What Exactly is A PDF and Why Do You Need It?

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What Exactly is A PDF
Credit: soniseo.com

Files saved in the PDF extension are definitely the most universal and widely used. Everyone who works with a computer every day has encountered them. Therefore, today, in the era of the ubiquitous Internet and international businesses, knowing the basics of PDF editing is an absolute necessity. Finding the right PDF editor programs or online tools that will enable quick and efficient operations.

What is A PDF File?

The abbreviation PDF comes from the English name Portable Document Format.

The idea of converting documents from paper to digital files arose over 2 decades ago. The initial aim of creating PDF format is to make it possible for anyone to send, display and print documents in electronic form. Today it is one of the most popular file formats, and PDF files are displayed, printed and sent all over the world.

How to Save A File to PDF?

Due to the fact that printing houses usually do not accept files saved in Word, before you decide to submit the document for printing, make sure that the file format has been changed to PDF.

This is, among other things, due to the fact that it is supported by every software. Creating files in PDF format is very simple, so you can handle it without any problems. The only thing you need to do is when saving the finished file, select the PDF extension in the saving options.

Older Text Editors

If you are using an older version of a Word processing program, you may not be able to change the file extension. In this case, the prior solution is to convert files online. Just go to the selected website and add your files in doc or docx format.

Once they are loaded, in most cases a button will appear on the page that says “Convert to PDF”. After a few seconds, the file will be ready for download in the new format.

What Do PDF Files Guarantee You?

Saving a file in PDF format has many advantages – especially if different people work on the same documents. Then you can be sure that the created charts, tables or other elements will look exactly the same for each of them. A good practice example is to use the PDF format to save their CVs.

Also Read: Convert PDF Files To Word Document Easily

PDF Editing – A Problem Many of Us Face

PDF is a common and universal format in which primarily text files, official forms and scans of documents are made available. Sometimes it would be convenient to be able to edit such a document to change or correct something in it.

Unfortunately, it is not that simple, because the owner and creator of this format, Adobe, still charges for many technologies related to this format. Some software producers try to somehow circumvent these limitations, so the end result is not always perfect. However, if you do not want to pay for a minor change in the document, it is worth making the effort and looking for a free PDF editing application.

Editing a PDF File with Dedicated PDF Editor Programs

Online PDF editors is a good way to resize individual files. However, if you use the editor systematically or need to transfer quite a large number of files at one time, try one of the many desktop PDF programs available on the market.

This type of software is installed on the computer’s hard drive. You can find free programs, although most of them are paid.

PDF Editing on Windows – Recommended Applications

On Windows computers, the most convenient option for editing PDF files may be Word, but firstly, it is not a free application, and secondly, as in the case of the mobile version, conversion from PDF to DOCX is not always the best. On the other hand, it is not easy to find completely free solutions, one of the most interesting applications is SwifDoo PDF, which, however, offers its full capabilities only after purchasing an appropriate license.

The basic functions of SwifDoo PDF includes the ability to edit, delete individual pages from a file, combine several PDF files or divide them into several parts. You can also protect the file with a password, or vice versa, remove such protection.

It all comes down to what you expect from the application. You can use it to OCR a PDF file that is non-editable.

Other PDF programs such as Adobe Acrobat and Foxit Phantom Pro also have similar capabilities, but they are more expensive. If you are going to edit and create PDFs on a larger scale, it is worth reviewing these solutions and choosing the best one for you. Especially in terms of costs, because they can differ significantly.

Web-based PDF editing tools – are they worth it?

While looking for free PDF editing applications, I came to the conclusion that the best and cheapest option if we want to occasionally edit a document is to use online services. There are at least a few such applications, but they offer similar functionality and capabilities, and more importantly, most of them are free.

The only threat I see in this case is the issue of security and privacy. Not all documents are suitable for sending to unspecified servers on the Internet, especially if they contain any of our personal data.

Many companies now prefer to charge subscription fees rather than a one-time app fee as SwifDoo PDF, and often the latter option can be better in the long run.

In Closing

Sometimes each of us has the need to edit a PDF file. If you have never experienced such an activity, it is worth using valuable tips.

It turns out, however, that although there are quite a lot of options, not all of them work as we would like. That’s why you need to learn which application is worth using.