Convert pdf to a IND document

There is a company that sells a PDF to InDesign converter. They also offer a service to do so. I have used the PDF to InDesign app a few years ago and found it less than acceptable.

https://www.recosoft.com/products/pdf2id/

What I prefer is rebuidling the file in InDesign:

1. Create a new InDesign file the size of the PDF with the same number of pages.
2. Add layers to the InDesign file that you will need. Normally I add layers as I build a file from scratch. But this is a reproduction of an existing file, so I can see by looking at it waht layers I will want. I usually havea background or master page layer, text, and photos.
3. Add one more layer above the other layers. Make it non-printing and name it "Template".
4. Place the PDF in the document. Use Import Options to select all pages and place each page of hte PDF on the corresponding page of the InDesing file on the Template. Set cropping to trim, so each graphic is the same size as a page.
5. For each placed page set the opacity to something like 40%.
6. Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro so you can copy text and view text attributes.
7. Open the PDF in Photoshop in Image mode. This will open each image in the PDF at full resolution (that is the resolution it is in the PDF) as a separate image. Save each image.
8. Open the PDF in Illustrator. This will let you extract other graphics (i.e. vectors) that were not opened in Photoshop. Save each graphic as a sepaarate Illustrator file.
9. Back in InDesign use the template to rebuild the file. Copy and paste text from Acrobat (easier than doing it from Illustrator), place graphics saved in steps 7 and 8.

Yes, it's time consuming. But you will have a file that works, has no surprises, and it much easier to edit and update than anything converted from PDF.