Editing a pdf?

October 12, 2007 7:28 AM

I need to make a small change (tel #) to a PDF brochure I had done recently. The problem is that I don't have the original file the brochure was created from and won't be able to get it for at least three weeks. Is there any software I can buy that will enable me to do this or am I just going to have to wait until the designer returns to civilization?
posted by Umhlangan to Technology (11 answers total)

Are there any security options set on the document? If not, Acrobat Professional should be able to touch up small errors. Maybe some nice MeFite with more time on their hands than I have will offer to fix it for you.
posted by grouse at 7:30 AM on October 12, 2007

Doesn't the pro version of Acrobat allow you to edit PDFs? The full version is pricey, but perhaps the trial version will do.
posted by jquinby at 7:31 AM on October 12, 2007

If you have the full version of Acrobat, you can use the Text Touch-Up tool to change that phone number.

No full version? Try the free demo from Adobe.
posted by Work to Live at 7:32 AM on October 12, 2007

Google for Free PDF editors. PDF is an open standard (IIRC) and you don't need to use adobe products.
posted by delmoi at 7:35 AM on October 12, 2007

PDF is mostly a text format, you can open it in a text editor such as notepad, search for the phone number and replace it. I'd back it up first, but that should work.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:48 AM on October 12, 2007

Er, disregard that, I wouldn't recommend it unless you know what you're doing, and not with notepad.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:54 AM on October 12, 2007

If you had recently "done" this document that means you have Adobe Professional or am I misunderstanding you?
posted by JJ86 at 7:59 AM on October 12, 2007

Best answer: Foxit PDF Editor
posted by sephira at 8:01 AM on October 12, 2007 [2 favorites]

If, for some reason, your designer outlined the fonts in the PDF (I do it all the time to preserve specific fonts) with InDesign or Illustrator, you can take the PDF back into Illustrator and make the necessary adjustments.

If you're not familiar with Illustrator though, I wouldn't recommend it.
posted by Becko at 8:15 AM on October 12, 2007

Response by poster: Sephira - great recommendation. It turns out my wife has foxit at work. It took 20 seconds to make the change. Thank you all for such speedy help.
posted by Umhlangan at 8:56 AM on October 12, 2007

If you had recently "done" this document that means you have Adobe Professional or am I misunderstanding you?

Many applications, Word for instance, have the ability to "make a PDF". If the original file is missing, then the scenario of not knowing how to change the PDF would apply.
posted by qwip at 2:24 PM on October 12, 2007