Comments | firelily: For people who are far more adept with computers than I...

firelily

For people who are far more adept with computers than I...

Jun 08, 2009 11:49

Question: is it possible to type onto pdf documents to alter them? I have a couple forms that I have to submit for school applications and they say that in addition to mailing a hard copy, I should be able to email the completed form back to them. But how can I send a digital copy without being able to alter it? I'm confused...

application

Comments 8

moxcord June 8 2009, 17:00:46 UTC

depends on what software you have or where the PDF was created
you can lock them when you created them, password protect them etc

are you looking to edit a PDF or make one from a doc so that its not editable?

firelily June 8 2009, 17:50:16 UTC

I'm looking to edit a pdf, and I think I can't do it because I must only have Acrobat Reader instead of the full version. Bummer! I was really hoping to be able to edit it.

moxcord June 8 2009, 18:40:13 UTC

http://www.freepdfeditor.net/

may or may not get you anyplace :)

firelily June 8 2009, 18:51:35 UTC

Hmmm, I don't even know if I'm using that right. I think I'm just hopeless with this stuff. I read the instructions for that site and I can't figure out how to change MY pdf form. Can't even seem to open it using that. I don't know why I can't figure it out...either I'm inept, or it won't let me use the program on my work computer.

cranberryink June 8 2009, 17:15:47 UTC

You can only type on a PDF if:

1) You have the full version of Acrobat (not just Reader)
2) The PDF itself has embedded fields that allow you to type in it.

Alternately, you could print out the PDF, hand write your answers in, scan it, and then email it.

firelily June 8 2009, 17:49:21 UTC

Bah! I wanted to avoid having to write on it as my handwriting SUCKS. I much prefer typing.

I'm guessing I don't have the full version of Acrobat. Damn.

moxcord June 8 2009, 18:41:07 UTC

some people make a PDF editable so that others can type into it - not sure about it requiring the full version or not (I have it so I can just do whatever whenever

firelily June 8 2009, 18:46:42 UTC

I'm fairly sure that the pdf that I'm working with won't let me edit it...when I try to click and type it doesn't let me. Unless there's another way to edit it that I don't know about...