PDFs were created in 1992 as a way to make a universal document that could be shared between devices all over the world. Today, it’s one of the most widely used file formats and is used by all types of businesses to share information. Whether it’s a small café creating a menu for customers or a big bank sending signable employee contracts, PDFs are used for thousands of different purposes.
While you might be using PDFs in your day to day life, there’s a lot about these files which you may not know. In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to get more out of PDFs, making them even more versatile and useful for your business and daily tasks.
Merging PDFs
Merging PDFs allows you to combine multiple files into one, very useful if you’re trying to organize your files or create a larger file that contains all the information needed. Merging a group of similar files makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and allows you to read multiple pages rather than switching between files.
If you want to merge PDF documents on Mac, it’s relatively straightforward with Preview. However, merging large files can cause your system to slow down and may make it harder to edit them. Thankfully, you can use other services like Nitro PDF Pro to edit and combine PDFs with no issues.
Editing PDFs
While PDFs are often shared as read-only files with editing locked, it is possible to save and edit them if you have permission. Editing PDFs is useful for collaborating on projects with colleagues or for passing on your suggestions. You can also send out editable PDFs as surveys or forms to receive orders or feedback on your services.
It’s easy to edit PDFs, so anyone can do it provided they have Adobe Acrobat and it’s possible to add and remove text, pictures and other elements. Even if you don’t have Acrobat, it’s possible to use third-party applications to edit PDFs, although they may not always have the same features and functionalities.
Split PDFs
Just as you can merge multiple pages into a single PDF, you can also split PDFs down into different files. If you have a really large document but want to share one specific part, it can be useful to split it up and only share the parts you need. Sharing unnecessarily large files can cause confusion.
Splitting PDFs is simple, especially if you have Adobe Acrobat. All you have to do is organize the pages, choose the pages you want to split and rename the save file. When naming the save file, ensure that it’s easy to find and obviously separate from the main file. Of course, you can use third-party applications to split PDFs too. If you’re using Preview, simply choose which specific page of the file you want to save.
Convert PDFs
PDFs are very useful for sharing important information, but if you want to utilize this information, you may need to convert them into another file format. For example, you can convert a PDF into a Word document or PowerPoint slide in order to edit it or show it in a meeting.
Using the Adobe API, you can also access the data on PDF pages, including figures in tables and charts. This data can be used in other applications and used to automate processes. Meanwhile, it’s possible to republish content from PDFs after you convert them into other document formats. Although this makes them harder to share, it allows you to utilize the information in new ways.
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