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What is the best way to edit text in a PDF?

I need to edit some text in a PDF. I tried to OCR the PDF and convert it to word but that just makes the text in the Word file a complete mess. I even have tried using Pitstop by Enfocus but I still could not edit the text. I also tried to open the PDF in Illustrator but I still could not edit the text. Is there any easy way to edit text in a PDF? Or should I just recreate the PDF?

Chris Newman 430 days ago

4 Answers

Keep your eye on the next goal: Frequent Contributor.

After you run the OCR with the clear scan selected in the PDF output style,
if you are using Acrobat 10 Pro :
go to tools>Content>Edit document text. and then You can edit the text in a pdf.

If your are using Acrobat 9 Pro: go to tools>advanced editing> touchup text tool and then you can edit the PDF file.

Thanks

veer singh answered 430 days ago | Comments (0) | New Comment

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I try to do clearscan but I get the message (Acrobat could not perform (OCR) on this page because: This page contains renderable text) I even tried to OCR the PDF with Abbyy Finereader.

Chris Newman answered 430 days ago | Comments (0) | New Comment

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Print the .PDF file to the "Adobe PDF" printer driver
Perform OCR in Acrobat using one of the three available output styles depending on the type of document you have and the results you want.
and then try to edit them using the tool.

thanks

veer singh answered 430 days ago | Comments (0) | New Comment

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Keep in mind that the PDF format (ISO 32000) *is not* a word processing / page layout format. That means the editing we are familiar with in word processing / page layout applications is not supported.

You can perform minor edits. With Acrobat X the tool to use is the "Edit text" tool.
Using the word "edit" can lead to a false perception that word processor like editing is possible. Prior to Acrobat X the tool was (more appropriately so) named "TouchUp text" tool.

Regarding renderable text. If the PDF is created from some word processor or layout (or other application(s)) the PDF's textual content will be "renderable".
If a scanned image of textual content is brought into PDF there is no text present. There is just an image. OCR via Searchable Image or Searchable Image (Exact) will provide a 'layer' of hidden/invisible text (fonts are in rendering mode 3 - no fill, no stroke). Trying to "edit" this is really a waste of time (yeap, I've spent way too much time 'trying').

If ClearScan OCR is used the resultant output supports minor touchups.
You can even use the Touchup Text / Edit Text tool to select text and, via the Properties dialog, change to an installed font family).

With either ClearScan output or content that is rendeable text the save as / export to MS Word or RTF is support. Content can be edited in MS Word. A fresh, cleaned up PDF can be created. This approach is 'best practice'. Why? Well, much more than minor touchup will typically gobber the PDF (been there, got the t-shirt don't ya know).

Be well...