What’s going on with PDF files?

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Running Win 7 Pro, 64bit & Adobe Reader X, Version 10.1.1. What is happening with the pdf scene? I have always been able to do a “save as” and download these email attachments as a pdf file to my HD. Then, at some point, images (I guess) started appearing that will not allow sections of a document to be selected, copied, and pasted to, for example, Word Pad. This is a pain that I try to endure as long as I can do a “save as.” However, now I’m more frequently encountering pdf documents that are securely “protected” — simple “vanilla” documents that do not ask for fill in the blanks and documents that are not confidential. The properties on these files contain statements such as “Printing: Not Allowed, Content Copying: Not Allowed, Saving Files: Not Allowed, etc.” “Submit for conversion to Adobe CreatePDF — Convert files to PDF and easily combine them with other file types online.” Then, Adobe will convert them to Word or other formats, return them, and keep copies in their files. AND, of course, they want a subscription fee paid to them to do this “courtesy” for you. I can get my pdf documents that are protected without favoring Adobe with another money grubbing scheme; however, it’s a lot of extra work. I’m mostly just grumbling; however, I’m interested in the experiences of others with these developments. Has anyone found an easy way to do a “save as” on these protected documents and why do companies & promotional sales establishments even send these insignificant (no information) type forms that they expect me to read, respond to, or file? Any wisdom or thoughts?

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The originator of the document gets to decide what is allowed when the “protection” is applied. There are programs that claim to unlock PDF files that you can search for.

Joe

--Joe

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I’ve not used the Adobe Acrobat reader for so long that I can’t really relate to the problem.
The Acrobat reader program was getting so bloated that it took forever to even open and it took up way too much space on my hard drive. It seemed like every new version was twice the size of the previous version.
Enough is enough! Then of course, it installs the auto updater in your Startup folder, which is something for you to REMOVE.

So when a friend suggested a much smaller and faster program, called “Foxit Reader” I jumped on it like a goose on a junebug and I’ve never looked back. I install it for many of my customers and they Love it.

You could install it and try it and if you don’t like it…..uninstall it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It’s a FREE program. I like FREE!

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor

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Hey, thanks guys–really good information. I’ve found that emailing the locked file to myself without changing the file name (it won’t let you change the name), then doing a “save” of the returned pdf email attachment to my HD, opening it from my HD, then doing a “save as pdf” back to my HD using the same file name (usually numbers) somehow unlocks the file. Now, go into WE and change the file name to something meaningful. This procedure is a big pain in the b . . . but it’s worth the trouble when wanting to keep certain records that are sent in a pdf locked format.
Best regards.

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Funny, recently I switched back from Foxit Reader to Adobe Reader after discovering that Adobe had fixed the problem of its slow startup. I haven’t made close comparisons, but my impression is that Adobe has more features than Foxit–more control over the precise zoom, for example. For me that was essential when I wanted to take a screenshot of exactly, say, three lines of a piano score in order to prepare something for YouTube..

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Be fine with me if the pdf format did not exist.

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Be fine with me if the pdf format did not exist.

Would you prefer Microsoft Reader, which has just been discontinued?

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If you go to the following link you will be able to download a FREE PDF unlocker. Only problem (as far as I know) is tht it only works with 32 Bit systems. I have used it on a few occasions without problems.

When installed it puts a shortcut onto your desktop and all you have to do is drag and drop the pdf file onto it and a few seconds later you have a normal PDF file that you can do as you want with.

http://free-pdf-unlocker.en.softonic.com/

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If you go to the following link you will be able to download a FREE PDF unlocker. Only problem (as far as I know) is tht it only works with 32 Bit systems. I have used it on a few occasions without problems.

When installed it puts a shortcut onto your desktop and all you have to do is drag and drop the pdf file onto it and a few seconds later you have a normal PDF file that you can do as you want with.

http://free-pdf-unlocker.en.softonic.com/

Problem with this program is that it ‘Doesn’t work with new PDF files’ – not sure quite what that means, but it wouldn’t work with one recently with PDF version 1.6.

Does anyone have any recommendations for one that works with later versions?

Chris

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Be fine with me if the pdf format did not exist.

Same here.
I was with FoxIt for a long, long time until they recently added the social networking crap, and now I’m using PDF-XChange Viewer. It seems to be just as good as FoxIt without all the bloat and nonsense.

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Many thanks for all of the good information. I had no idea that there were so many alternatives out there. Best regards.

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I say make ePUB the only book, magazine format.

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My solution is NitroPDF and its browser plug-ins for IE, Firefox and even (with some browser tweaking) Chrome. As the Default PDF Viewer, it is fast and lighweight. I have never encountered a PDF downloaded or saved by or to Nitro which was locked inside of NitroPDF. And you can edit, add signatures, fill forms and all sorts of things not possible with Adobe Reader. All for free (or get the Pro version at a fraction of the cost of Acrobat and get even more features).

If the owner of a PDF download has set it up to have security embedded, they did so for a reason, and it is illegal under U.S. Copyright Laws to alter these restrictions. But if the issue is within Adobe Reader, substituting NitroPDF should allow the actions which Adobe for some reason does not allow. If not, I would not recommend trying to unlock the document. This would be classified as a “crack” and is not permitted in the U.S. “PDF Unlocker” types of programs are classified under U.S. Copyright Laws as “cracks”.

One legal way to print a web page which tries to download as a PDF, or to print any PDF which is currently displaying in a Window, is to use the Windows 7 Snipping Tool and take a Screen Shot at slightly greater than Actual Size (100 percent to 125 percent). Then print the resulting image. That often (but not always) works. If not, the file is Restricted, and the above caveats apply.

-- rc primak

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bobprimak said exactly what I was going to say. I just have one addition. I haven’t come across the locked problem that you are having, but if you do, try printing the document to NitroPDF. If you can send it to a printer and nothing is being blocked that way, it should print to NitroPDF OK. If, as you stated Printing is also blocked, I’m not sure what the next step is but I would try this. Good luck.

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I use PDF-XChange Viewermyself. Very pleased with it. Also has a plug in for your browser. Replaces Adobe very nicely.

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This may not be the place to ask this question – if not, my apologies.
I have a long pdf file which I opened in Fooxit and it will print. The problem is that this is essentially white font on black background. Printing it does not only use a lot of ink, but with the accompanying wetness the paper becomes wrinkled. I printed a few pages but very soon stopped!)
Ican not see a way to change this in Foxit, so I used a free converter to word. The thought was that I could change background and font there. I found that I could change the font color, but going to Page layout, page background and then selecting white changed nothing.
Does anyone know how to change a black background/white font pdf to white background/black font?

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Does anyone know how to change a black background/white font pdf to white background/black font?

This may be a slow process, but it will produce the outcome that you seek.

1) Save each page of the document as an image file.

2) Open each page in turn in an image editor and change it to negative. I use Irfanview which is a free download and the commands are just that: select Image on the toolbar and click on negative.

You can then convert the images back to a single PDF file.

Cheers

Billy

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Dean,

I wonder if PDF-XChange Viewer would do what you need. You could swap the background and print colors. View, Customize UI, Colors:

Might Work, Worth a try:

29793-UserInterface

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Dean,

I wonder if PDF-XChange Viewer would do what you need. You could swap the background and print colors. View, Customize UI, Colors:

Might Work, Worth a try:

29793-UserInterface

The same can be done in Nitro PDF, and I suspect Foxit Reader has the option to eliminate background colors or swap them with the foreground colors.

-- rc primak

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Ted,
I have tried PDF-XChange Viewer and am pleased with the results. However, there are lots of options and I wouldn’t be sure but what there may be a few bugs. Nevertheless, this program has done a good job with pdf files for me and I would recommend giving it a try. Thanks.

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I suspect many different PDF apps could do this. Just takes a little looking.

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You are welcome. I am also pleased with this app.

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Any conventional OCR software (e.g. OmniPage or Osiris Readiris) it will convert a PDF to text (with graphics), and what you do with it then is up to you. Just don’t do anything that would violate the copyright, which, it may be argued, you have already done by converting it.

This thread has been around a long time, and to add to the smorgasbord of PDF readers I should point out that Windows 8 has a reader named Reader, which reads PDF files. I uninstalled it early in the game without really testing it, so any reports of its quirks and capabilities will have to come from others. At least the price is right.

The name ‘Reader’, coming from Microsoft, is of interest in light of my post(s) about Microsoft Reader, which is still alive, still downloadable, and which I have installed under Windows 8. Microsoft just doesn’t want to call attention to it.

Edited to add:
I spoke too soon: I still have Windows 8 Reader (unpinned) and can say a few things about it.

As with all of the apps, it looks pretty dead until you right-click on it, at which time it will show a number of its features. You can view Cover page, Two Pages, Single page, Continuous, Open (which just means to display a new PDF document), Save as (which sounds exciting, but which appears to just pick a destination and lets you give it a different name, like Fizz Tonic, which doesn’t sound as dull as most PDFs), and the truly exciting ‘More…’. More… is a bit of a letdown for anyone looking for new functionality: Rotate, Info (about the PDF settings), Bookmarks and Close are as much as you get.

On the bright side, it is native to Windows 8, it is well-integrated, and it has an easy interface. For users who just want a PDF reader this should do nicely, and it’s already part of the system.

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As with many of the include apps, Reader seems an OK reader, but somewhat basic. As dogberry says for those that just need a simple reader it works pretty well.

I had to include a 3rd party reader to allow certain web based PDF files to open (pay stubs, bank statements, etc.) The Reader did have some problems with these.

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I suggest that you check out WordPerfect Office Suite, for which the current upgrade price (it qualifies as an upgrade if you have Windows Office) is $160. If you are a home or student user, there is an even better deal.

http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?pid=prod4720105&cid=catalog20038&segid=6400045&onyxcampaignid=&promo=&dcs_action=&url_coupon=&storeKey=&mapcounter=#tab4“]WP Office[/url] had extensive PDF capabilities before Win Office had any, it will import files from Win Office and export files to Win Office, and as nearly as I can see, it will do everything you want. You can download a trial and see for yourselves.

Corel also has a product called PDF Fusion, and it is a handy utility. The price bounces around a certain amount, but if you are on their mailing list you might get a deal.

I have both products (not the latest version) but I also have Acrobat itself, which eliminates the need for workarounds. I don’t have a vested interest in promoting these products, but this reminds me of another thread in which someone went looking for alternatives to MS Office and found a million but not WP, which to me is by far the closest competition. MS Office is my primary office suite, but if you can accommodate a second that can do things Win Office simply cannot do you might consider it.

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