Author Topic: Freeware PDF Editors?  (Read 497 times)

Hawkmoon

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Freeware PDF Editors?
« on: May 03, 2021, 03:02:07 AM »
Submitting a manuscript for print-on-demand usually requires a PDF, and I'm working on a project that's going to involve merging multiple PDFs into a single file for publication, I can't put page numbers into a header or footer within my base manuscript in Word. So I'm looking for a freeware (preferably) or at least reasonably-priced PDF editor that allows creating, editing, formatting, and deleting headers and footers. I know all this can be done with Acrobat, but that's comparatively expensive, and available only by subscription.

Is there anything else out there that can handle this task? I would prefer freeware, but I'll also look at programs that are available as a one-time, lifetime purchase -- under $100.

Thanks.
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MechAg94

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2021, 09:04:22 AM »
I use Acrobat Write at work.  Can't help you there.  Nuance is the only other program I had to use, but that was through work also.

Word should do custom headers and footers, but if you are merging multiple documents I can see how that would be difficult.  I am sure there is a way to do customize the headers to count from whatever starting number you want.  I don't know how to do that though.

I have never tried to do headers and footers in Acrobat.  It usually treats your PDF like a source document and won't edit it like you are talking about.  I am sure there are features I don't know about.
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cordex

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2021, 09:20:05 AM »
I am sure there is a way to do customize the headers to count from whatever starting number you want.  I don't know how to do that though.
In 2016:
Header & Footer->Page Number->Format Page Numbers
Page Numbering: Start at

bedlamite

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2021, 09:37:50 AM »
In the rare occasion I need one, I use Libreoffice and export to pdf. Don't know if it will do what you need.
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Ron

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2021, 09:43:14 AM »
I believe OpenOffice can edit PDF's but I generally just view PDF's, so have no yea or nay on it's functionality. 

Nope, it opens in "Draw" not a pdf specific editor
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Ben

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2021, 10:08:49 AM »
Freeware will likely be hard to find. I use Nitro Pro, for which I think you can get a perpetual license for ~$125 during one of their many sales. It used to be much cheaper, and I was using version 9 for probably ten years, but I couldn't get it to install when I switched to win10 and had to get their latest version, which basically starts at a "pro" level, and they only have one option for non-subscription installs that don't include their business suite. It's an excellent program though, and I like it much more than Acrobat.

https://www.gonitro.com/

Otherwise PDFElement is ~$80 for a standard perpetual license.

https://pdf.wondershare.com/buy/pdfelement-windows.html
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Hawkmoon

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Re: Freeware PDF Editors?
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2021, 11:33:39 AM »
I've looked at PDFElement more than once. Every time I get to the Wondershare web site I kick myself in the rump. I hate Wondershare. I think they are a shoddy, sleazy, slimeball operation. Their marketing tactics would make a used car salesman blush.

Neither Word nor Libre Office can do what I need to do. I need to work with headers and footers in the PDFs, not in word processing documents that then get exported to PDF. I know it can be done in Acrobat because I've done it, but Acrobat is now very expensive and only available by subscription.
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