Why You Can't Edit PDF Files In Mac Preview

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  • Опубліковано 26 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 131

  • @umerez
    @umerez 3 роки тому +19

    I guess it’s been said already that there are a few apps that let you edit the content quite properly. There might be format issues, of course, but I use PDF Expert every day to edit the PDF directly instead of going back to the source document. Typos, dates, even short paragraphs, or delete/rotate images, there’s many things you can change with these apps. PDFpen is another one. Great basic video, though, to understand both the value and the limitations of PDFs.

  • @roberttaylor9259
    @roberttaylor9259 3 роки тому +3

    I know you've addressed this in several comments but you really should have mentioned one of the many PDF editing softwares including Adobe. Yes, you should use the source material but you're also speaking about lost documentation so "shoulds" go out the window there. Truth is if you're in the position of needing to edit a PDF then most people are coming from a place where they need to because they cannot obtain access to source material. Acrobat (when I had it) was extremely powerful and made it very easy to convert back and forth and edit.

  • @structureandspace6512
    @structureandspace6512 2 роки тому +11

    Well that was a waste of my time, still can't edit the pdf I have sitting here.

  • @TonyPadgett
    @TonyPadgett 3 роки тому +6

    I think this depends on how much you want to edit. I use PDF Edit to do some quick text editing, especially if I don’t have the originally Word file. At Work, I often don’t have the original documents and use Adobe Pro to export to Word. Saves a ton of time.

  • @pgk60
    @pgk60 3 роки тому +2

    Preview (as of Sept 2021) is great for unlocking locked PDFs. Sometimes the password is hopelessly lost. It's not flawless though especially with interactive functionality.
    Thanks again. I subscribed.

  • @lorensims4846
    @lorensims4846 3 роки тому +10

    Note that the 'Save as PDF' submenu IS in the 'Print' dialog.
    One of the primary skills I was taught in my graphic design class was to "recreate the document."
    People keep bringing you finished flyers or brochures and wanting changes made to it, like updating the date or location. No, they don't have the original, this was created months ago by another freelance designer and now the information has changed.
    In some situations it's easier than others. Something with a lot of graphics is obviously more complicated. The main tricks would be to match the size and typeface of the fonts that are used and also the size and color of any lines or other graphic details like tables.
    With practice you can usually come pretty close.
    I wowed a new supervisor when she passed out a lookup sheet that had been Xeroxed so many times that it was almost unreadable. I came in the next day with a clean version of the same lookup sheet with copies for everyone else there.

  • @WanderingAroundAZ
    @WanderingAroundAZ 3 роки тому +43

    Great explanation of what a PDF really IS versus what many people WANT it to be. The comparison to a printed document is perfect. Thank you!

  • @ChasMusic
    @ChasMusic 3 роки тому +6

    Adobe Acrobat Pro can export Word docs or text files, which can then be edited, from PDFs. That said, I'm fully in agreement with you that the best practice is to edit the original. Exported Word docs will not necessarily be a reproduction of the original; I have encountered strange artifacts or content sequence issues.

  • @williamhogue7722
    @williamhogue7722 Місяць тому

    I found a simple solution. I opened my PDF in Microsoft Word. I did all the editing I needed to do, including images. I then saved it as a PDF. Worked seamlessly.

  • @disraelidemon
    @disraelidemon 3 роки тому +1

    Adobe Illustrator PDF format is fully editable in another copy of Illustrator. Illustrator and Affinity Designer can open PDFs for editing, with some loss of formatting. Adobe Photoshop can rasterise PDFs as graphic files, so if you needed to make a small change that might be faster than rebuilding a whole document.

  • @miroslavoblas4114
    @miroslavoblas4114 2 роки тому +5

    Nice explanation, but it could be said that there are real tools, which can be used to edit PDF's in case it's not possible to get the source document. My most favorite, completely free one, is Libre Office.

  • @nidostar2013
    @nidostar2013 3 роки тому +4

    Thanks, Gary. Good advice as always. Personally, if I want to edit a PDF I open it in Affinity Designer. You can then edit the PDF to your heart’s content and export it as a PDF or any other format the app offers.

    • @mrbilllollar
      @mrbilllollar 2 роки тому +2

      How can you say "Good advice as always" and then contradict Gary's ridiculous claim (that you can't edit PDF files) by telling him how you edit PDF files to your heart's content??

    • @nidostar2013
      @nidostar2013 2 роки тому

      @@mrbilllollar I think you have misunderstood. As Gary says you cannot edit a PDF file using Preview on a Mac. Hence I suggested an alternative way to edit such a file - Affinity Designer. I'm sure there are other apps that enable you to edit a PDF file on a Mac but Preview is not one of them.

  • @Lysander-Spooner
    @Lysander-Spooner 3 роки тому

    I have successfully made edits to PDF files using apps like Adobe Acrobat Pro and Readdle PDF Expert. These were minor charges or spelling fixes. If you need to make many changes then getting the source doc or recreating the doc as explained by Gary is the way to go.

  • @loisskiathitis8926
    @loisskiathitis8926 3 роки тому +7

    A very useful and informative video tutorial today. I always learn so much. Thank you, Gary! 👏👍🏻❤️

  • @estherkwok6492
    @estherkwok6492 5 місяців тому

    It seems like I can find any solution from your channel! You are the BEST!!

  • @aveerajsharma
    @aveerajsharma 3 роки тому +2

    Thanks, knew somethings, but you told them all in detail with really good video illustrations

  • @johnweiner
    @johnweiner 3 роки тому +2

    Great video...finally a lucid explanation of what a PDF document actually is. PDF Expert (a commercial application) claims, I think, to be able to edit pdf documents...what are they really doing?

  • @debreale5236
    @debreale5236 3 роки тому +2

    That’s what I thought, but I was hoping there was a magical solution! Thanks for another good video, Gary!

  • @mikyjacobo6826
    @mikyjacobo6826 3 місяці тому

    Thanks Gary always coming through!😊

  • @iankastelic881
    @iankastelic881 3 роки тому +3

    Hi Gary! Thank you so much for another great informative video. So when is part two? The part where you talk about the myriad of services that are out there that will take a PDF and turn it into a word document? Or about some of the apps like PDF Expert that will allow you to modify PDF content? I feel like this is a good start, but there are more options for someone who doesn’t have the original, is not stealing ideas, and needs to modify the document. Will you please do a part two covering this?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому +3

      Just like you said, there are a "myriad of services" -- I don't use them so I probably won't do a video on that. I think if it was my job to update a PDF and I didn't have the original document, I would do it just how I say in this video: I would recreate the document so I have a good original source document in a document creation app moving forward.

  • @MeanwhileRomeBurns
    @MeanwhileRomeBurns 2 роки тому +1

    Good video and advice as per usual. Apple Preview is good but lacks an OCR function unfortunately. Preview is still my default because of its simplicity.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому +1

      You can use Live Text on images in preview to grab the text though. With PDFs, the only reason you wouldn't be able to grab the text is if the PDF is just an image, not real text.

  • @soyeux27
    @soyeux27 5 місяців тому

    Great explanation ! Thank you for this concise and rich content.

  • @chryslerxc
    @chryslerxc 3 роки тому +8

    Actually Word can open PDFs and convert it back to a Word Document, works best if it also was created in Word and not Pages and of course Illustrator or other vector graphic software can modify PDFs

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      Seems like Word sends the PDF to an online service when you try to open a PDF, converts it, and then you get a Word doc back. Interesting. Probably still better off just going back to your original Word document.

  • @alfonsoveerapen8251
    @alfonsoveerapen8251 Рік тому

    Gary, thanks for this. Do you have a tutorial to create a fillable form in pages then have the ability to edit if sent in pdf? hope this makes sense

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      Pages can't do that. You need to use Adobe Acrobat or some other pro PDF app to do that.

  • @barrylev5599
    @barrylev5599 3 роки тому +2

    Canva does have a Beta version that allows for modification on the pdf itself.

  • @Paulic64
    @Paulic64 3 роки тому

    A great acrobat plug in called Enfocus Pitstop allows a lot of editing of most PDF files. Very useful for ,e when I am supplied a lot of average PDFs and I have to make them print ready.

  • @1BSDjunkie
    @1BSDjunkie 3 роки тому

    PDF = Portable Document Format - which is the file, embedded fonts and graphics that can print anywhere and have consistent formatting.

  • @johnmcclung4736
    @johnmcclung4736 Рік тому

    Can you direct me to a resource on how to save a Word 16.16.27 for Mac doc as a PDF, retaining bookmarks and/or hyperlinks? Thanks! I really enjoy your videos.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      Just use Word's export as a PDF function.

  • @skogis06
    @skogis06 2 роки тому +2

    To save anyone 5 mintues, you can't edit PDF in preview.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому

      This video is about WHY. You may not be interested in learning, but others are. That's what I do, I teach.

  • @imagingconcepts
    @imagingconcepts 3 роки тому +4

    Actually with a few exceptions, editing text and even images in a .pdf file is possible the full version of Adobe Acrobat

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому +2

      But if the original document is, say, in Word or InDesign or something, you really should be editing it there with the source document. Not patching up the PDF in something else.

    • @j2simpso
      @j2simpso 3 роки тому +1

      @@macmost it depends how the PDF file was produced. If it was created as a first class PDF document in Word, then yes you can change it. If you're using a second-class export method like PDF button in the Print dialog, then you're right, it's more like an image. Professor David Brailsford who did extensive work on PDF and typesetting has an excellent video on this very topic: ua-cam.com/video/K7oxZCgO1dY/v-deo.html

  • @ssury2002
    @ssury2002 3 роки тому +1

    Very useful. Thanks, Gary

  • @0202fabrice
    @0202fabrice 5 місяців тому

    [May 2024] PDF files can be edited in Preview 11. Don't know when that capability began, but running on macOS Ventura 13.6.7 or on macOS Monterey 12.7.5, it has the same editing features as it has long had for jpegs.
    This version also allows selection of text directly from a Preview document. (!!)

    • @macmost
      @macmost  5 місяців тому

      No, it is still the same. PDF files cannot be edited. You can mark them up, but not edit them. Very different things. You can also select text, and always have been able to. But it had to be real text, not an image that happened to include text. But now you have Live Text (system-wide, not just Preview) where you can use on-the-fly OCR to select some image text.

    • @0202fabrice
      @0202fabrice 4 місяці тому

      @@macmost I find such a narrow definition of 'edit' is misleading. The vast majority I have ever seen had no available source document.
      That's probably also true of your viewers. Others have commented they can effect the changes they need, even if tedious. It comes down to the meaning of 'communicate'.

  • @ethanmenzel
    @ethanmenzel 3 роки тому

    I love your videos. Can you do videos going over each of the applications in the Other folder and how they may or may not be useful and what they do?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      I think I may talk about some of them in ua-cam.com/video/IwtdxpEavlg/v-deo.html But otherwise just try each one and see what you find useful.

  • @muddyexport5639
    @muddyexport5639 3 роки тому +1

    Good explaination!

  • @damonfendrick1
    @damonfendrick1 3 роки тому +2

    Great video! I love the graphics/animations you used in this one. Is that an app or just your creativity shining through? Thanks for what you do.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому +3

      I built those in Keynote.

  • @garywagner2466
    @garywagner2466 6 місяців тому

    The original reason for PDFs was to protect the document from others trying to change it, especially the contents and layout. Why would you want to alter someone else’s product? Yes, you may want to take some of the contents for some other purpose (like a quote properly referenced), but be careful of plagiarism and intellectual property rights. If you want to edit your own work, that’s a different matter.

  • @aveerajsharma
    @aveerajsharma 3 роки тому +1

    I knew several ways of editing the PDF file without getting the original file from the app the other person used.😎

    • @sbeckas
      @sbeckas 3 роки тому

      How?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      The best way, always, is to go to the actual document instead of hacking apart or covering up a PDF in some other app.

  • @dsbennett
    @dsbennett 3 роки тому

    I had a PDF from the government that was Protected. I could not edit it in Preview. So I took two screenshots of the document. I zoomed in so the only half a page was visible on the screen at a time. I pasted each half into Pages and adjusted them to match. I used text boxes with white backgrounds to "edit" text by creating a new paragraph and pasting it over the existing text. Then I exported that into a PDF. That's how you "edit" a PDF.

  • @scottaplamondon
    @scottaplamondon 2 роки тому

    Hi, I work with fillable PDF’s that are not protected or encrypted but every time I complete a form it password protects it for the people I send it to. For some reason preview is encrypting the documents that are designed to be fillable. What can I do? Thank you so much. I really enjoy your videos.
    Scott P

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому

      Not sure why you would end up with that. Have you checked in File, Edit Permissions before saving?

  • @patchso
    @patchso 3 роки тому

    The number of times I've tried to explain to people in work, that you can't edit a PDF, as such, only to be told "I'm being unhelpful".

  • @j.stires
    @j.stires 3 роки тому +1

    Best EVER!

  • @LibraryOfParadise
    @LibraryOfParadise 2 роки тому

    this is very useful

  • @robertcameronjones
    @robertcameronjones 2 роки тому

    A common use case is to fill in a .PDF form. You can absolutely do this with preview.

  • @PatHaskell
    @PatHaskell 2 роки тому +2

    I’m even more confused now.

  • @JimmyGunawanX
    @JimmyGunawanX 3 роки тому

    The worst PDF is the one that is locked. PDF seems more easily editable on iPad.

  • @leonardo47000
    @leonardo47000 Рік тому

    Gary, I took a PDF plot plan that was sent to me. I marked it up in Preview, however, my mark-ups are not printing very well. How do I improve the quality of my "mark-ups"? It was a tremendous amount of work, so I really cannot do it over. Can I enhance the resolution of the mark ups? Can you help?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      Not sure what you are experiencing. Try experimenting. I rarely print anything but exporting to a PDF seems to include pretty high resolution markups.

    • @leonardo47000
      @leonardo47000 Рік тому

      @@macmost
      I downloaded Adobe Acrobat Pro based on suggestions I read that Adobe could improve the quality of the existing document.
      But I have no idea where to begin. Any thoughts?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      @@leonardo47000 I don't use it, sorry. Don't know what you mean by "improve the quality" as that would depends on your needs and skills in using whatever tools you have.

  • @scottaplamondon
    @scottaplamondon 2 роки тому

    Thank you for the reply. Is there a way to tell preview to not put the protection on Fillable documents? It just does it automatically for ever document I save. It must be a setting that I have incorrect. Must have happened during on of the updates.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому

      Before you save, look in File, Edit Permissions.

  • @scottabergermd
    @scottabergermd 3 роки тому

    Hi Gary, love your videos! I have had such a similar situation with getting docs from attorneys in pdf format, then using that text in the final document. It NEVER pastes correctly, and I have tried using all kinds of paste special, and fiddled with all the choices. Do you have any suggestions if I receive one in pdf, then should i create a brand new doc? Is it better to receive these in Word, and taking that text will be easier? Thanks very much?

    • @simoncroft9792
      @simoncroft9792 3 роки тому

      I use PDFX Editor, from Tracker Software. Unfortunately only in windows, but way cheaper than Acrobat

  • @parkborchert
    @parkborchert Місяць тому

    I am filling out a HIPAA pdf with inputable text. But once the text in typed in I can't format it. So then the pdf is the original file. What then?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Місяць тому

      Not sure what you mean. Format it as in change the font or style? You usually can't do that in a PDF form.

  • @VaibhavNahata
    @VaibhavNahata 3 роки тому

    how to export all the highlights in a preview doc in mac. I want to have them in a google doc or pages and print all highlights for future reference and reading

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      I don't think you can.

  • @clemcharo
    @clemcharo 3 роки тому

    ⚠️ guys! If you want to edit a pdf but you don’t have the original document, you can do it with Microsoft Word. You simply have to drag the pdf on the Word icon and it will do anything by itself! I do this everyday and it works perfectly even when I turn it into a pages document.

    • @pulkitarora8681
      @pulkitarora8681 2 роки тому

      and after editing in word , can we switch this to pdf form and then send away ?

  • @effeo9962
    @effeo9962 2 роки тому

    You can edit a PDF with Adobe, though. The trouble is that it is clunky AF.

  • @diamondbreak
    @diamondbreak 3 роки тому

    When editing a pdf file pasted in Notes app on mac, it always forces you to save as a copy somewhere on a drive, unlike on the iPad which can be edited without saving outside on the Notes app. Could you please suggest me the reason, Gary? I am really curious why most of the Apple's products are not implemented in line.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      You can markup (not edit) a PDF in Notes just like I am explaining in the video. I am able to mark up a a PDF in Notes on a Mac and click "Done" and it remains in Notes. No prompt to save it elsewhere.

  • @remicicutta121
    @remicicutta121 Рік тому

    Hi, I've been trying to change the default size font of the text box feature in Preview. I haven't been successful. Do you know how?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      It remembers and uses the last size and style. So create a new text box, change it to what you want, then the next text box you create will use that.

  • @58Repairables
    @58Repairables 3 роки тому

    I agree that editing the original is better, but if the original is from or was created by a former employee, an estranged or deceased individual, there may be no way to obtain it and thus I feel editing the PDF in a 3rd party editor becomes the only (or last resort) option.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      How about re-creating the document? Sounds like it is important, so why not recreate it (using copy and paste to make it easier) so the problem doesn't multiply into the future.

    • @58Repairables
      @58Repairables 3 роки тому

      @@macmost well, the crux of my hypothetical comment was; though important, if the original document is not available it cannot be recreated and must be edited by a 3rd party editor. People pass away, people leave jobs abruptly and even others password protect the document they created.

  • @dawgslife131
    @dawgslife131 3 роки тому

    When I merge several PDF’s into one and save it, all of the pages accept the first one become blank. Any idea why?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      That shouldn't happen. Maybe something to do with the particular PDFs.

  • @dontshoot100
    @dontshoot100 5 місяців тому

    How do you add or change a thumbnail on a PDF file in a folder?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  5 місяців тому

      You can make your own, then use File, Get Info in the Finder and paste it on the icon there. But that is a lot of work for one file.

  • @MarkHolmes
    @MarkHolmes 3 роки тому

    Gary, so if I get a 3 page form from the doctor’s office to fill out and bring in, can I scan it as a pdf and then fill out the blank spaces on the document (like a form filler), using preview? Thanks!

    • @Hallplante
      @Hallplante 3 роки тому

      Mark: Your PDF application probably will not recognize the blank lines on doctor's form as fillable fields. You can work around that by using PDF app to create a text box for each blank line, but that takes more time than filling out the form by hand.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      Yes. You would be marking it up, adding text boxes on top of the scanned image. I do that all the time.

  • @r7man274
    @r7man274 8 місяців тому

    why i can't copy even with preview

  • @AaronFigFront
    @AaronFigFront 3 роки тому

    Adobe has long lost its control on PDF. So other than adobe’s own software, you actually can edit PDF with a few PDF editors.

  • @RichardMcGeorge
    @RichardMcGeorge 3 роки тому

    I am running Monterey Beta and I am not able to export pdf in preview at the moment. They also seem to have updated the permissions on field and some files won’t let me highlight without the password of the original owner which is not the case before updating. Guess I shouldn’t be running a beta anyway.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому +1

      That sounds like issues having to do either with file permission or with the security in the particular PDF you are trying.

  • @mafcawebmaster4237
    @mafcawebmaster4237 2 роки тому

    Can Mac Preview add a link to an existing PDF?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому

      No. If you have the original document, go back to that to add links and produce another PDF.

    • @mafcawebmaster4237
      @mafcawebmaster4237 2 роки тому

      @@macmost Don't have the original document

  • @renashbellrn
    @renashbellrn 2 роки тому

    pdf exchance left the video.

  • @nicfarrow
    @nicfarrow 3 роки тому

    Excellent! Just plain Excellent!

  • @desertpatient
    @desertpatient 3 роки тому

    Thanks bunches

  • @Permit2Fly
    @Permit2Fly 2 роки тому

    How can i delete the notes in pdf

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому

      Do you mean markup elements like text and shapes? Just select them and press Delete.

  • @emmazheng4834
    @emmazheng4834 2 роки тому

    Hi, watched quite videos from you which are so helpful, thank you very much.
    At the moment, when I want to carry on annotating a PDF, I can’t drag or reshape the ‘speech bubble’ 🗯 to the right place. It’s was working perfectly yesterday but not today. Would you please help me?

  • @NavinBetamax
    @NavinBetamax 3 роки тому +1

    No comment about Adobe Acrobat ?!

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      You would use Acrobat to create and edit PDFs, sure. But if the document was created in, say, Word, then you should go back to the Word document to edit it.

  • @usman6
    @usman6 2 роки тому

    very useful info but if you're looking to edit, use PDF Expert.

  • @PAPANTONIOU
    @PAPANTONIOU 3 роки тому

    What about online PDF editors?

    • @macmost
      @macmost  3 роки тому

      Still better going back to the original document. Always.

  • @raleedy
    @raleedy 3 роки тому

    It’s a feature, not a bug.

  • @TheOldGeekGuy
    @TheOldGeekGuy 3 роки тому +1

    PDF Expert?

  • @qaz111111qaz111111
    @qaz111111qaz111111 Рік тому

    Your comment section tells me the answer is PDF Expert. I have it and didn't know how to use it so I found a UA-cam video that shows me how. ua-cam.com/video/0HdLXeTh2hw/v-deo.html You DEFINITELY can edit all of the elements of the PDF without having the original document.

  • @chatgpt4free
    @chatgpt4free Рік тому

    But adobe acrobat is able to do that!

    • @macmost
      @macmost  Рік тому

      Adobe Acrobat is the tool that people use to MAKE PDF files. It is the pro-level tool for doing exactly that.

    • @chatgpt4free
      @chatgpt4free Рік тому

      ​@@macmost You can edit any pdf with acrobat. No mather which one. You don't have to convert it manually. No nasty format problems.

  • @sachinambade70
    @sachinambade70 2 роки тому

    foxit pdf editor.... these three words will solve your problem. dont waste 5.23 minutes of your life watching this video

  • @mitchellsmith4601
    @mitchellsmith4601 3 роки тому

    PDFPen

  • @rkf304
    @rkf304 3 роки тому

    Try say this to your boss. You aren’t helping anyone in this video.

  • @anc2242
    @anc2242 Рік тому +2

    Get to the point

  • @maheshkamble8272
    @maheshkamble8272 Рік тому

    It’s very difficult to understand his accent

  • @robertox23xx
    @robertox23xx Рік тому

    Foxit

  • @meckster00
    @meckster00 2 роки тому

    disliked, there is a way, you just don't know how

  • @Greegree99
    @Greegree99 2 роки тому

    So the MAC is useless.

    • @macmost
      @macmost  2 роки тому +1

      Because some people mistake what one app is capable of doing, the whole computer is useless?