I am reaching to my CF brethren for advise on a PDF software. On occasion, I receive PDF files that I need to provide notes or markup and forward to others. This is seldom and does not justify the cost to purchase a full version of Acrobot Abode or other completing PDF softwares, but I am yet to find a free downloadable version that does more than just open the fie and let you view it. Would anybody be aware of a free (or close to it) version that would open the PDF and also allow you to add notes/comments to the file? Your recommendations are appreciated.
PDF Software
- Thread starter BleedCycloneRed
- Start date
I'm a big fan of GIMP. It's overkill but it's free and will do what you need. It will also do a whole lot more with pdf's and other image formats.
It's unfortunate about the name as it makes it tough for it to be taken seriously by some people, but it's really good software.
EDIT: If all you need is the ability to mark up a pdf, there are smaller footprint options than GIMP
It's unfortunate about the name as it makes it tough for it to be taken seriously by some people, but it's really good software.
EDIT: If all you need is the ability to mark up a pdf, there are smaller footprint options than GIMP
Acrobat has gotten kind of ridiculous. Now they want you to pay for the full version just to rotate an image.
And like everything else it's gone subscription based too. Benefit to that is you can have access to the latest version as long as you keep the subscription active, the con is the Pro version is $20 a month so $240 a year. In the past you could probably buy the full version for less than that and use it for several years and not have to pay to maintain the licensing. I don't mess with PDFs much but may have to check out these free options myself for the rare times I may need to.
M$ has gone mostly subscription based with their products too which is annoying. I just use the free version of Office365 online on my laptop and still have a copy of Office 2013 that I got for $20 through work years ago installed on my desktop that does everything I need it to do still.
I got the free trial last month and used it. Worked great. I've gotten the free trial a few times. I don't need it but maybe once a year.
Thanks to all that have responded. I will check out the options and hopefully find a recommendation that addresses my need. CF Brethen, thank you very much.
Sure! I'm far from an expert with it, but I use it frequently and often learn new things it can do. It's a big piece of software if someone just needs basic markup features but it will do them and a whole lot more. All for free.
Guys… the built in Edge browser allows this or if you want to do a little more and edit the layout, Microsoft Word can import PDFs and “print to pdf” too.
No need to download new and random stuff
www.makeuseof.com
No need to download new and random stuff
How to Use Microsoft Edge's Built-In PDF Editor
Microsoft Edge has a handy built-in PDF editor, so you can quickly tweak PDFs. Here, we look at how to use the feature and its features.
www.makeuseof.com
I still use the home and student versions of Office. Just waiting for them to stop offering that as well.
IMO, GIMP is a powerful program but overkill for PDF's. I think most browsers support some annotation, these days. If not enough, take a look at Foxit.
Have you actually tried importing PDFs with word?
It ends up being absolute garbage most of the time.
you can edit PDFs using Google Docs, which is free.
How to edit a PDF in Google Drive using Google Docs | Adobe Acrobat
Wondering how to edit a PDF in Google Drive? Learn how to convert a PDF to a Google Doc for quick and simple editing.
www.adobe.com
I use a product called PDF XChange Editor from Tracker Software. I haven't compared it to Acrobat feature-for-feature but there are numerous versions of it, from fairly basic on up to as full-featured as I could imagine you'd ever need. Pay $56 or $72 up front for a one-year license then a much more modest price for annual licenses after that.
www.tracker-software.com
PDF-XChange Co Ltd :: Products
PDF-XChange Products Page, View Available Applications, Download Free Versions of the Software,
www.tracker-software.com
I was going to suggest this, just use the Microsoft Edge browser.Guys… the built in Edge browser allows this or if you want to do a little more and edit the layout, Microsoft Word can import PDFs and “print to pdf” too.
No need to download new and random stuff
How to Use Microsoft Edge's Built-In PDF Editor
Microsoft Edge has a handy built-in PDF editor, so you can quickly tweak PDFs. Here, we look at how to use the feature and its features.
I haven't seen anything on Firefox or Chrome as simple and easy and quick as this.
The free version of Acrobat for Windows doesn't appear to let you do much. You can highlight and do a text box (a "sticky note") -- like is typically an option when you highlight something. It actually does what the OP is asking for, but in a limited way.
In Edge, you can draw a line or arrow or what not -- and possibly write with that, but probably depends on size and surface how neat. You can also draw free form with the highlight--besides just highlighting text. Both are more than just the sticky note in Adobe, and Edge also has the sticky note. A lot of times I'd rather just draw a straight line in the margin by important text, rather than highlight all of that. If you are sharing with other people, marking something free form might make it more apparent.
One thing you can do with Adobe but not Edge is underline, but I consider that minor relative to everything else.
When I got a Windows PC a couple of years ago, I thought I would use Adobe then a lot, but I never really have. I try to use it to keep up, in part because if on a public PC, it is common and something I might use then. I keep up plenty well, even not using it much (and even though its limited features are things I use a lot).
Edge is so much faster and has a cleaner, less complicated interface, I find I generally prefer that. Much that I markup there, is more to just help me read, not something I'm necessarily going to mark and go back to a lot, if at all.
