Looking for a simple PDF editor - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/10/2006 12:21:29 PM · #1

I keep all my medical journal articles electronically instead of having the classic filing cabinet. I would love to be able to highlight the articles, but one cannot do this with Adobe Reader. I don't think it's worth the $300 to get Acrobat simply for this function.

Anybody have a good line on either inexpensive or free software that would allow me to highlight PDFs? This is really the only feature I would care about.

bluenova

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/10/2006 12:23:41 PM · #2

If you use openoffice rather than M$ Office, you can export the article directly to pdf, and it's free
//www.openoffice.org/

Just re-read your post, and this probably isn't what you need, but it might be useful.

Message edited by author 2006-02-10 12:24:43.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/10/2006 12:23:43 PM · #3

Like this...

//www.cutepdf.com/

I haven't used this but have used other cute applications and they work quite well.

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

02/10/2006 12:27:39 PM · #4

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Like this...

//www.cutepdf.com/

I haven't used this but have used other cute applications and they work quite well.

I looked at the site and didn't see where you could edit text (ie. highlight). Have you used this before?

To be clear, I'm not looking to created PDFs, I download them from the journals themselves. I merely want to be able to mark them up with my own highlights or notes and save this for future reference.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/10/2006 12:29:25 PM · #5

He's looking for a free EDITOR, one that will allow him to MODIFY already-created PDF files. Cutepdf Writer is a nifty little free pdf-creator, but that's all it is. Cutepdf 3.2 sells for 50 bucks, and it looks like it will do what the Doc is asking for. I'm not aware of any free pdf editor.

I use the full Acrobat myself, but I use it for creating files for publishing, files that go to printers, and I need the whole, sophisiticated ball of wax for that.

Robt.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/10/2006 12:34:01 PM · #6

Well, $50 isn't a big deal. That's probably worth it. But I never saw on the CutePDF site where it said explicitly that I could edit text in already made PDFs.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/10/2006 12:38:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Like this...

//www.cutepdf.com/

I haven't used this but have used other cute applications and they work quite well.

I looked at the site and didn't see where you could edit text (ie. highlight). Have you used this before?

To be clear, I'm not looking to created PDFs, I download them from the journals themselves. I merely want to be able to mark them up with my own highlights or notes and save this for future reference.

Sorry, but I did say I hadn't used it.

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

02/10/2006 12:45:22 PM · #8

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Sorry, but I did say I hadn't used it.

My bad, my little brain stopped at the link and went no further...

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/10/2006 12:47:47 PM · #9

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Well, $50 isn't a big deal. That's probably worth it. But I never saw on the CutePDF site where it said explicitly that I could edit text in already made PDFs.

I'm not sure you can; here are the features they list:

Features Highlight

* Create hyperlinks using Drag and Drop Tool
* Digitally Signing PDF Documents
* Easily Create, Preview and Email PDFs with CutePDF Writer
* Make Compact, Double-sided PDF Booklets
* n-Up Pages (impose) to save paper and inks when printing hard copies
* Extract, Reorder and Duplicate pages
* Combine Multiple PDF Documents into one PDF File
* Create Bookmarks for Pages, URLs (e.g. Web Pages) or other Documents
* Add Headers and Footers with Data, Time, Page Numbers, Bates Number, etc.
* Rotate Pages
* Resize Pages to any Paper Size
* Insert Blank Pages into a PDF Document
* Delete Pages
* Add Stylized Text Stamp
* Add Watermarks
* Overlay Pages to Add Backgrounds, Letterhead or Forms
* Set information on PDF documents
* Add Passwords and Set Security Options to Protect Your Valuable Documents
* Apply the Pre-saved Settings in One Step

The bolded section suggests you might be able to do something like that.

R.

Edit: you can definitely add pages to a document, so you can type up your notes, convert them to PDF,and add them to the document no problem.

Message edited by author 2006-02-10 12:49:09.

goc

Apple iPhone 4

02/10/2006 01:00:28 PM · #10

foxit

:-)

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/10/2006 01:38:38 PM · #11

Yeah, the Foxit Reader Pro looks like it may do what you're looking for. ($39)

There's also the Foxit PDF Editor but at $100, I think it's outside the "inexpensive" category.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/10/2006 01:41:05 PM · #12

That Foxit Reader Pro looks GREAT! Your problem is solved, Doc!

R.

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/10/2006 02:07:06 PM · #13

Alternatively, you could write a note to the editors of the journal, appealing to their generous nature and ask that they use Adobe Acrobat 7.0 and enable commenting. You would then have to download the 7.0 reader yourself in order to add notes/comments. Not sure if highlighting is supported, but the notes feature works great.

02/10/2006 02:40:10 PM · #14

You know, I thought about that bledford. It may be worth a try.

I have downloaded the trial of foxit. The documentation is quite lacking, but has anybody found a way to remove your markups if you make a mistake? I find nothing like an undo or remove command.