how do I edit a pdf and then save it

[willier79767130]

I'm new to adobe, how do I edit a pdf file and then save it?

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

Acrobat Pro provides facilities for limited editing (and subsequent saving) of PDF files, more for “touch up” and emergency edits as opposed to any significant additions and modifications of content. The free Adobe Reader does not provide for any such editing at all.

PDF is a “final form file format” designed primarily for display, print, and annotation of the results of use of graphics or layout software. For the most part, it doesn't retain information that you have in the source document including the concepts of paragraphs, articles, sentences, or even words. The editing capabilities in Acrobat (or any software that claims to provide for editing PDF content) are based on heuristics and if provided, some tagging metadata provided by the layout program during PDF creation.

In general, you are better off going back to the source document, editing that, and recreating the PDF file than trying to directly edit a PDF file.

              - Dov

[Design_by_Stick]

Hi Dov,

I'm hoping you can help.

- I design and export an interactive PDF using InDesign.

- It opens in Acrobat fine, all the editable fields are working.

- Once the fields have been populated how do I (or a client) then save that PDF down as a non editable PDF?

It's seems very hard to get an answer to this, I'd really appreciate your advice here.

[try67]

The best way to do it is to add a digital signature field and set it to lock all the fields in the file. Once the user signs it, it will not be possible to change the contents of the file without invalidating the signature.

[Design_by_Stick]

Hi,

Thanks for this, I'll try it shortly and let you know how I progress.

[Design_by_Stick]

Hi,

InDesign's interactive form option I only get the below options.

Should I be adding the signature filed directly in Acrobat Pro and not InDesign?

[try67]

You should be adding all fields in Acrobat and not in ID, in my opinion.

[Design_by_Stick]

No worries, can't throw anymore resource at this now. I got close though.

- Export as interactive PDF from InDesign

- Acrobat Pro let's me edit fields and then 'Save As Other', 'Optimized PDF', 'Discard Objects', 'Flatten Form Fields'.

- It worked great but I need it to work from Acrobat Reader, not Acrobat Pro.

Acrobat Reader does not seem to have this option, sad face!

[try67]

It should work in Reader, after you add the field in Acrobat.

[Design_by_Stick]

How do you add form fields (digital signature field) in Acrobat Reader?

I can do it in Acrobat Pro but can't see these options in Reader.

[try67]

As I said, you need to add the fields in Acrobat, and then you'll be able to use it in Reader. You can't add it Reader itself (not easily, any way).