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NCEES-PE pdf - NCEES - PE Civil Engineering Updated: 2023
Simply memorize these NCEES-PE braindumps Questions
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. It is designed for engineers who have gained a minimum of four years post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline.
The PE Civil exam is an 8-hour exam with 80 questions. It is administered in pencil-and-paper format twice per year in April and October. See the exam schedule for specific dates.
Reviewing the PE exam specifications and design standardsReading the reference materials and examinee guideUnderstanding scoring and reportingViewing the most up-to-date PE exam pass rates
I. Project Planning
A. Quantity take-off methods
B. Cost estimating
C. Project schedules
D. Activity identification and sequencing
II. Means and Methods
A. Construction loads
B. Construction methods
C. Temporary structures and facilities
III. Soil Mechanics
A. Lateral earth pressure
B. Soil consolidation
C. Effective and total stresses
D. Bearing capacity
E. Foundation settlement
F. Slope stability
Civil Breadth exam Specifications Continued
IV. Structural Mechanics
A. Dead and live loads
B. Trusses
C. Bending (e.g., moments and stresses)
D. Shear (e.g., forces and stresses)
E. Axial (e.g., forces and stresses)
F. Combined stresses
G. Deflection
H. Beams
I. Columns
J. Slabs
K. Footings
L. Retaining walls
V. Hydraulics and Hydrology
A. Open-channel flow
B. Stormwater collection and drainage (e.g., culvert, stormwater inlets, gutter flow, street flow, storm sewer pipes)
C. Storm characteristics (e.g., storm frequency, rainfall measurement and distribution)
D. Runoff analysis (e.g., Rational and SCS/NRCS methods, hydrographic application, runoff time of concentration)
E. Detention/retention ponds
F. Pressure conduit (e.g., single pipe, force mains, Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, major and minor losses)
G. Energy and/or continuity equation (e.g., Bernoulli)
VI. Geometrics
A. Basic circular curve elements (e.g., middle ordinate, length, chord, radius)
B. Basic vertical curve elements
C. Traffic volume (e.g., vehicle mix, flow, and speed)
VII. Materials
A. Soil classification and boring log interpretation
B. Soil properties (e.g., strength, permeability, compressibility, phase relationships)
C. Concrete (e.g., nonreinforced, reinforced)
D. Structural steel
E. Material test methods and specification conformance
F. Compaction
VIII. Site Development
A. Excavation and embankment (e.g., cut and fill)
B. Construction site layout and control
C. Temporary and permanent soil erosion and sediment control (e.g., construction erosion control and permits, sediment transport, channel/outlet protection)
D. Impact of construction on adjacent facilities
E. Safety (e.g., construction, roadside, work zone)
CIVIL–CONSTRUCTION DEPTH exam Specifications
I. Earthwork Construction and Layout
A. Excavation and embankment (e.g., cut and fill)
B. Borrow pit volumes
C. Site layout and control
D. Earthwork mass diagrams and haul distance
E. Site and subsurface investigations
II. Estimating Quantities and Costs
A. Quantity take-off methods
B. Cost estimating
C. Cost analysis for resource selection
D. Work measurement and productivity
III. Construction Operations and Methods
A. Lifting and rigging
B. Crane stability
C. Dewatering and pumping
D. Equipment operations (e.g., selection, production, economics)
E. Deep foundation installation
IV. Scheduling
A. Construction sequencing
B. Activity time analysis
C. Critical path method (CPM) network analysis
D. Resource scheduling and leveling
E. Time-cost trade-off
V. Material Quality Control and Production
A. Material properties and testing (e.g., soils, concrete, asphalt)
B. Weld and bolt installation
C. Quality control process (QA/QC)
D. Concrete proportioning and placement
E. Concrete maturity and early strength evaluation
VI. Temporary Structures
A. Construction loads, codes, and standards
B. Formwork
C. Falsework and scaffolding
D. Shoring and reshoring
E. Bracing and anchorage for stability
F. Temporary support of excavation
VII. Health and Safety
A. OSHA regulations and hazard identification/abatement
B. Safety management and statistics
C. Work zone and public safety
NCEES - PE Civil Engineering NCEES Engineering pdf
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NCEES
NCEES-PE
NCEES - PE Civil Engineering
https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/NCEES-PE Question: 35
Which of the following assumptions regarding the compression strength of
concrete used in reinforced concrete beam design is valid?
A. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends that all beams be
designed using high strength concrete
B. High strength concrete compression strengths range from 3,000 to 7,000
pounds per square inch
C. Compression strength of normal concrete ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 pounds
per square inch
D. None of the above Answer: C
The assumption “compression strength of normal concrete ranges from 3,000 to
7,000 pounds per square inch” for the concrete used in reinforced concrete beam
design is valid. ACI does not recommend that high strength concrete be used in
the design of all beams. The compression strength of high strength concrete
ranges from 7,000 - 15,000 pounds per square inch. Question: 36
What is the velocity (in ft/sec) in a rectangular concrete channel with a width of 3
feet (ft), a hydraulic grade line slope of 0.002 ft/ft, a flow depth of 1.5 ft and an
assumed Manning's coefficient n = 0.014?
A. 0.15 ft/sec
B. 1.50 ft/sec
C. 3.92 ft/sec
D. None of the above Answer: C
the velocity in a rectangular channel with the given dimensions is 3.92 ft/sec.
Solution: Use Manning's Equation and solve for V V = (K/n) R2/3 Sf1/2 Where:
K = conversion coefficient (1.486 for English units, 1.0 for SI) n = 0.014, the
Manning coefficient d = depth of flow = 1.5 ft w = width of channel = 3.0 ft Sf=
channel slope = 0.002 ft/ft A = Area = d x w = 1.5 ft x 3 ft = 4.5 ft2 P = wetted
perimeter = w + 2d = 3 ft + 3 ft = 6 ft R = hydraulic radius = A/P = (4.5 ft2)/ (6 ft)
= 0.75 ft V = (1.486/0.014) x (0.75 ft)2/3 x (0.002 ft/ft)1/2 = 3.92 ft/sec Question: 37
The hydraulic radius of a sewer refers to which of the following?
A. The diameter
B. Channel perimeter
C. One-half the diameter
D. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of flow to the wetted perimeter Answer: D
The hydraulic radius of a sewer refers to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of
flow to the wetted perimeter. (The wetted perimeter is the portion of a cross-
section’s perimeter that is “wet.”) The equation that describes the hydraulic radius
of a channel, Rh, is expressed as follows: Rh = A/P = cross sectional area of flow
/ wetted perimeter Question: 38
For most proposed land development projects, pre- and post-development
watershed drainage patterns are typically evaluated to determine if substantial
hydrologic alterations are proposed that will result in which of the following?
A. Changes to groundwater recharge
B. Changes to water regime within a given resource area
C. Increase runoff from the area
D. All of the above Answer: D
For most proposed land development projects, pre- and post-development
watershed drainage patterns are compared to determine if substantial hydrologic
alterations will be made to the watershed’s groundwater recharge, water regime,
and area runoff. The drainage patterns reviewed include the surface and
subsurface paths of water entering, crossing, and leaving the site. Additionally,
areas where water is stored within the project site are also evaluated for pre- and
post-construction conditions. Question: 39
Euler’s Formula is used to determine which of the following properties related to
a simply-supported column?
A. Maximum bending moment
B. Critical buckling load
C. Shear stress
D. None of the above Answer: B
Euler’s Formula is used to determine the critical buckling load of a simply-
supported column. Euler’s Formula is expressed as follows: Fcr = [(E x I)(p2)]/L2
Where: - E = Young’s modulus of the material used to construct the column - I =
cross-sectional area moment of inertia - L = column length Question: 40
What is the composite C value for the following drainage area for a 10-year storm
recurrence interval?Drainage area: 0.25 acres of residential lots with 40%
imperviousness (C = 0.49) 0.25 acres of lawn with 0.95% slope with 0%
imperviousness (C = 0.22) 0.10 acres of impervious pavement (C = 0.95)
A. 0.20
B. 0.45
C. 0.55
D. Not enough information provided Answer: B
The composite C value for the given drainage area for a 10-year storm recurrence
interval is 0.45. Solution: Calculate composite C by using the following equation:
C = (C1A1 + C2A2 + C3A3) / (A1 + A2 + A3) C = [(0.25 acres x 0.49) + (0.25
acres x 0.22) + (0.10 acres x 0.95)]/ (0.25+0.25+0.10) C = 0.45
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https://killexams.com/exam_list/NCEESProfessional Engineering Exam
As a licensed Professional Engineer, or PE, you can expect many more benefits when compared to other engineers; most employers offer higher salaries and greater opportunities for advancement to PE's. Only PE's can consult in private practice, and seal company documents to be sent to the government. PEs also have more credibility as expert witnesses in court than most engineers.
Steps in obtaining a PE license:
Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam.
Graduate with a bachelor's degree from an ABET accredited engineering curriculum (all Engineering curricula at Michigan Tech except Robotics Engineering).
Gain four years of engineering experience under the supervision of a registered professional engineer.
Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam.
The National Council of Examiners Administers Both Exams for Engineering and Surveying
Engineering students at Michigan Tech are encouraged to take and pass the FE examination during their last semester in college, or the first year after graduation. There will never be a time when you are better prepared to pass it than near graduation.
The examination is offered in April and October each year. Students must visit http://ncees.org/exams/ to register for the exam and pay the $155.00 fee. The registration deadline is approximately two months before the test.
FE exam Waiver
The FE Exam may be waived for those who have earned a BS in engineering and a PhD in engineering. See the NCEES web site for details.
Industry and business have become more technologically and organizationally complex and costly to manage. Drexel’s #3 ranked Engineering Management master’s, according to US News and World Report, is built to address an engineering professional’s need to provide technical knowledge,  leadership capabilities and best practices for reliable, cost effective and efficient solutions in business, while promoting ethical economic development in our global society.
The world-class graduate level coursework incorporates the University’s strengths in experiential learning and is kept engaging and relevant through the program’s deeply involved industry advisory council, comprised of executives from a wide swath of industries. The program's accomplished faculty come to us with significant experienced in both academia and industry to share their expertise in systems engineering applications across commercial, defense and other sectors.
Thu, 09 Jun 2022 22:35:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://drexel.edu/engineering/academics/departments/engineering-leadership-society/academic-programs/engineering-management/Francis College of Engineering
The UMass Lowell Francis College of Engineering provides talent and technology in engineering, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, electronics and sustainable energy.Â
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Diversity Recognition
ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Award
The Francis College of Engineering has been recognized as exemplar and with a Bronze Award for the inaugural ASEE Diversity Recognition Program.
The ASEE Diversity Recognition Program (ADRP) was created to publicly recognize those engineering and engineering technology colleges that make significant, measurable progress in increasing the diversity, inclusion, and degree attainment outcomes of their programs.
Connect with the College of Engineering
What questions do you have for the College of Engineering in regard to our programs or future undergraduate admissions at UMass Lowell?
Engineering Management
Rohann Nair was torn about whether to pursue a master of science degree or an MBA. Instead of choosing, he opted for both by enrolling in UMass Lowell’s master’s degree in engineering management.
Chemical Engineering, Biology
Honors student Michael Doane has won several prestigious fellowships and scholarships for his cancer-related and biofuel research. He says UMass Lowell does a great job of structuring both classes and learning experiences that build on one another.
Plastics Engineering
Thanks to his internship and co-op experiences, plastics engineering major Kraig Scharn ’20 discovered that sales was the right career path for him. He is now a junior technical service engineer for Entec Polymers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kevin Twitchell graduated the first time as a criminal justice major – and then switched direction, going back to school at night to get a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology.
Renewable Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Social entrepreneur Harish Hande is helping the poor in India in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, by bringing affordable solar power to the countryside.
Mechanical Engineering
Dean Kennedy always dreamed of a career at Disney. The experience he gained and connections he made while earning his bachelor’s and master’s in mechanical engineering helped make that dream come true.
Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0600entext/htmlhttps://www.uml.edu/Engineering/Best PDF editors 2023: Our top picks
It’s likely that you regularly come across or work with PDF files—they’re ubiquitous in our modern cross-platform world. Most of the time, when viewing a PDF, you can enjoy free software that allows you to read or comment on these files. But what if you need to edit them as well? That’s where a PDF editor comes in.
The best PDF editors allows you to edit, create, alter, and convert PDF files just like you would with any other text document. Adobe Acrobat is the most famous option for most people. But while it’s excellent both in features and utility, it’s also pretty expensive. Thankfully, in recent years a whole host of third-party PDF editors have sprung up in order to provide less expensive alternatives.
Here at PCWorld we’ve tested many of these top PDF editors and curated a list of the very best. With different use cases in mind, we’ve included picks for the best overall, best budget option, and even a recommendation for the best free PDF editor—because sometimes you just don’t want to pay for the basics. Check out our recommendations below to find the best PDF editor for you.
Update 11/02/2023: Check out our latest review of PDFgear. This PDF editor is one of the most sophisticated free editing tools we’ve ever seen with pro-level features and an AI co-pilot to help streamline your workflow.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC – Best overall
Pros
Easily navigable tabbed interface
Comprehensive PDF editing features
Streamlined sharing feature makes it easier to fill documents and get signatures
Cons
Rich feature set can be overwhelming for new users
Price When Reviewed:$19.90/mo I $239.88/yr
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC remains the industry standard for good reason. Its rich combination of creation, editing, reviewing, and security features are mimicked by the best alternative options, but we feel Acrobat still does it best. Its recent interface redesign makes it much easier to navigate through its robust toolset than the nested menus of yore, and its cloud subscription option puts its advanced features within reach of more individuals and small businesses. (See how it compares to the Adobe Acrobat Standard DC.)
Though many of its features are available in other, cheaper PDF editors, Acrobat is still the editor against which all others are judged.
Nitro PDF Pro hits all the right notes for a premium PDF editor that can take on the formidable Adobe Acrobat. It’s packed with features that are sure to please power users—all the requisite content editing tools; review and markup features; form fill and signing support; and robust security options for sensitive documents, such as permissions, password protection, and data redaction. It supports over 300 file formats, and adding hyperlinks, images, and files to a PDF is trouble-free.
Indeed, ease-of-use is one of Nitro PDF Pro’s great strengths. A Microsoft Office-style ribbon interface groups tasks in a familiar and intuitive interface, which makes for a seamless integration with your workflow. Yes, it’s priced on the higher side for a PDF editor, but with all it has going for it, Nitro PDF Pro more than earns its keep. If you’re looking for an Acrobat replacement, you won’t find many better.
Price When Reviewed:Free I $29.95/mo I $49.95/yr I $79.95/lifetime
EaseUs might not have the name recognition of some of the other editors on this list, but it’s more than capable of holding its own in the crowded PDF editor market. It provides all of the essential tools for managing PDF files without any of the elaborate or hard-to-understand features. It allows users to jump right in to their toolset and get straight to editing with only what they need.
While EaseUS’s features are great, they are also pretty standard fare among PDF editors. What makes it stand out is its affordable price—it’s a great value for those who regularly edit PDFs and don’t want to pay out the nose. EaseUS also offers a fully functional free version (with embedded watermarks on your edited documents) so users can take it for a spin to see if it meets their needs before they commit to paying any money.
PDF Candy is the rare free PDF editor that offers a lot of the features you’d typically have to pay for. We’re talking scanning, multiple file-conversion options, and OCR functionality. All of this combines to make PDF Candy stand out among the multitude of lesser free PDF editors. It does have a bit of a wonky interface, but once you get the hang of it you’re off and running.
Unfortunately, while the free version has access to the expansive toolset of the paid version, you’re limited to one PDF task per hour. If you want unfettered access, you need to shell out $6 per month, or $48 per year.
PDF Expert – Best full-featured editor for Apple devices
Pros
Syncs across Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Comprehensive editing and annotation tools
Simple, intuitive interface
Cons
Requires annual payment
Lifetime license enables use on Mac only
Price When Reviewed:Free 7-day trial, then $79.99 annually
PDF Expert is an excellent editor that fits seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem, making it our pick for Macs, iPads, and iPhone users.
While macOS does include a PDF editor in its Preview app, iOS devices don’t have a native PDF editor and PDF Expert fills that gap nicely. It has a clean and intuitive interface and offers a plethora of easy-to-use editing options such as page management, converting scanned files into editable documents, and conversion to other file formats, among other things. The pricing plan is also considerably cheaper than most of the other top picks, meaning this is a no-brainer for Apple users.
Apple Preview PDF editor – Best free option for Mac users
Pros
Full set of PDF markup tools
Supports form filling
PDFs can be protected with passwords, encryption, and permission controls
Cons
Limited native sharing options
Only available to Mac users
Price When Reviewed:Built into macOS
Mac users needn’t look beyond the macOS for their PDF editing needs, since there is a full set of PDF markup tools already available at their disposal in Apple Preview. It has the chops to handle most personal and business PDF editing needs, including encryption, password protection, and permissions for files.
Apple Preview’s PDF features and capabilities are impressive and should be all you need for most common editing tasks. The drawback, of course, is that only Mac users can take advantage of them.
Price When Reviewed:$8 per month (annual commitment) I $20 per month (cancel at any time)
pdfFiller is a browser-based PDF editor that allows you do to just about everything PDF-related—editing, securing, sharing, creating, and storing PDF files—all from its intuitive and simple web interface. Its design is similar to a desktop app, with the toolbar across the top, and document thumbnails along the side, so it’s very easy to select the page you want to work on and perform the desired function, be it adding, deleting, or copying/pasting text; changing font style, size, and color; and so on. A standard set of markup tools is also available. It has a surprisingly deep set of features for both personal and business use. For instance the Premium plan offers an impressive legal document library, as well as SignNow support.
While incredibly versatile, not all of pdfFiller’s advanced features will suit everyone. Fortunately, there are three subscription tiers, which gives users a way to meet their editing needs without paying extra for unnecessary features: Basic for $8/mo; Plus for $12/mo; Premium for $15/mo with an annual commitment. Month-to-month options are also available, but at a higher cost, of course.
Why spend a chunk of change on a desktop editor when free online PDF editors abound? The simple answer is because you get what you pay for. Generally, free online editors will let you add text and comments, merge and split documents, and convert files to and from PDF. With rare exception, however, they won’t let you edit existing text and many have file-size and page-volume restrictions. And a lot of them will watermark your edited document. For these reasons, web PDF editors are best reserved for simple, fast editing jobs. Call in these big dogs for anything more demanding.
What to look for in a PDF editor
PDF editors come in a variety of flavors, offering varying feature sets—from basic functionality to power-user tools. It’s important to know what features best match your workflow before you commit to a PDF editor.
Create, convert, and export PDFs
The most fundamental function of a PDF editor is to make PDFs, either from scratch, scanned hard copies, or by converting digital documents. A good PDF editor should be able to transform a variety of file types—from Microsoft Office formats to images to HTML—and do so seamlessly, preserving the original formatting. It should also include OCR technology to make the PDF text searchable and editable. Likewise, a good PDF editor must be able to export PDFs into other editable formats such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, HTML, or plain text, maintaining the original files hyperlinks, images, and other elements.
Content editing
Another bit of magic that PDF editors unlock is the ability to modify text; insert, resize, and move images; and reorganize pages in the PDF. A good one will perform these tasks as easily as in a text document or slide deck, allowing in-line editing, dragging-and dropping graphics, and adding or removing hyperlinks.
Review and annotate
A good PDF editor should also let you or anyone else using it add comments and other annotations to PDF files during review. It should have tools to mark up both text documents and graphic-heavy files like webpages. Common options include sticky notes, callout boxes, highlighting, freehand drawing tools, and stamps with messages like “approved,” “revised,” and “confidential.”
Security
All businesses deal with documents containing sensitive data. Look for a PDF editor that includes security features that allow access for authorized eyes only. Good options will usually offer several levels of security, including password protection, permissions setting, and content redaction, which “blacks out” selected text and images. Most PDF editors will also offer one or more ways to electronically sign documents.
Mobile support
While deep PDF editing is best done on a desktop, it’s nice to be able to review and annotate files when you’re out and about. While PDFs can typically be reviewed in any PDF reader or editor, regardless of which one they were created in, consider looking for an editor that has a dedicated mobile app, is optimized for mobile devices, or allows cloud access to features through a mobile browser.
One of the great things about a PDF is that it can be read and edited in any PDF program regardless of which one it was created in. So beyond the features outlined here, let your personal preferences guide you in making your decision.
FAQ
1.
What is the difference between a PDF document and a PDF form?
While there are a number of different types of PDF file formats, they all fall under the umbrella term of PDF documents. A PDF form is a type of PDF document that has editable form fields a user can fill out. Typically, parts of the document are static and can’t be changed in a PDF form, such as questions in a survey or instructions about filling out the form. In a PDF form, the content fields a user fills out are open to editing and can offer a list of possible answer options or can be written in freely.
2.
Are PDF documents and Word files different?
Yes. They are two entirely different document formats. While you can export from one file format to another, they are not the same. Word file formats are usually used for word processing, editing, and making changes to text. PDF documents on the other hand, are most often utilized for viewing, sharing, and printing. Additionally, Word files are read and write and contain some version of the “.doc” file format. Whereas PDF files are typically read-only and contain the “.pdf” file format.
3.
Can you protect PDF documents from being edited by other people?
Yes. If you have a PDF document that you don’t want anyone else to edit, you can protect the file. You can do this by opening the file in Acrobat, for instance, and clicking Tools > Protect. Then you have a few options as to whether you want to simply restrict editing with a password, or if you want to encrypt the file for further safety. Once you choose how you want to protect the PDF document, you can set a password and save.
4.
Can you merge PDFs with a free PDF editor?
As a matter of fact, many free PDF editors allow you to merge two or more PDFs into one document. Such is the case with our top free pick PDF Candy. Open up the PDF editor application or website in your browser and search for the Merge option. It will then ask you to add the files of all PDFs you wish to merge. Once the files have been added, arrange the page order and alignment before proceeding with the merge. Afterwards, all of your previously PDF files will be merged into one new PDF document.
5.
Does Google have a free PDF editor?
Yes and no. Google doesn’t provide a designated free PDF editor itself, but there are third-party Chrome extensions that you can use to help get the job done. Alternatively, you can make use of Google Drive to edit a PDF document. Simply upload the document onto your Google Drive and then select the file and right-click and select Open with > Google Docs. The file will be opened as an editable Google Docs text document. Then just make your edits and when you’re finished click File > obtain >PDF Document to revert it back to a PDF file.
This method is a quick and easy way to edit a simple PDF document, but be careful as Google Docs can run into formatting issues if your original document has complex visual formatting such as tables and graphs. In this case, it is best to use a designated free or premium PDF editor.
Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:00:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://www.pcworld.com/article/407214/best-pdf-editors.htmlBest PDF editors in 2023
The best PDF editors let you do even more with PDF files from marking them up to making changes to the text and images they include.
Even though PDF files may appear to be finalized, they can be edited and changed in the same way you can alter a text document. You just need the right software to do so. The best PDF editors allow you to open almost any PDF file and from here, you can edit, alter, annotate, sign or convert it into other popular file formats like Microsoft Word’s Doc and Docx.
If you work with PDF files regularly as part of your job, while studying or perhaps even when doing a hobby, one of the best PDF editors will certainly make things easier for you. We’ve tested more than a half-dozen different options and these are the best ones for altering text, changing images and annotating PDF files. On a tight budget, these are the best free PDF editors.Â
The best PDF editors you can buy today
(Image credit: Adobe)
1. Acrobat Pro DC
Best PDF editor for Windows
Specifications
Cost:$240/year
Developer:Adobe
Compatibility:macOS, Windows
Category:PDF editor
Reasons to buy
+
Full-featured PDF editing and annotation tool
+
Excellent OCR
You'd expect Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to be great because it comes from Adobe, the birthplace of the portable document format. To some extent, this full-service PDF-editing application meets that expectation.
Acrobat Pro DC offers a complete set of PDF-editing tools, and it even lets you edit scanned documents. Acrobat DC's OCR engine can convert scanned documents to text, which you can then search through and change.Â
But Acrobat doesn't allow you to convert an entire document the moment you open it. Instead, the app waits for you to begin using the Pro DC's edit tools, recognizing and converting the pages as you select them for editing. Changing text in an OCR'd document was simple and the results look great.
It's also easy to edit images and text in documents you haven't scanned. I was able to make changes to everything with zero issues.
What I don't like about Acrobat Pro DC is the interface. It feels like a half-realized demo of what the app could be. Editing tools surround your document, and the UI feels disorganized, offering few options for customization.Â
Since it's designed to work on both Macs and PCs, Acrobat Pro DC looks like it belongs in neither environment. This doesn't make this program bad at what it's supposed to do; it just makes you feel like you're working outside your chosen OS.
Our pick for the best free PDF editor is PDF Candy, because it offers something many free options do not — an OCR feature for scanning text. You can't edit OCR'd text in this web-based PDF editor, but you are able to upload PDF files and extract text and create a text document, RTF file, or Word document in both .doc and .docx formats.
You can choose from 44 tools to create or convert PDF files. It's also easy to rearrange pages within a document, add watermarks, protect PDF files with passcodes, edit metadata within a PDF file, split or add pages to documents, and extract images. genuine text editing is pretty limited, the trade-off you make to enjoy a fairly feature-rich free PDF editor.
Once you've made your edits in PDF Candy, you can obtain the edited document or upload a new document to work on. PDF Candy keeps all of your documents in a queue so you can obtain them all at once after you've finished making changes to them.
Web-based annotation tools are easy to understand and use
Reasons to avoid
-
Extremely limited font options when you add text
-
Desktop version requires a subscription
PDFescape is a basic, web-based PDF-editing and -annotation program you can use for free to work on PDF documents that are smaller than either 10MB or 100 pages, whichever is greater. (PDFescape used to limit you to 50 pages, so the higher limit is a welcome change.) If you need to edit larger files, you can upgrade to a premium account for $36 a year. There's also an "ultimate" plan for $72 per year.
Accessible through any modern web browser, PDFescape offers no OCR capabilities like PDF Candy does. But PDFescape's annotation tools are easy to use. You'll find a pretty solid set of standard annotation tools that can easily add, highlight and strike through text; insert notes; and otherwise mark up the pages of your PDF file. Using the web app's insert tools, you can also add new images and text to a document, white-out text, and add web links and form fields.
PDFescape does have some major limitations in adding new text. Because there are no OCR capabilities, you can't make changes to existing text; you're limited to adding new text to an existing document. Additionally, the app has very limited font options, as it doesn't use any of your computer's fonts. So you're limited to Arial, Courier New, Times New Roman, Verdana and a Signature font for signing documents.
(Image credit: Apple)
4. Apple Preview
Built-in PDF annotation for macOS
Specifications
Cost:Free with macOS
Developer:Apple
Compatibility:macOS
Category:PDF annotation
Reasons to buy
+
Excellent annotation tools
+
Easy-to-use signature capture
+
Markup features are often available in other apps
Reasons to avoid
-
Locating annotation tools not obvious
-
Mac only
Apple's Preview app is built-in to macOS and offers a minimalist but valuable set of tools for marking up any PDF file. You won't find full-on PDF editing here. But if you need a basic set of tools for highlighting or redacting text, making notes, or adding comments to a document, you won't likely need much more than what's already available on your Mac.
Preview's markup tools are hidden when you first open a PDF document. To see them, you'll have to look for the small pencil icon that appears near the Spotlight search bar at the top of your PDF document's toolbar. Clicking this reveals a small set of tools you can use to select text and add objects, text or notes to your document.
The app's standout feature is a signature tool you can use to store a signature you create using your trackpad or scan using your Mac's camera. You can then easily add that signature to a document by clicking Preview's Signature tool. Simple and easy to use once you set it up, Preview's signing feature will prove its usefulness every time a digital document requires your John Hancock.
You can access all of Preview's editing tools without opening Preview, as long as you're running macOS 10.14 Mojave or later. Just use QuickLook to view a PDF, then click on the Markup button in that mode.
(Image credit: Readdle)
5. PDF Expert
PDF editor with the cleanest interface
Specifications
Cost:$80 one-time license purchase
Developer:Readdle
Compatibility:macOS
Category:PDF editor
Reasons to buy
+
Clean, easy-to-use interface
+
AI-powered Enhance feature
+
Editing tools appear when you need them and hide when you don't
Reasons to avoid
-
Difficulties with larger files
-
Mac-only
Readdle's macOS-only PDF Expert is a popular PDF-editing tool that allows you to make changes to text in existing PDF documents by removing and replacing images, updating text, and adding text of your own. PDF Expert lacks OCR capabilities, so if you want to edit text in scanned documents, you'll need to look beyond this program.
Of all the apps I tested, PDF Expert has the cleanest interface and therefore was the most pleasant to use. Two tabs appear at the top of the screen: Annotate and Edit. Clicking one of them gives you an appropriate selection of tools to perform either annotation or editing tasks.
PDF Expert's editing tools are flawless. Click text in your PDF, and tools for editing text will slide out so you can make changes. Select an image, and tools for changing the image appear. You can move selected text anywhere on the page you want or remove it altogether.
PDF Expert struggles with large documents; otherwise, this would have been my top pick for Mac. However, every time I attempted to open my nearly 450-page test file, PDF Expert hung. Until this program behaves more dependably, look elsewhere if you tend to work with larger documents. There's also a Windows version in development and you can sign up to get notified when it's ready.
Wondershare's PDFelement Pro is a full-featured PDF editor with an OCR engine for recognizing scanned text and a standard set of tools. With those, you can fill in forms, annotate documents, create and add signatures, and edit images within a document.
PDFelement had no problem opening anything I threw at it, including scanned documents, large files and image-heavy PDFs. Once documents are open, PDFelement Pro offers a fairly simple interface, with a set of tools on the left side of your document that are easy to figure out. Just select a tool, and you can go to work making changes to a file.
Editing images, adding signatures and using annotations in the application all worked as planned, but I did experience some odd behaviors when I was editing or adding text using PDFelement Pro. In particular, when I was editing existing text in a document, the application wanted to make the text bold and would not allow me to change the content back to regular text. Also, when I added new text boxes, my own text did not display normally; the program always added a space after I typed an apostrophe. And the program constantly played my Mac's system beep as I typed. That's both annoying and not optimal.
(Image credit: Sejda)
7. Sejda PDF Desktop Pro
A PDF editor with too many limitations
Specifications
Cost:$63/year
Developer:Sejda
Compatibility:macOS, Windows
Category:PDF annotation
Reasons to buy
+
Can edit text, though on a limited basis
+
Can add images and annotate your documents
+
Paid weekly pass available
Reasons to avoid
-
Very limited features
-
Paragraphs are treated as individual lines of text
-
Cannot remove or edit existing images
Sejda is a web-based PDF-editing application that works on any OS that has a modern web browser. A desktop version converts that web interface into something that runs on your computer.Â
You can use a free version of Sejda, but it limits the number of daily tasks you can perform and the size of the documents you can access.Â
To get the most out of the program, you can buy an annual license for both the web and desktop versions for $63. You can also buy a weekly pass for both versions for $8 if you've got a one-time project that requires Sejda.
Sejda has no OCR engine, so you can't use this app to edit PDF files created from scanned documents. You can edit only PDF files that already have selectable text.
To edit your PDF file, you upload it to the Sejda website and then use the toolbar at the top of the page to choose your tools. You'll find tools for editing text, adding links, adding form fields and images, and signing or annotating your document. All of Sejda's tools are rudimentary at best.Â
The app breaks every line of text in your document into a single text entry, so you can't edit entire paragraphs of text. When you do edit existing text, remnants of the previous text often get left behind in the document. Sejda will let you add new images to a document, but you can't use the app to edit or remove existing images.
Sejda isn't a great app, but it works in a pinch when you need to make a quick change to an existing PDF document and you have no other tools at hand.
How to choose the best PDF editor for you
The first question you should ask yourself when choosing a PDF editor is what you plan to do with it. If it’s just to mark up documents and add digital signatures, PDF annotation software will better suit your needs.
As there are many well-featured PDF annotation programs that are available for free, you can save yourself some money. For instance, as we mentioned, Mac users can save even more time since the Preview app that ships with Apple’s computers includes markup and signature tools.
However, if you’re in the market for a full-fledged PDF editor that lets you manipulate text and create documents, consider what kinds of features you’ll need for PDF editing. Applications with good OCR capabilities will likely cost more but if you don’t need OCR, you may be able to make do with a free PDF editor.
While PDF editors are great for making changes or notes to documents, they’re not necessary if you simply want to view and read a PDF. For that, check out our list of the best PDF readers you can download.Â
How we test PDF editors
We looked at both PDF editors and applications used for making annotations in PDFs. Every PDF editor can also annotate documents but dedicated PDF-annotation tools aren’t actually designed to make changes to any of the original content in a PDF document.
While testing each of these applications, we used a few different types of documents including large, text-heavy files, documents with a mix of formatted images and text and simple documents with text and images inserted into the document in a linear fashion. We tested features like text recognition (when supported) and we tried making changes to text, replacing and adding images and adding annotations.
Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:53:00 -0600entext/htmlhttps://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-pdf-editorsMake your mark. Be part of the nation's first Women in Engineering Program.
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Fri, 12 Oct 2018 22:14:00 -0500text/htmlhttps://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.rulesPDF&groupName=sup&setName=SPREngineering Career Services
Engineering Career Services is housed in EEC 254 and provides a hub for engineering students and alumni seeking career advising, industry networking opportunities, and job search assistance. Our team helps develop engineering students as young professionals and supports employer recruiting efforts at UAB.Â
Engineering Career Fair
Engineering Career Services sponsors the Engineering Career Fair each fall and spring semester. This signature event is a targeted recruitment opportunity for organizations seeking to hire interns, co-ops, and entry-level engineering talent from our programs. New hiring partners should reach out to Neil Adams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information on how to participate. 65+ employer organizations join this event each semester.
All engineering undergraduate and graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Engineering Career Fair each fall and spring semester. UAB School of Engineering alumni job seekers are also welcome to participate. Attending the Engineering Career Fair each semester is a critical factor in building your network as a job seeker, and preparation is your key to success. Students should bring resumes and wear professional attire. Schedule an appointment with us to help put your best foot forward at this event and in your job search.
Check Handshake for real-time updates on this and other events, view participating employers, and schedule an appointment with our office.
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Students and employers, be sure to visit the UAB Engineering Career Services page in Handshake to view upcoming events including the Engineering Career Fair each fall and spring semester.
Are you interested in recruiting UAB Engineering students and alumni? Please reach out to Neil Adams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a recruiting meeting and to be added to our contact list for UAB Engineering event updates.
If you are a new employer to Handshake, please visit the following to get started.
If you are a current UAB Engineering student seeking career advising or Internship Readiness support please email Neil Adams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit Handshake, to schedule an appointment. Services are offered in-person and virtually. If you are interested in recruiting UAB Engineering students and participating in networking events with students, please email Neil Adams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to connect. Â
Engineering Career Services is conveniently located in the 254 Suite of the Education & Engineering Complex (EEC). We look forward to working with you!
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Samantha Borglum Peer Career Mentor, Engineering Career Services
Fri, 14 Jun 2019 12:26:00 -0500en-UStext/htmlhttps://www.uab.edu/engineering/home/students/careersBest free PDF editors 2023: Our top picks
If you work with PDF files regularly then a PDF editor is an indispensable tool. Whether it’s part of your job, you manage PDF files for your own personal use, or you just need to complete a one-off editing task, a top editor program is an essential piece of software. Full-featured editors such as Adobe’s Acrobat Pro DC might provide all of the bells and whistles, but a free PDF editor can still offer most of the important tools of a paid service for no additional charge.
Plus, many free PDF editors are browser based, which means that you don’t need to worry about about platform- or device-compatibility issues.
Of course, free products won’t come with every feature of their premium counterparts. So, if you find that you need more advanced tools such as password protection, Bates numbering, or e-signatures, then you’re probably better served by a premium PDF editor.
Updated 11/02/2023:To include PDFgear as our new pick for most sophisticated free PDF editor. Read more about why we love this great new pick with a pro-level feature set in our summary below.
PDF Candy – Best free PDF editor overall
Pros
Many advanced features
OCR capability
Very easy to use
Cons
Lacks a single interface, which some users may not like
Free version limits you to one task per hour
Price When Reviewed:Free
PDF Candy is the rare free PDF editor that offers a lot of the features you’d typically have to pay for. We’re talking scanning, multiple file-conversion options, and OCR functionality. While the free version has access to the expansive toolset of the paid version, you’re limited to one PDF task per hour. For unfettered access, you need to shell out $6 month.
PDFgear is a robust free editing application with a full set of features you’d only expect to find in a paid service. Not only do you get the standard PDF editor capabilities such as edit, annotate, covert, merge, and split, but you also get more advanced functions such as compress, password protect, and E-sign. On top of all of that PDFgear includes a really interesting and unique AI co-pilot function that helps streamline your workflow by understanding and executing commands you type into a chat window. Overall, PDFgear is easily one of the best free PDF editors available.
Sejda PDF editor – Most versatile free PDF editor
Pros
Online and desktop versions available
Performs dozens of PDF tasks
No frills interface is easy to use
Cons
There are daily usage limits without a subscription
Limited font options
Price When Reviewed:Free (Premium $7.50/mo)
Offered as both an online tool and a desktop editor, Sejda is capable of performing dozens of tasks including editing, form creation and filling, Bates stamping, file encryption, and more. If the daily usage limits are too restrictive for you, you can upgrade to the affordable paid version.
Apple Preview PDF editor – Best free PDF editor for Mac users
Pros
Full set of PDF markup tools
Supports form filling
PDFs can be protected with passwords, encryption, and permission controls
Cons
Limited native sharing options
Only available to Mac users
Price When Reviewed:Built into macOS
Mac users have an excellent PDF editor built right into their operating system. Although its ostensibly a photo viewer, macOS’s Preview app is rife with PDF-editing capabilities including tools for adding text and shapes, redacting content, making freehand drawings, inserting sticky notes, and capturing your signature using your trackpad, camera, or iPhone.
Content editing: As its name indicates, a PDF editor’s primary function is to enable you to edit a document. That includes the ability to add and modify text; insert, resize, and move images; and reorganize pages in the PDF. Most free PDF editors will let you perform these tasks, though they may impose daily limits on how many you can perform or how many documents you can edit.
Create, convert, and export PDFs: A common need for a PDF editor is to create PDF files from scanned hard copies or by converting digital documents. A good free PDF editor will be able to convert common file formats such as Word, JPG, and HTML to a PDF and preserve the original formatting. It should also be able to export PDFs into other editable formats such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, HTML, or plain text, maintaining the original files hyperlinks, images, and other elements.
Review and annotate: Most free PDF editors allow you to add comments and other annotations to PDF files during review. Typical annotation tools include sticky notes, shapes, and drawing markup options.
Signatures: Often all you need a PDF editor for is to sign a document. This used to be a premium feature only available on paid desktop editors, but more free PDF editors are allowing users to create and add electronic signatures to documents.
FAQ
1.
Is there a difference between a PDF document and a PDF form?
While there are a number of different types of PDF file formats, they all fall under the umbrella term of PDF documents. A PDF form is a type of PDF document that has editable form fields a user can fill out. Typically, parts of the document are static and can’t be changed in a PDF form. These usually include questions and instructions for those who end up filling out the form later on. In a PDF form, the content fields a user fills out are typically open to editing and can offer a list of possible answer options or can be written in freely.
2.
Are Word files and PDF documents different?
Yes. They are two entirely different document formats. While you can export from one file format to another, they are not the same. Word file formats are usually used for word processing, editing, and making changes to text. PDF documents on the other hand, are most often utilized for viewing, sharing, and printing documents. Additionally, Word files can be read and/or written to and contain some version of the “.doc” file format. Whereas PDF files are typically read-only and contain the “.pdf” file format.
3.
Can you stop other people from editing your PDF documents?
Yes. If you have a PDF document that you do not want anyone else to be able to edit, you can protect the file. You can do this by opening the file in Acrobat, clicking Tools > Protect. Then you have a few options as to whether you want to just restrict editing with a password, or if you want to encrypt the file for further safety. Once you choose how you want to protect the PDF document, you can set a password and save.
4.
Can I merge PDFs with a free PDF editor?
Yes, many free PDF editors such as our top pick PDF Candy, allow you to merge two or more PDFs into one. As most free PDF editors are browser-based, you will just need to open up the PDF editor application or website in your browser and click the “Merge” option. It will then ask you to add the files of all PDFs you wish to merge. Once the files have been added, just make sure that they are in the correct position and alignment you want before proceeding with the merge. Afterwards, all of your previously PDF files will be merged together into one new PDF document.
5.
Does Google have a free PDF editor?
Yes and no. Google doesn’t provide a designated free PDF editor itself, but there are third-party Chrome extensions that you can use to help get the job done. Alternatively, you can make use of Google Drive to edit a PDF document. Simply upload the document onto your Google Drive and then select the file and right-click and select Open with > Google Docs. The file will be opened as an editable Google Docs text document. Then just make your edits and when you’re finished click File > obtain > PDF Document to revert it back to a PDF file.
This method is a quick and easy way to edit a simple PDF document, but be careful as Google Docs can run into formatting issues if your original document has complex visual formatting such as tables and graphs. In this case, it’s best to use a designated free or premium PDF editor.
Sun, 05 Nov 2023 12:30:00 -0600Author: Michael Ansaldoentext/htmlhttps://www.pcworld.com/article/702374/best-free-pdf-editors.htmlBest free PDF editors in 2023
The best free PDF editors let you quickly make changes to a Portable Document Format or PDF file without spending a thing. Although you won’t get all of the advanced features included with one of the best PDF editors, a free PDF editor should be able to do the trick if you want to create PDFs and make simple edits to them.Â
The best free PDF editors offer basic editing and document-creation abilities. However, sometimes they toss in a few free extras. For instance, many free PDF editors let you annotate PDFS and some of them can even recognize scanned text — all at no extra cost.
We’ve tried out, tested and used half-a-dozen free PDF editors and compared them to their paid counterparts to help you find the best one for your needs. These are the best free PDF editors you can get right now if all you’re looking to do is to make a few simple tweaks and edits to a PDF file.
PDF Candy may be one of the more compelling free PDF editors, mostly because it offers an OCR option not available in other free PDF editors.Â
While you can't edit the OCR'd text directly within PDF Candy's web-based PDF editor, you can upload a PDF file and have PDF Candy extract text and create a text document, RTF file, or Word document in both .doc and .docx formats.
PDF Candy's tool set is formidable. You can use 44 different tools to create or convert PDF files. Additionally, you'll find tools for rearranging pages within a document, adding watermarks, protecting PDF files with passcodes, editing metadata within a PDF file, splitting or adding pages to documents, and extracting images. All these tasks are as simple as selecting the tool, uploading a document and allowing PDF Candy to work its magic.
When you finish one task in a document, you'll get a list of other tools you can use for different tasks. Once your changes are complete, you can obtain the edited document or upload a new document to work on. PDF Candy keeps all of your documents in a queue so you can obtain them all at once after you've finished making changes to them.
While the genuine text-editing tools in PDF Candy are as limited as with every other free PDF-editing app, everything else PDF Candy has to offer puts it head and shoulders above the other free options.
Upgrade from free version:$36 (premium), $72 (ultimate) per year
Reasons to buy
+
Web-based annotation tools are easy to understand and use
+
Page limit has increased to 100 pages
+
Impressive feature set for a free app
PDFescape is an excellent option for online PDF editing. Simple to use and available to anyone with a web browser, PDFescape may be all you need to edit and annotate PDF files.
PDFescape used to have a limit of either a 10MB or 50-page PDF file. That 10MB file-size limit remains in place, but you can now edit files of up to 100 pages for free.
PDFescape offers ample annotation tools. You can use the app to fill out forms, create form fields, insert text and web links, highlight text, add sticky notes, redact or strike out text, crop and rotate images, add or remove pages and even lock and encrypt PDF documents.
You'll have to contend with severely limited font options though as PDFescape only offers five fonts, one of which is a generic "signature" font that looks nothing like your own signature. But otherwise, you'll find a lot more tools in PDFescape than you will in the typical, bare-bones free PDF editor.
(Image credit: Apple)
3. Apple Preview
A great free option for Mac users
Specifications
Developer:Apple
Compatibility:macOS
Category: :PDF annotation; image editing
Upgrade from free version:None
Reasons to buy
+
Included with every Mac
+
Includes image-editing tools
+
Excellent annotation tools and options for adding signatures to documents
Reasons to avoid
-
Not available for other platforms
-
Markup tools aren't easy to find
-
No OCR
Apple's Preview application is built into every version of macOS. Not only is it capable for working with PDF files, but it also offers a number of other image-editing features. It is the multitool of the image-editing universe, capable of opening virtually any image file you may encounter.
The bulk of Preview's markup capabilities aren't obvious when you first open the app, although you'll find a few basic tools for rotating pages and highlighting text on the basic toolbar.Â
Preview's full set of markup tools appears when you click a small markup button that looks like a pencil tip located next to the search tool in the Preview toolbar.
Those markup tools include text-selection options; drawing tools you can use to add freehand drawings to a document; a text tool for adding additional text to a document; a tool that adds shapes and notes; and a signature tool that you can use to capture your signature using your Mac's camera, a tablet or your trackpad.
Preview is a solid option for basic PDF editing, and if you own a Mac, accessing Preview's powers is as simple as launching the app.
FormSwift offers a slightly different twist on PDF editing. While it gives you the option to upload and edit PDF files, it also offers a large library of legal and other business forms you can fill in online and obtain as a PDF file or Word document.Â
We found FormSwift's offerings to be excellent and well worth a look if you need basic business documents such as 1099s, lease agreements and business meeting minutes.
All of these forms can be filled out online and downloaded once you've added the pertinent information. Or you can obtain blank versions of the documents and enter information locally on your computer.
For PDF editing, the process is simple. Drag a file to your browser — there's a 10MB max size — then use FormSwift's tools to add new text and images; highlight, redact or erase existing text; and sign documents.
FormSwift's text tools are limited. You have four fonts to choose from, but you can resize those fonts to almost any level you want, and you can also make changes to text colors and styles. You can add a new text field to your document, enter new text and adjust the text, placing it anywhere you want on the document.Â
But there is no way to make changes to existing text, other than by redacting it. All the other tools work as expected, including a signature tool that lets you sign a document using the keyboard, your mouse or an uploaded image.
Smallpdf's free online PDF editing offering is super-basic, only making it possible to add minor changes to documents.Â
But you may find Smallpdf's other free features more compelling. These include tools for converting PDF files to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and JPEG. You can also convert each of those file types to PDF.Â
Basic as it may be, Smallpdf can add pages to or compress existing PDF documents. Additionally, there are tools for adding signatures to documents that are similar to those available with Apple's Preview application on a Mac. All of this is available with no file-size limitations, but Smallpdf lets you process only two documents per day. If you want to do more, you'll have to upgrade to the Pro plan, which gives you Smallpdf desktop applications as well as unlimited processing.
As with all online PDF editors, you begin using Smallpdf by dragging the file you want to work with directly to your browser window. For editing PDFs, you have four options to work with: Add Text, Add Image, Add Shape and Draw. You'll note that there are no options to add notes or comments, and no way to highlight existing text. If you need to add annotations or otherwise mark up a PDF document, you should look elsewhere.
Even if the four options offered seem to be enough for you, you'll still feel constrained within each of those tools. Add text, and you have only five size options and no font choices (although you can select serif, sans serif and monotype styles for your single font choice). You're also limited to seven font colors.
While Smallpdf may lack anything beyond the basics for editing PDF files, it's much more appealing for adding electronic signatures, converting or compressing files and merging documents.Â
How to choose the best free PDF editor for you
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Picking the best free PDF editor is a lot like choosing a paid version of a document editor as you first need to identify exactly what you want to do with PDF files and go for the program that offers the features needed to accomplish your goals.
This can be as simple as deciding whether you need a PDF editor that can handle document creation and design or whether you just want a program that allows you to leave comments and suggestions on a PDF.
As this is free software, you should pay attention to any limitations that are imposed on the free tier. Are there restrictions on the size of the documents you can edit or are certain tools locked behind a paywall. If you need access to these tools, then it may be worth paying for those particular features.
If you’re doing your PDF editing on a computer, first check to see if you have built-in software that can handle the job. For instance, Mac users might not realize just how good Preview is at annotating documents and adding signatures to PDFs. You can save a lot of time searching for the best free PDF editor if you already have access to all of the features you need.
How we test free PDF editors
When testing free PDF editors, we used the same process as when we test paid PDF editors. However, we make note of the limitations that can come with free software. We also considered both general PDF editors as well as applications specifically designed for annotations.
When looking at free PDF editors, we used a few different types of documents that comply with file-size restrictions. These included text-heavy files, documents with a mix of formatted images and text and simple documents with text and images inserted in a linear fashion.
While free apps often don’t include features like text recognition, we did test this feature when it was available. We also tried making changes to text, replacing and adding images and adding notations to each product we tested.
