such as Dropbox and Google Drive. The application is available for  Android,  iOS and  Windows mobile devices and is free.
• Foxit Mobile PDF– It is an excellent reader for PDF files that offers its users various and interesting editing functions. The app allows you to add writings, highlights, notes and various other elements to PDF documents. The application is available for  Android,  iOS and  Windows mobile devices and is free.