Questions tagged [pdf]
Documents in the Portable Document Format, created by Adobe Systems, and readable with Adobe Reader, Apple Preview, and other software programs
1,151
questions
221
votes
8
answers
1.5m
views
How do I combine two or more images to get a single pdf file?
Say I have some image files (for instance, the result of scanning some sheets) and I want to combine them into a single pdf file, each image on a different page.
Is there a faster / more convenient ...
- 3,010
141
votes
7
answers
247k
views
Add images to existing PDF with Preview
Preview allows to add text and shapes to PDFs. But is it possible to add existing images (PNG / JPEG) to a PDF file as well?
I do know that Preview already has some of image embedding by allowing the ...
- 1,559
140
votes
10
answers
104k
views
How can I combine multiple PDFs using the command line?
Is there a quick one-liner to combine multiple pdfs into one?
I know it can be done using Preview.app
- 1,650
101
votes
10
answers
91k
views
How to decrease .pdf size without losing quality
Background
I want to decrease size of the .pdf filled with images.
In Preview in can be dome through Export and set Quartz Filter-> Reduce File Size before saving.
Problem
The file indeed ...
- 3,377
95
votes
8
answers
99k
views
Is there the dark mode (inverted colors) in the 'Preview' Application for PDF reading? [duplicate]
I am using the “Preview” application for reading a PDF file on a MacBook Pro. Is there any way in I can read it in dark mode?
You can do it in Adobe Acrobat Reader by changing background and text ...
- 1,051
83
votes
12
answers
487k
views
Blacking out a part of a PDF, or redaction of text
What methods are there to blackout a part of a PDF?
I don't want to simply use Preview's annotation tools and then save the document, since then someone could open up the PDF and remove the ...
- 23.8k
56
votes
5
answers
177k
views
How can I convert JPG into PDF easily?
Is there any way to batch convert .jpg files into single .pdf files?
- 751
53
votes
5
answers
17k
views
How to disable PDF editing in Preview app?
I am running OS X 10.10, Yosemite, and there is one feature which really annoys me. I know it must be useful for a lot of people but it's just not for me.
When I open a PDF document and, by habit, I ...
- 653
52
votes
7
answers
168k
views
How can I create a multipage PDF from JPG's in Preview?
I just upgraded to Lion recently. When I was on Snow Leopard, creating a multi-page PDF document in Preview was simple:
I would open up the image
Save it as a PDF
Open up the PDF
Open up the panel ...
- 23.8k
49
votes
9
answers
54k
views
What software is available (preferably free) to edit PDF files on Mac OS X?
What free software/app is there to edit pdf files on Mac OS X?
Specifically I am looking to edit an existing PDF file and re-save it in PDF format.
- 1,033
46
votes
6
answers
32k
views
Compress PDF with adjustable ratio [duplicate]
One can use Preview to compress a PDF. However Preview on Mac OS X 10.7 does a too hard compression for my taste. There is only one compression setting.
Are there alternative tools that allows you to ...
- 3,142
45
votes
2
answers
25k
views
How to search a phrase in Preview of OS X?
When I search for a term like "formation water", preview returns everything starting with formation and not the term "formation water". How can I search for a phrase in Preview?
- 3,874
41
votes
9
answers
57k
views
How to switch Preview's full screen default setting from "two-pages" to "continuous scroll"?
Whenever I open a pdf, Preview.app opens it in "continuous scroll" mode. However, when going into fullscreen mode, it switches to "two-pages" when, really, I want it to use whatever view mode I had it,...
- 543
38
votes
8
answers
93k
views
How can I print a booklet from a pdf file?
I have a pdf document, and I want to print it as a booklet, i.e. two pages of the document on each side of a sheet of paper and so that (when printed) the entire thing can just be folded in the middle ...
- 2,040
37
votes
6
answers
139k
views
How to change a PDF's title? (not file name)
My question is in reference to the title shown in Acrobat Reader's tab and title bar that reads "Modern business letter."
I generated the PDF from a .docx document, and the document is generated ...
- 565
35
votes
4
answers
28k
views
Mac OS X: How to merge pdf files in a directory according to their file names
I want to merge several hundred pdf files in a directory automatically according to their file names.
E.g.
The files
1000.1.pdf
1000.2.pdf
1000.3.pdf
1000.x.pdf should be merged into 1000.pdf
and
...
- 1,480
35
votes
12
answers
292k
views
Split a single page PDF into multiple pages
Is there an easy way (in Preview or whatever) to scale up and split a PDF file with a single page into multiple pages? What I would like is to split say an A3 paper document into two A4 pages, to ...
- 2,040
33
votes
13
answers
50k
views
Make existing PDF searchable ( OCR ) via command line / script
I am looking for an offline scriptable tool that makes an existing PDF file searchable by running OCR on it, replacing the original non-searchable file with the searchable version, and can run ...
- 928
33
votes
2
answers
40k
views
Preview: Remove all annotations
Is it possible, using Preview (or maybe some other tool if not doable with Preview, but Preview preferably) to remove all annotations from a PDF file, without manually deleting every annotation?
- 716
33
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Control odd-even page pairing in Preview in two-page mode
By default, Preview displays pages like this in two-page mode:
How can I get it to display them like this instead?
Acrobat does the latter but Acrobat is not nearly as responsive with this file as ...
- 2,589
32
votes
2
answers
62k
views
How to launch pdf viewer from the terminal
I'm working using LaTeX, since I compile the document in the terminal, it would be much easier for me to open it in pdf viewer directly from the terminal.
I'm using OS X 10.8.2 in Polish, so I'm not ...
- 543
31
votes
7
answers
157k
views
How to fix run-time error 53 every time I open a file in MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on Big Sur?
Since I installed Big Sur, I have run into this problem every time I open a document using Word or a worksheet using Excel or a slide show in PowerPoint:
Run-time error '53':
File not found: Library/...
- 1,247
29
votes
11
answers
42k
views
Print to pdf with Adobe Reader
I'm filling out a PDF form that doesn't work with Preview so I have to use Adobe Reader (ugh). After I fill out the form, I want to print it to PDF so that it is finalized.
Unfortunately, Adobe ...
- 685
28
votes
3
answers
22k
views
How to get location of a pdf file opened in preview
I have opened a pdf file in preview, without knowing where this file is located. How can I find out?
- 617
28
votes
7
answers
42k
views
Preview - Export to PDF without margins
Preview (like most Mac apps) can print to PDFs, and even has a shortcut for this functionality via a menu option Export as PDF....
I have a scanned document in .tiff format that I'd like to convert to ...
- 8,293
28
votes
5
answers
27k
views
How to disable Acrobat Reader in Safari?
In Safari, the default PDF-Viewer in Safari is "Preview".
Unfortunately, since I installed the Acrobat Reader, this default changed to the Acrobat Reader, which is extremely annoying.
How can I ...
- 1,277
27
votes
2
answers
54k
views
Measuring PDF margins, etc. with Preview?
I would like to measure the size of the margins and other distances in a PDF without having to print it out. I would like the results in "as printed" units (e.g. inches or cm once printed)
Is it ...
- 1,666
26
votes
8
answers
14k
views
Preview automatically password protects PDF when saving
I experienced a behaviour I've never seen before when opening, editing and saving a PDF today. As soon as save the PDF with Preview the file will be password protected, and I cannot open it again.
I'...
- 361
26
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Configure Preview to auto reload pdf and stay at the same location
System: OS X 10.10
Preview version: 8.0
When a pdf file opened by Preview is updated by another program (such as pdflatex), Preview will automatically reload it, which is good. However, Preview ...
- 361
24
votes
7
answers
205k
views
Transferring PDFs from iBooks to your laptop/desktop
There are a lot of tutorials on how to load PDFs into iBooks, but none say how to backup or transfer them back to your computer. I understand there is a button to email them, but I probably have ...
- 936
23
votes
6
answers
120k
views
PDF document with notes has yellow squares, can't remove them
I have a PDF document with a lot of notes. There is a yellow square in every note, and if I remove the note using the inspector, the yellow squares doesn't go away:
I need to print this document and ...
- 792
23
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How to Install pdfimages in El Capitan?
I am reviewing the answer here about Extracting embedded images from a PDF.
It is not in Homebrew.
How can you install pdfimages in OS X El Capitan?
- 6,204
22
votes
1
answer
40k
views
Why do PDF forms/annotations filled in using Preview.app appear blank to Windows/Adobe users?
If I fill out a PDF form using Preview.app on Mac OS X, and email it to a Windows user, it appears to be blank when they open it in Acrobat. The same applies to some (most?) annotations.
How can I ...
- 8,580
22
votes
10
answers
21k
views
Is there a tabbed PDF reader for Mac OS X?
I am looking for a tabbed PDF reader, preferably with annotation support (highlighting mostly) for Mac OS X. I looked at the Skim FAQ which said that tabs would never come to Skim.
I am currently ...
- 1,066
21
votes
13
answers
51k
views
Change background colour for PDF when Viewing
When a PDF is opened, its actual background color is often white. On Windows, several PDF viewers have the ability to set the background color to another one, which doesn't modify the PDF file itself. ...
- 347
21
votes
4
answers
27k
views
What causes PDF file size to increase when saving in Preview?
It seems that making edits, annotations, or even just opening and saving a PDF file in Preview will cause a significant increase in file size. I've noticed that for some books I've scanned this also ...
- 297
21
votes
6
answers
25k
views
Good PostScript viewer for MacOS?
On OS X, is there a good application to open PS files without converting them to PDF?
In addition, I want to associate PS.GZ files to this application, but retain the TAR.GZ association to my ...
- 311
20
votes
10
answers
435k
views
Set Chrome to open PDF rather than download them
I'm a student and I'm constantly opening up PDFs for homework. I often end up downloading multiple files, after clicking on a link, each time I start working. Is there any way to set Chrome to only ...
- 579
20
votes
1
answer
20k
views
Change title of bookmark in Preview
In Preview.app (Mavericks version) bookmarks can be added (Cmd-D) to a PDF file and shown in the sidebar.
The bookmarks all get the same title, which seems to be an excerpt from the first line(s) of ...
- 327
18
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Saving a pending print job as PDF
I printed an important receipt and quit Safari, only to learn the job never printed because we no longer own the network printer the computer was expecting to find. Thus, the only remaining copy of ...
- 1,727
18
votes
4
answers
35k
views
To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer
Sometimes I receive PDF files that open with Preview (Version 7.0 (826.4), Mavericks) with the following message:
To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version
of the PDF ...
- 10k
18
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can I disable Safari's pinch-to-zoom tab switcher? [duplicate]
When looking at a PDF document I often want to zoom-out to scroll quickly to its contents and get an overview.
However, when I zoom-out past a certain threshold (it seems to differ per PDF) Safari ...
- 5,731
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reopen PDF in Preview on the same page when modified externally
In Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks when a PDF document opened in Preview is modified by an external application, Preview automatically reopens the new version with the same page displayed as before.
After ...
- 281
17
votes
9
answers
30k
views
What readers annotate PDFs better than the Preview app?
I usually spend around 3 or 4 hours a day working with and annotating PDFs. I've always used Preview, but there's a few things that bother me about it. Mainly the large icons used when you place notes,...
- 273
17
votes
2
answers
8k
views
OCR on PDFs in OS X with free, open source tools
After reading these blog posts:
Linux, OCR and PDF - Problem solved
Creating a searchable PDF with opensource tools ghostscript, hocr2pdf and tesseract-ocr
Using Tesseract OCR with PDF scans
and ...
- 365
17
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Import signature from image file in Preview
I'd like to sign pdfs using my signature. Unfortunately, Preview seems to require that you have a trackpad or a camera to do it. I have a Mac Mini, which has neither.
I do have my signature as a jpeg....
- 281
16
votes
4
answers
39k
views
How do I count words in a PDF file on OS X?
I'd like to count words on a PDF file on OS X. The inspector doesn't contain the word count.
- 1,341
16
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Linked PDF and going back in OS X Preview
When I click on a linked reference in a PDF it jumps to the bibliography at the end of the paper.
Is there an easy way to jump back to the passage I just read?
- 163
16
votes
7
answers
73k
views
Import multiple-pages from a PDF as separate slides in Keynote
I have a PDF with slides in it from someone else and I want to import all the separate pages of the PDF as separate slides in Keynote. The best answer I can find is this one on apple support, but it ...
- 811
15
votes
7
answers
127k
views
Change font style for pdf's using Preview
As shown in the screenshot there are no options for changing the font under tools. I went through all main menu options and no features for manipulating the color, size, etc are there.
This should be ...
- 5,712