PDF Hacks – A Comprehensive Tutorial For PDF Files

You must have used MS Office and other applications to exchange information in a presentable format. {PDF} – Portable Document Format, is one among them. PDF is developed by Adobe to share information with text, images, and tabular formats. We have used PDF files to share instructions, bank statements, informative documents or other important documents without losing its originality.

For those who want to know how to convert PDF to Word, or use PDF Converter, PDF Editor, PDF Creator, PDF Reader, here we have compiled a few (How To Steps) around PDF Files which you might not be aware of.

Creating A PDF Document

There are several ways to create a PDF file format. We can create a PDF file using a Word Document on a PC, Use an online converter on a PC or a Mac or by using the Google Chrome browser to create a PDF. There are numerous PDF creator software to solve the purpose. Let’s explore the most basic and handy ways to create PDF Files.

Convert Word to PDF File

Step 1. Create a new Word Document or open an existing one.

Step 2. Once you are done with the document creation or editing, click on ‘File’ Menu  Select ‘Save As’ from the left-hand side panel enter the file name Select a file location to save  Under ‘Save As Type’ select ‘PDF’ File type and click on save.

Step 3. Check the document in your selected location and you will find a PDF document which will open with Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reader application.

Alternatively, you may also try an online PDF converter to drag and drop a document to convert in PDF File format.

Password Protect PDF Files

To set password protection on a PDF file, we need to perform the following steps:

Step 1. Open the PDF File using Acrobat Reader and choose Tools  Protect  Encrypt  Encrypt with Password.

Step 2. If prompted, click ‘Yes’ to change the security settings.

Step 3. Put a check on ‘Require A Password To Open The Document’, Enter the password in the corresponding field. At each keystroke, the password strength meter will evaluate your password strength and indicate the strength level. Make it a strong one and something which you can remember.

Step 4. Select the Acrobat version from the compatibility list and select an encryption option.

Set Restriction on Editing a PDF File

PDF Settings allow you to set restrictions for making changes to PDF Files. The Restrict Editing option forbids users from moving objects, editing text, or adding form fields. A user is still able to fill form fields, sign, or add comments to the file.

Step 1. Open a PDF File  Go to ‘Tools’ Menu  Select ‘Protect’  Click on ‘Restrict Editing’.

Step 2. If you get a prompt, click ‘Yes’ to edit the security settings.

Step 3. Enter the password in the corresponding field. At each keystroke, the password strength meter will evaluate your password strength and indicate the strength level. You can keep the same password which you used to lock the file.

Also Read: Best Web Browsers of all time

Restrict Editing, Copying and Printing A PDF File

PDF settings have a wide range of options. You can restrict users from Editing, Copying or Printing any content from a PDF File. You can set up the restrictions as per your preferences. Any user can’t change these restrictions unless he enters the required password for permissions.

Step 1. Open the PDF File using Adobe and go to ‘Tools’  ‘Protect’  ‘Encrypt’  and then click on ‘Encrypt with Password’.

Step 2. On prompt, click ‘Yes’ to edit the security settings.

Step 3. Under permissions, put a check mark on ‘Restrict Editing And Printing Of The Document’.

Step 4. Select what the user can print or change from the respective drop-down menus.

Step 5. Putting or removing a check in front of ‘Enable Copying Of Text, Images, And Other Content’ will allow or deny permissions to copy text, images or other content.

Note: In case you forget a password to a PDF File, there is no way you can recover it. It’s advisable to keep an unprotected copy of the PDF File. To open a controlled PDF File using InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop, the user must enter the password.

Remove Password From A PDF File

Whenever you realize that the document is no longer private or to be kept secure, you do have the option to eliminate the password security from the PDF File. You should have the password handy to perform this action. In case the PDF File is secured with a server-based security policy, the password can be removed only by the policy author or administrator of the File.

Step 1. Open a PDF File  Go to ‘Tools’  click on ‘Protect’  then select ‘Encrypt’  and click on ‘Remove Security’.

Step 2. If you have set up a password to open the document, click ‘Ok’ to remove the password from the document. If you do have a permissions password, Enter the password, and click ‘Ok’ and confirm changes.

Using Free Online Tools To Edit PDF Files

There are numerous PDF Editors available online to edit, convert or perform several actions on a PDF File. We have reviewed and chose the best PDF Editors which are free to access and perform the following tasks:

Note: There are always limitations and drawbacks of using online tools. The only drawback in using Online PDF Editors is that your data is no longer secured as it is uploaded on a public server for any sort of editing or amendments.

Best PDF Readers

We generally open PDF files received in Email which opens in the browser itself. You must have Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader or Foxit software to read and open offline PDF Files. Browsers can also open PDF files however they are accessible online.

Wrapping Up

We are sure, after going through this article, working on a PDF File would seem easy and useful as now you are aware of the most useful PDF Hacks. Here we have discussed step-by-step simulations to perform a few important tasks on PDF Files. Now we know how to create a PDF File, password protect a PDF File, convert PDF to Word, convert Word to PDF, Use best PDF editors, free online tools, PDF Reader Etc.

If you find this article interesting or if you want to know more tips and tricks on PDF Files, do write to us in comments. Continue reading on other useful tips and tricks on the search section of our blog.