[ale] is there an open source program permitting creating/editing of PDF files ?

[James Sumners]

"There is also specialized software for editing PDF files, though the
choices are much more limited and often expensive. Adobe Acrobat
Professional is one example of software that allows the user to
annotate (highlight, add notes to) already created PDF files. A free
one is PDFedit. As of version 0.46, Inkscape also allows PDF editing
through an intermediate translation step involving poppler. A freeware
desktop program also exists which allows PDF format order forms and
applications to be filled in and printed off, even those previously
uneditable using Adobe Reader." -- [1]

The second sentence is the key. Acrobat allows you _annotate_ already
created PDFs. To actually edit the PDF, you need the source materials.
To reinforce this point:

"Make simple changes to a PDF document without the source file or application

Typos, layout issues, and other minor errors can threaten to delay
your project. Editing the original file may be too time-consuming, or
even impossible if you do not have the appropriate software and source
files.

With Adobe® Acrobat® 9 software, you can work directly within a PDF
document to implement minor changes. Easily add or replace text and
make changes to color, word spacing, character spacing, and text size.
You can also move or edit objects such as images and tables." -- [2]


[1] -- http://tinyurl.com/e2vvx
[2] -- http://tinyurl.com/yojbz4

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 1:43 PM, Geoffrey <lists at serioustechnology.com> wrote:
> James Sumners wrote:
>> Or install the CUPS PDF printer and create PDFs from any application
>> that can print.
>>
>> PDFs aren't really meant to be edited once they are created. There is
>> a plugin for OpenOffice Draw that makes it possible, but I doubt it
>> works very well. A PDF is meant to be a digital representation of a
>> printed document. Can you make unnoticeable edits to printed paper?
>
> I would doubt that is correct.  After all, there is acrobat.  Not the
> reader, but the pdf editing application sold by the originator of the
> pdf format.



-- 
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59