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L
Luis Ortega
New Participant
February 19, 2010
Answered

How to add text to a pdf file?

  • February 19, 2010
  • 4 replies
  • 687812 views

I was sent a rental application as a pdf file which I need to fill in but I can't seem to add text to it.

How does one open a pdf file and add text to it?

I have acrobat professional that came with adobe cs3 on my mac.

Thanks for any advice.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer try67

Thank you for your advice, it's may be an easier task to make small changes of text in pdf files. And for large change to text within pdf file, if I have the orginal document, it's really straight method to edit in it and make a new pdf file.

But I am wondering, if I receive a plain pdf form and I want to fill out it on screen rather than by hand. What can I use? Probabaly Touchup text tool is the right choice. 

Please don't suggest the pdf converter to me, I have used many of them that the formatting is tend to be wrecked after conversion. And Converting to text is likely to lose layout and image.


If you recieve a form it will usually have form fields into which you can just type text (or make selections). If the creator of the form enable it, then you can even save the form, or just print or submit it electronically.

IIf the file has no form fields, and it's not locked, then you can add them yourself.

4 replies

R
rogerkttty
Participating Frequently
October 13, 2011

Thank you very much for precise instructions of my questions. Save pdf as word document then edit it and finally save the changed  pdf file, I got it! This is the Acrobat way.

Actually now the pdf editing tool I am using allows me to directly add text to pdf, it makes my pdf file editable like word document then I can edit text quickly within it.

I will make use of both tools to help edit files.

R
rogerkttty
Participating Frequently
October 12, 2011

Sometimes, I don't have the original file or just can't find it. It is really a big trouble for me to edit text of pdf file in that case. As what you stated, the new text I added is different from original text around it. My job needs to deal with some Pdf files, not every time I am lucky to get standard font type there.
But there is a good news is that I have found a pdf editing tool that is able to add text to pdf and keep the added text as the same properties as text around it.

And in order to backup the filled PDF form, I am now use screen capture tool to achieve, it's not an ideal way for me but I have to put up with it.  

Phillip M Jones
Phillip M Jones
Inspiring
October 12, 2011

If you don't have the original and need a word version that you can edit.

Open PDF  go to Save As... choose Word and then choose format.

See this: http://www.screencast.com/t/igS0SoMDri

Note: this only works with text based files.

once its converted you can edit to you heart's content.  Then once edited as need create a new PDF with a different name.

Open the Acrobat original Document Click on On Tools (if AcrobatX) and choose replace Pages and choose your new pdf as source. the choose desired pages or choose entire document.

If you have any form Fileds and they have been displaced choose edit Form, click on each field in turn than needs moving, use up down right or left arrow keys to nudge the elements to desired position.

If you have have a Form that has extended reader rights you have to remove those right by saving a copy without rights. Then onece editting completed you have to add rights.

R
rogerkttty
Participating Frequently
June 3, 2011

The typewriter is what we often used to write on a pdf file though it's not the optimal method for me. I get a point that I even need to add text to a pdf file with a graphic editor like Photoshop. And I don't think it will be a comfortable experience to do so. Is there any tool allow me to type on pdf file as we do in Ms Word program? Did Acrobat design a function for filling a pdf form?

Phillip M Jones
Phillip M Jones
Inspiring
June 12, 2011

Depends upon how much text.

  1. to add a small word or  few place in a document or, need to correct a misspelling: Open Acrobat and choose T Button from the Ribbon (AcrobatX). click in document  at point where you want to edit. Make your Corrections.
  2. If you have "major changes" that affect line and sentence length and placement: go to original Document PDF was created from Make corrections create a new PDF , save with new name. Now open original PDF that need to be corrected.  Now scroll over various buttons in Ribbon until you find "Replace pages". Locate corrected version  and choose to replace all the pages.  Or if it adds few enough chages just change only pages affected.  Note: if spacing of lines andplacement affected around fields added, you will have to click on each field affected and use the up/down/left/right keys to nudge into place.

Its best to avoid using typewriter when possible, as the font used is always different than what you want.

  • R
    rogerkttty
    Participating Frequently
    June 22, 2011

    Thank you for your advice, it's may be an easier task to make small changes of text in pdf files. And for large change to text within pdf file, if I have the orginal document, it's really straight method to edit in it and make a new pdf file.

    But I am wondering, if I receive a plain pdf form and I want to fill out it on screen rather than by hand. What can I use? Probabaly Touchup text tool is the right choice. 

    Please don't suggest the pdf converter to me, I have used many of them that the formatting is tend to be wrecked after conversion. And Converting to text is likely to lose layout and image.

    Larry G. Schneider
    Community Expert
    Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 19, 2010

    Locate the typewriter tool and use that. Then use Advanced>Print Production>Preflight>PDF Fixups and choose the Flatten annotations to force the text onto the form.

    L
    Luis OrtegaAuthor
    New Participant
    February 20, 2010

    After finishing adding my text and adding some signatures, I want to save the pdf so that it can't be altered by the person I send it to, but I can't save it or export it in a way that doesn't let me alter the texts or the signature. It reports that it is an encrypted file and it can't be flattened or converted to any other type of pdf. I am a bit concerned about sending the pdf with the text and signature that I added still able to be altered when opened. Can anyone please advice on how i might do this? Thanks.

    Phillip M Jones
    Phillip M Jones
    Inspiring
    February 20, 2010

    Open original copy in Acrobat

    go to File menu

    Choose save a copy

    then you will see this :

    Chhose save a copy.

    Then you should be to make changes as necessary.

    Then once finished choose Advanced menu and choose, extend features in Adobe Reader and save this will put the reader rights back on.

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