How to edit a PDF file

In 1993 Adobe Systems introduced Adobe Acrobat. The software uses a Portable Document Format (PDF) which has become the standard for the any kind of transmission of large documents

Why edit a PDF?
Many of us have encountered situations where PDF files need to be edited. They may contain grammar and spelling mistakes? Whenever possible, make the changes in the original Word file, and recreate the PDF from it. If the Word file is no longer available, recreating the PDF is not an option. The only option is to change the PDF file if it is not locked by a password that you don’t have.

The difficulties of editing PDF files
A PDF file is a ‘What You See Is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) format. It is just a snapshot or a graphic portrayal of text. This is important for a company that wants to send information like annual reports without having someone editing them. Editing a PDF file requires some knowledge and a premium software package.

Here are four options for editing a PDF file

1. If you have the original file from which the PDF was created. Make the changes directly in the original file, often a Word file, and recreate the PDF file using a free utility such as PrimoPDF.
2. If you own Adobe Acrobat (not the free Adobe Reader). Open the PDF in Acrobat and edit it. You will need the original authoring password if the PDF file is password protected. You will also need access to the fonts used in the file.
3. Use a less expensive editor like Foxit to make minor edits.
4. Convert the PDF to another format – The best format to work with is Microsoft Word, and its .DOC documents. In order to convert and edit PDF files, you will need a PDF to Word Converter program. There are dozens of PDF to Word converter programs. Some are free. If you have the budget, premium software will produce better results. Just search Google for PDF to Word converters.