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TICKET ARCHIVE -> PDF to DOC converter?
RobinS - Jan 8, 2006 - 1:22 pm
I'd love to be able to take a PDF document, convert it to something I can type in in Word. Is this even remotely possible? When I copy the pdf to a Word document, its treated like an image. So I can't type on it. I'd like to be able to type "on top" of the document. I just want to fill out pdf forms on the computer, edit them, change them, save them, email or fax them - all from the computer. Then only at the end, print and sign them.
bobw - Jan 8, 2006 - 3:04 pm
Hi Robin
Preview in Tiger can do this. This is from the Help Menu;
Filling out PDF forms
Preview lets you fill out a PDF form. You can then print it or fax it to someone.
Whatever you enter is saved with the document and can be seen by anyone who reads it. However, after you save the document, you can no longer edit any of its fields. Before filling out a form, you may want to create a copy of it, so you can go back to the original. And before saving the form, be sure it's filled out completely and correctly.
To fill out a PDF form:
Choose Tools > Text Tool.
Click a field on the form.
When you click in a field, that field is highlighted in blue to show that you can enter text. If the field isn't highlighted, this is not a form you can fill out.
==========================================
Otherwise you would need the full version of Acrobat.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
Preview in Tiger can do this. This is from the Help Menu;
Filling out PDF forms
Preview lets you fill out a PDF form. You can then print it or fax it to someone.
Whatever you enter is saved with the document and can be seen by anyone who reads it. However, after you save the document, you can no longer edit any of its fields. Before filling out a form, you may want to create a copy of it, so you can go back to the original. And before saving the form, be sure it's filled out completely and correctly.
To fill out a PDF form:
Choose Tools > Text Tool.
Click a field on the form.
When you click in a field, that field is highlighted in blue to show that you can enter text. If the field isn't highlighted, this is not a form you can fill out.
==========================================
Otherwise you would need the full version of Acrobat.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
RobinS - Jan 8, 2006 - 11:22 pm
I tried Preview and its very slow - or I'm very slow with it.
Is there any way of knowing if an Adobe pdf file is static (can't be edited by Acrobat) or interactive (can be)?
I've got Acrobat but it wasn't able to modify the form. Or I wasn't doing something correctly.
If I copied the text out of it, wouldn't I lose all formatting? The formatting in this situation (tax forms) must be retained exactly.
Is there any way of knowing if an Adobe pdf file is static (can't be edited by Acrobat) or interactive (can be)?
I've got Acrobat but it wasn't able to modify the form. Or I wasn't doing something correctly.
If I copied the text out of it, wouldn't I lose all formatting? The formatting in this situation (tax forms) must be retained exactly.
bobw - Jan 9, 2006 - 12:32 pm
Robin
The creator of the PDF can lock it so it can't be copied.
Do you have Acrobat Reader or the full version of Acrobat?
If the full version, read the documentation for instructions. It will guide you in editing.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
The creator of the PDF can lock it so it can't be copied.
Do you have Acrobat Reader or the full version of Acrobat?
If the full version, read the documentation for instructions. It will guide you in editing.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
RobinS - Jan 10, 2006 - 12:36 am
I have Acrobat 7.0.0 Professional.
Its quite a complex program or I need more sleep.
Either way, it didn't seem to be able to edit the document. It told me to use the "hand" (upper left hand corner) but it didn't work.
How do I find out if the pdf is indeed locked?
What I really want is to be able to convert it to a Word document with all formatting intact so I can use my Word knowledge.
Its quite a complex program or I need more sleep.
Either way, it didn't seem to be able to edit the document. It told me to use the "hand" (upper left hand corner) but it didn't work.
How do I find out if the pdf is indeed locked?
What I really want is to be able to convert it to a Word document with all formatting intact so I can use my Word knowledge.
bobw - Jan 10, 2006 - 9:34 am
Robin
There are programs you can buy to convert PDF to Word. Search through vhttep://wwwr.siontracker.com, there are a couple there.
Open your PDF, then go to the Document menu to Security to Show security settings for this Document. This will show what's allowed by the creator.
If you go through the menus and read the documentation, you should be able to edit a PDF that isn't locked down.
For a PDF form, double click in the field you want to type in and see if you can type, if not, right (or control) click that field to see the contextual menu for it.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
There are programs you can buy to convert PDF to Word. Search through vhttep://wwwr.siontracker.com, there are a couple there.
Open your PDF, then go to the Document menu to Security to Show security settings for this Document. This will show what's allowed by the creator.
If you go through the menus and read the documentation, you should be able to edit a PDF that isn't locked down.
For a PDF form, double click in the field you want to type in and see if you can type, if not, right (or control) click that field to see the contextual menu for it.
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
RobinS - Jan 11, 2006 - 2:30 am
OK - it says that forms can be filled out. What "forms" exactly entails I don't know. But it wants me to use a Hand Tool. But it doesn't work when I double click or right click. How can they make something so poorly intuitive? Or how can I be so thick that I don't assume the correct procedure?
RobinS - Jan 11, 2006 - 2:30 am
OK - it says that forms can be filled out. What "forms" exactly entails I don't know. But it wants me to use a Hand Tool. But it doesn't work when I double click or right click. How can they make something so poorly intuitive? Or how can I be so thick that I don't assume the correct procedure?
bobw - Jan 11, 2006 - 9:01 am
Robin
I don't know a lot about Acrobat, just use it occassionally.
Go to the Adobe Acrobat forums and you'll have a lot of people that help there;
http://www.adobeforums.com
You can also find training here;
http://www.adobe.com/support/training.html
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
I don't know a lot about Acrobat, just use it occassionally.
Go to the Adobe Acrobat forums and you'll have a lot of people that help there;
http://www.adobeforums.com
You can also find training here;
http://www.adobe.com/support/training.html
bobw
http://www.macosx.com
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