Best Mac PDF Editor? (For protected PDF files)

iFanboy · Mar 3, 2011, 04:08 PM

There are a TON of free PDF files out there provided by government agencies that restrict editing and saving.

They are basically there for you to use them to fill out the form, print, but then as soon as you close the PDF file you lose all the data you typed in.

Basically I want to download them and unlock them, so I can both edit them and save what i've typed in there.

Maybe a Mac equivalent of Foxit PDF Editor for Windows? http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/editor/

dirt farmer · Mar 3, 2011, 10:14 PM

I've had zero problems with the free online PDFescape. It does all that you're asking.

SHADO · Mar 3, 2011, 10:57 PM

PDFpen or PDFpenPro have always been good options for this.

MisterMe · Mar 4, 2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iFanboy

...

They are basically there for you to use them to fill out the form, print, but then as soon as you close the PDF file you lose all the data you typed in.

...

Just to be clear, what you are describing is the character of Adobe Reader and, I presume, Preview. PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat Pro save data in completed government forms without issue. You may even add form fields to PDF files that don't have them.

Hankster · Mar 4, 2011, 11:38 AM

Not sure but I read this a while a back, it's a new PDF converter but it's pricy.

http://www.insidemacapps.com/?p=444

MisterMe · Mar 4, 2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hankster

Not sure but I read this a while a back, it's a new PDF converter but it's pricy.

http://www.insidemacapps.com/?p=444

Actually, it is a free beta.

kidkasha · Mar 5, 2011, 03:30 PM

I have photoshop CS can that be used to edit PDF files by saving to a different format so change can be made;

TreoRenegade · 08:41 PM

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/35106/pdf-unlock/

Only discovered this recently, so I've not yet used it, but have it in my arsenal so I'll be ready when I encounter the kind of files referred to by the OP -- for me, typically, court opinions. All I want is the ability to highlight/annotate as usual. The comments on the linked page suggest this is as good as PDFUnlocker on WinWoes. Once the file is unlocked, you can use whatever editor you prefer.

Free.

fireballer55 · Mar 6, 2011, 02:11 AM

acrobat pro X is a great app for me.

pauler · Mar 7, 2012, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireballer55

acrobat pro X is a great app for me.

Adobe Acrobat is $400. I tried something called Wondershare PDF Editor Pro which can successfully figure out how to do simple text and images editing.

nandez28 · Mar 7, 2012, 03:30 AM

Adobe Acrobat is $400. I use PDF Editor Pro for $99.95. There is PDF Editor for $49.95 and a free trial. I find it easy to use, they have video tutorials on their web site

CylonGlitch · Mar 7, 2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMe

Actually, it is a free beta.

Long since out of beta, it's now $69.99.

I've tried several converters, most in the $40 range, all of them have been horrible; copy and paste worked just as well.

cook295 · May 25, 2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassidyly

I've had this same problem, and tried a bunch of free PDF editors for my iMac i7 Mid 2011 with no luck.

Formulate Pro for Mac will do it for you and it is free. But it doesn't do as much as pdf annotator, and I can't get the eraser to work.

susan60 · May 30, 2012, 02:53 AM

While FormulatePro is not nearly as nice as the online PDFescape, it's free and rather easy. it works pretty well.

dupreeer · Jun 2, 2012, 03:07 AM

If you just need to add text, images, and draw freehand into PDF's, and FormulatePro is perfect for that.

Arelunde · 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dupreeer

If you just need to add text, images, and draw freehand into PDF's, and FormulatePro is perfect for that.

Are you jailbroken? A search in the App Store for FormulatePro brings up "no results."

EDIT: Oh. Did a Google search and there they were. Thanks!

dupreeer · Jun 18, 2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arelunde

Are you jailbroken? A search in the App Store for FormulatePro brings up "no results."

EDIT: Oh. Did a Google search and there they were. Thanks!

I always use it. It does the job well and it's free. Unfortunately it's not on the Mac App Store.

mchalebk · Jun 20, 2012, 03:47 PM

I use PDFUnlock!. Simply "browse" to find the file and it will unlock it for you.

mengniu · 09:05 PM

ieasyconverter PDF Editor Pro for Mac is the best cost-effective tool. I know there are some famous ones, but this one is enough for me to take control of PDF files are a very low price.

Mar 3, 2011, 04:08 PM	#1
iFanboy macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2009	Best Mac PDF Editor? (For protected PDF files) There are a TON of free PDF files out there provided by government agencies that restrict editing and saving. They are basically there for you to use them to fill out the form, print, but then as soon as you close the PDF file you lose all the data you typed in. Basically I want to download them and unlock them, so I can both edit them and save what i've typed in there. Maybe a Mac equivalent of Foxit PDF Editor for Windows? http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/editor/
	0

Mar 3, 2011, 10:57 PM	#3
SHADO macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Beach	PDFpen or PDFpenPro have always been good options for this. __________________ SHADO WAS HERE Need DropBox? Let's both get some free space: http://db.tt/fgml86fY
	0

Mar 4, 2011, 11:38 AM	#5
Hankster macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington DC	Not sure but I read this a while a back, it's a new PDF converter but it's pricy. http://www.insidemacapps.com/?p=444 __________________ iMac - MacBook Air - iPhone - iPad - Shuffle - Nikon
	0

Mar 5, 2011, 03:30 PM	#7
kidkasha macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2009	Converting PDF file I have photoshop CS can that be used to edit PDF files by saving to a different format so change can be made;
	0

Mar 5, 2011, 08:41 PM	#8
TreoRenegade macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2008	"PDF Unlock" http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/35106/pdf-unlock/ Only discovered this recently, so I've not yet used it, but have it in my arsenal so I'll be ready when I encounter the kind of files referred to by the OP -- for me, typically, court opinions. All I want is the ability to highlight/annotate as usual. The comments on the linked page suggest this is as good as PDFUnlocker on WinWoes. Once the file is unlocked, you can use whatever editor you prefer. Free. Last edited by TreoRenegade; Mar 5, 2011 at 08:41 PM. Reason: Pricing info
	0

Mar 3, 2011, 10:14 PM	#2
dirt farmer macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2005	I've had zero problems with the free online PDFescape. It does all that you're asking.
	0

Mar 6, 2011, 02:11 AM	#9
fireballer55 macrumors member Join Date: May 2007	acrobat pro X is a great app for me.
	0

Mar 7, 2012, 03:30 AM	#11
nandez28 macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2012	Adobe Acrobat is $400. I use PDF Editor Pro for $99.95. There is PDF Editor for $49.95 and a free trial. I find it easy to use, they have video tutorials on their web site
	0

May 30, 2012, 02:53 AM	#14
susan60 macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2012	While FormulatePro is not nearly as nice as the online PDFescape, it's free and rather easy. it works pretty well.
	0

Jun 2, 2012, 03:07 AM	#15
dupreeer macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2012	If you just need to add text, images, and draw freehand into PDF's, and FormulatePro is perfect for that.
	0

Jun 20, 2012, 03:47 PM	#18
mchalebk macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008	I use PDFUnlock!. Simply "browse" to find the file and it will unlock it for you.
	0

Mar 11, 2013, 10:33 PM	#19
mengniu macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2013	ieasyconverter PDF Editor Pro for Mac is the best cost-effective tool. I know there are some famous ones, but this one is enough for me to take control of PDF files are a very low price. Last edited by mengniu; Mar 13, 2013 at 09:05 PM.
	0


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