PDF is a term that everyone who has used the Internet for even a moment must have encountered. It is very common and extremely useful – a format that is well over 30 years old. And the most common question that may be asked about a PDF file is whether, and if so, how to edit it. It’s possible, here’s how to do it.
First, let’s discuss what the most common text file extensions are on the Internet – PDF, doc, docx, then we’ll move on to editing and finally converting one into another.
Table of Contents
What is PDF?
PDF is a format created by Adobe Systems. It is developed as Portable Document Format.
Therefore, it has three main features – it is portable – i.e. sent from a Windows computer, it can be opened on a Linux computer or an Android smartphone, and vice versa. It is a format – that is, a given way of saving information in a file. And as such, it will be the same across devices.
If a document has two A4 pages, it will have the same layout when opened on different devices. Document – well, the last feature concerns what PDF is used for – i.e. the distribution of documents, also enriched with hyperlinks, photos, etc.
What Are Doc and Docx Formats?
Doc and docx. Doc has an even longer beard than PDF because it is a formatting standard developed by Microsoft for Word in 1983. It quickly became a universal file standard. However, this formatting method is reserved by Microsoft and these licensing nuances may cause problems with its handling and saving by other text editing programs, especially those with free licenses.
Docx is a newer, modern incarnation of doc, more efficient and smaller. Send a plain doc if you know the recipient has a version of Microsoft Word older than 2007. Both doc formats are much more open than PDF, but there is a risk that a specific document will look slightly or much different to the recipient, depending on hardware and software it uses.
Originally, PDF was supposed to “concrete” formatting. This means that – depending on the device – the formatting does not differ, it is difficult to edit a PDF file without access to the source file.
Today, with PDF being the standard, this is easier to do especially with the help of a dedicated PDF editor program.
There is one universal rule related to finances – a free tool, even the best one, will not carry out this procedure as smoothly as a paid one.
How to Edit PDF with A Dedicated PDF Editor?
One way is a dedicated PDF program – SwifDoo PDF, in our case. The program allows you to rearrange pages, add entire paragraphs, correct typos, crop photos, change formatting, anything you could imagine.
Let’s not confuse it with Adobe Reader, a free PDF viewer used to open PDF files. SwifDoo PDF guides the user like a string, it is the most convenient option available, and it’s more affordable than the former.
In the cheapest variant (Quarterly Plan) it costs less than 16 USD per month, in the shorter – monthly plan – at $20 per month. If we only need the PDF editing for a while, for some minor thing, we can take advantage of the 15-day free trial period, for which you do not have to pay.
Editing After Converting PDF to Docx
Another lifeline is offered by Microsoft itself through its Office suite. Microsoft guides the user through the procedure in a roundabout way.
It does not change the original PDF file in the strict sense, but converts it to the docx format, allowing the user to edit the document and then converting it to PDF. So we will receive a second, corrected PDF file. However, you can still rely on the aforementioned SwifDoo PDF for the converting task, which also provides a completely free online PDF converter tool.
Google Docs
The mechanism works similarly to Microsoft’s. We can edit PDF from the computer’s disk or directly from the browser. Then just upload the file to Google Drive and from there select the “Open Google Documents” option. The service will convert the file to its own format, allow you to make changes, and then save it again in PDF as a second, separate file.
Among other PDF editing programs, it is worth mentioning Xchange Editor or PDF Editor, but – as is the case with free programs – depending on the document and its complexity, you will have to practice a lot.
In A Nutshell
Finally, the actual conversion of PDF to doc or docx and vice versa. Let’s assume you don’t use SwifDoo PDF, Microsoft Office, or free Google services. You just want to click twice and get your document. The Internet is full of online converters, but we recommend being vigilant.
We advise against converting sensitive documents that contain important information, e.g. personal data, in this way. Just because something appears high in the search engine doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe.