Edit existing PDF files?

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antdude
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Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:37 pm

Edit existing PDF files?

Post by antdude »

Hello.

According to http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/win-pdf-editor-2-0-4/, its first comment said users can edit PDF files with LibreOffice (LO)'s Draw. I can't run LO (keeps crashing and developers can't figure it out) on this very old, updated Windows XP Pro. SP3 machine even though OO run fine. However, I cannot seem to figure out how to open PDF files to edit in OpenOffice (OO)'s Draw. Am I missing something?

Thank you in advance. :)
Latest OpenOffice version in a very old updated, Windows XP Pro. SP3 machine.
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RoryOF
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by RoryOF »

You have to install the PDF Import extension at
PDF Import Extension
Note the link on that page for the version for AOO 4.0.1.

If you wish to do major editing/re-layout of a PDF, OpenOffice is not the best tool. You need a dedicated PDF Editor.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
antdude
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by antdude »

RoryOF wrote:You have to install the PDF Import extension at
PDF Import Extension
Note the link on that page for the version for AOO 4.0.1.

If you wish to do major editing/re-layout of a PDF, OpenOffice is not the best tool. You need a dedicated PDF Editor.
I just want to add text overlays and be able to save my work. I don't like Adobe Reader since it doesn't let me save my text inputs. I don't want to buy its expensive full Acrobat program for something I will rarely use. :(

Will OO be adding an internal PDF feature into its Draw like LO?
Latest OpenOffice version in a very old updated, Windows XP Pro. SP3 machine.
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RoryOF
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by RoryOF »

There are freeware/shareware PDF editors. Google is your friend.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
antdude
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by antdude »

RoryOF wrote:You have to install the PDF Import extension at
PDF Import Extension
Note the link on that page for the version for AOO 4.0.1.

If you wish to do major editing/re-layout of a PDF, OpenOffice is not the best tool. You need a dedicated PDF Editor.
It didn't install. :(

I even tried the other one in http://code.google.com/a/apache-extras. ... /Downloads (just hangs with no errors and forces me to end task OO's processes).
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Latest OpenOffice version in a very old updated, Windows XP Pro. SP3 machine.
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RoryOF
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by RoryOF »

If you are using OpenOffice 4.0.1 you _need_ the version at
PDF Extension.png
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
antdude
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by antdude »

RoryOF wrote:If you are using OpenOffice 4.0.1 you _need_ the version at
PDF Extension.png
Ah thanks. I wonder why it didn't use the latest version instead for the green button. I tried the correct one, but its installation kept freezing OO. I found out that the previous older versions were installed so I had to uninstall them (still got errors). Then, I was able to install and use the newer version. However, its rendering wasn't great (overlapped texts) with complex PDFs (e.g., IRS forms -- http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf).
Latest OpenOffice version in a very old updated, Windows XP Pro. SP3 machine.
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RoryOF
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by RoryOF »

As I told you, it may not be the best tool for your task. Google for PDF editors and see what you find. I don't edit PDF files directly. Some data in PDFs I OCRed (Optical Character Recognition) and reset to suit my needs. Other Forum volunteers may recommend PDF editors from their experience.
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Xubuntu 22.04.4 LTS
Vitesse
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Re: Edit existing PDF files?

Post by Vitesse »

PDF XChange has some limited edit functions, which I've used in the past. I've also had some success editing simple PDFs in Draw, but it's very hit and miss - I think it depends on what program originally created the PDF.

http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer
Last edited by acknak on Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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OpenOffice 4.1.1 Windows 8.1
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