Editing a PDF

How to edit a PDF document 

This knowledge base article will provide a guide on how to edit PDF documents, using the different software we have available.

Adobe Acrobat Professional & Adobe online 

Adobe Acrobat professional, is a paid/subscription based software that can be purchased from Adobe via UCL, most users on Desktop@UCL will not have access to the professional version. (Note that the Adobe Acrobat DC/Reader versions do NOT allow editing of a PDF only reading.)

1. Open a file in Adobe Acrobat Professional.

2. Click the “Edit PDF” tool in the right pane.

3. Use Acrobat Pro editing tools:
   • Add new text, edit text or update fonts using selections from the Format list.
   • Add, replace, move or resize images on the page using selections from the Objects list.
   • Click the other tools to edit your PDF further. You can add a watermark and annotate PDFs too.

4. Save your edited PDF: Name your file and click the “Save” button. That’s it.

Adobe Online tool:

Adobe also offer many of their editing tools online for free, however there may be a limit with how many times or what you can edit with the free online tool, however it may be useful in a pinch. (Please scroll to the bottom of the webpage for the other tools)

Link to the Adobe Online PDF editor and other tools here:
https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/pdf-editor.html 

 

PDF Sam basic

PDF Sam basic is a free piece of software that can be downloaded from UCL software database or via the software centre on your Desktop@UCL laptop. This free version only allows you to split, merge, extract and rotate PDFs. (Like Adobe there is a paid version of PDF Sam, this also allows full editing of a PDF)

1. Once you open PDF Sam basic, you will have a screen with multiple options letting you choose what you want to do.
2. Click on the tool you require
3. Edit your document (split/merge/extract/rotate) 
4. Save your document

Please see the UCL link below on how to add software via the software centre on your Desktop@UCL laptop:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/how-to/desktopucl-for-staff-how-to-install-ap…

 

Nuance Power PDF

Power PDF is an alternative software to Adobe that offers full editing, but this software also has an associated cost to get the full features. Please see link here to the UCL software database regarding Nuance (UCL login required to view page):

https://swdb.ucl.ac.uk/package/view/id/921?filter=pdf

1. Find and open your document (ensure it will open in Nuance, using the "open with" option)
2. Once your PDF is open, click Edit
3. Then click Advanced editor (this will make the PDF editable, and will show all the editing tools in the ribbon)
4. Edit your PDF as you would a standard document with the tools 
5. Save your document once complete 

Please see the table for quick information about the different PDF readers and editors that we may come across:

	Adobe Acrobat Reader	FoxIT Reader	PDF SAM Basic	Google Chrome	Microsoft Office	Adobe Professional*	Nuance Power PDF*
Read PDF files format (.PDF)
Read PDF files format (.PDF) including form filling
Create PDF Files
Convert PDF files to other types
Edit PDF files (merge, split etc)
Edit PDF files (redact, digital sign, forms, encryption etc)

*Associated Cost

 

If you have any further questions regarding PDFs or how to get access to these software, please contact [email protected]