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

[Richard Bronosky]

I regularly edit files with Adobe Illustrator. Acrobat can annotate
and make minor edits as has been said. Illuistrator is a whole other
monster. When you edit a file that was NOT saved with the option to
"preserve editing ability" (which can add 50-300% to the file size)
nearly every word will be a separate object with absolute positioning.
Some times every letter will be its own object. It is a freaking mess.
I do it when I need to extract a good qualty vector logo, or an image
at its original resolution, or delete parts I don't want to print,
etc.

So, you've gotten a lot of info in response to your vague create/edit
description of your need. Can you return the favor by giving the
group/list more info about your needs?

On 6/3/09, James Sumners <james.sumners at gmail.com> wrote:
> "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
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>

-- 
Sent from my mobile device

.!# RichardBronosky #!.