PDFs have been around for over two decades and you'll probably find them everywhere. There are many tools available to help you get the most out of your PDF files, so we've rounded up some of the best features that offer the features you'll want to use all the time.
Whether you can scan a file directly to a PDF, extract specific images from a document, or save anything to PDF, we've got you covered with these utilities. And many of them are powerful and have a host of other features.
If you have your own favorite PDF tool, be sure to hit the comments section and share it with us.
Software to help with your scanner is a dime a dozen. Your scanner probably came with its own software. But many of them are complicated or do not work properly. No other PDF Scanner 2 (NAPS2) may have a self-critical name, but it is actually an extremely useful tool that costs nothing.
Once installed, NAPS2 is easy to use. Click Profiles and then New to add your scanner, making sure to edit settings such as Page Size and Resolution . If you want, you can add multiple profiles for the same scanner, if you want quick access to different configuration settings.
When you're ready to go, click Scan and your document will appear in the grid when it's complete. You can make simple adjustments to your scan through Image button, which allows you to do things like Crop and adjust the Brightness .
You can of course click Save PDF to do exactly that. You can also choose to Save images through different formats, or Printing If you want copies. One of the most interesting features is optical character recognition. Just click LOC , download the language pack you need and your PDF files will be searchable.
PDF Multitool may not have the most elegant interface, but it is certainly a powerful program. It is capable of scanning a PDF and exporting all kinds of data from it. For example, you can convert the document to a CSV or XML file, or you can detect any table and bring it into Excel.
There are also a bunch of handy utilities, like being able to split the document into multiple parts or combine it with a bunch of other files. You can also enable and disable the ability to search the text of a document.
However, the real standout feature is how easy it is to extract images, videos, and audio from a PDF. To do this, use the options under the Data Extraction heading in the left column; select either Embedded Images or Embedded Media , depending on your need.
You can extract from a specific page or from the entire document. You can even specify a certain part of a page that you want to extract from. For this, use the Select button on the top toolbar, click and drag around the area you want to export, then use the navigation on the left to start the extraction. It works very fast and really well..
We've covered Foxit Reader several times in the past, such as in our roundup of the best Windows PDF readers. Top 6 PDF Readers for Windows. Top 6 PDF Readers for Windows. Adobe Reader is not always the best option for viewing PDFs. . Here are the best PDF readers for Windows 10 to consider. More information or lightweight programs to open PDF files 6 lightweight alternatives to Open Office and PDF files 6 lightweight alternatives to Open Office and PDF files Don't clog your system with superfluous bulk. For occasional viewing of PDF and Office files, you can use compact applications and may not need any additional software. Read More It is a PDF reader, but it offers much more. You can scan directly to PDF, share and comment on your files, have the PDF read aloud using text-to-speech, and much more.
A recent update to Foxit Reader added integration with Google Drive and OneDrive. The program already had the ability to work with SharePoint, which is great for business environments, but the addition of these cloud providers means you can quickly and easily open and save your PDF files using your online storage.
To add your accounts, navigate to File and then neither Open or Save As . From here, click. Add a place . On the right hand side you will see the options for your cloud provider. Select the ones you want in turn and you will be prompted to login to verify Foxit Reader access. It's fast, seamless and easy.
Other new features include the ability to sign documents using certificates, timestamp trusts, and word counts, either the entire document or specific sections. If you want a PDF viewer packed with useful features, Foxit Reader has you covered.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a feature that will detect any text within your file. This means that you can search within the PDF or export it to a separate document, depending on the features of a program. Some of the tools we mentioned already support this, but you may be looking for a lightweight option, offering only OCR.
We've covered the best free OCR tools Top 3 free OCR tools to turn your files back into editable documents Top 3 free OCR tools to turn your files back into editable documents Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software converts files documents printed on machine readable text. Here we show you the best free OCR tools and how they work. Read More One of the easiest to use doesn't even require a download, just a Google account. This is because Google Drive has a built-in ability to convert your PDF to a text document. It will even keep formatting elements like bold, italics, font size, and font type. However, it can't handle lists, tables, or columns particularly well.
To get started, sign in to your Google Drive account. Then click New> Upload File and navigate to the PDF on your computer. Once you've located it, select it and click Open . The file will be uploaded to your drive.
When uploaded, right mouse button the file and click Open with> Google Docs . A new window will open where the conversion process will begin. This may take a while depending on the size of your PDF. All you'll see is an animated color circle, but don't worry, it's working. Once complete, a Google Doc will open with all the text of your PDF.
Forget about having to convert files to PDF. Wouldn't it be great if you could save directly to the format of all Windows programs? If you're using Windows 10, you're already covered. You don't even need a program for that because you can print to PDF right inside Windows 10 How to Print to PDF from Any Platform How to Print to PDF from Any Platform Need to print a PDF file? It's easier than you think, no matter what device you're using. We have summarized all your options. Read more.
For those on an older operating system, Doro PDF Writer is the tool for you. It installs as a virtual printer, allowing you to quickly and easily convert your file to PDF.
This means that you only need to navigate to the Printing function of whatever program you are using (your Internet browser, Notepad, a word processor) and select Doro PDF Writer . Click OK and the program will open, allowing you to customize settings such as the name of the PDF and add password protection.
It's a simple program and not packed with functionality, but it's really good for making mirror versions of your PDF files. It is completely free and does not watermark your converted file, unlike some competing programs on the market, and is highly recommended.
With all these tools under your belt, you're well on your way to becoming a PDF master. For what can sometimes be a cumbersome format, making use of these programs will speed your flow to completion. You're probably wondering how you ever lived without the ability to convert a PDF to a text document!
If you want to expand your knowledge of PDF files, be sure to check out our other guides, such as making PDF files more accessible and easier to read. Make your PDF files more accessible and easier to read with these tips Make your PDF files more accessible and easier to read with these tips Any good PDF needs to be accessible to communicate ideas – follow these tips to make sure your document catches the objective. Learn more and our roundup of the best PDF and eBook readers for Windows 5 Best PDF and eBook Readers for Windows 5 Best PDF and eBook Readers for Windows Windows is establishing itself as a cross-platform operating system. It's already running on tablets and 2-in-1 devices, making desktop eBook reading apps more relevant than ever. Read more.
Have you used any of the tools we've recommended? Do you have a PDF program that you want to recommend to all of us? Please share!
