Hey all,

My father’s business requires him to work a lot with PDF forms, combine PDF files, convert scanned pictures to files, etc.

I’ve found Master PDF editor, but I’ve found it to be buggy – specifically when trying to create a new PDF from multiple files the program errors out saying it can’t create the file.

I’ve also tried running Foxxit PDF editor through WINE but that’s abysmal.

Any recommendations on Linux native software paid or FOSS, that can fill forms, create/combine PDFs, and do basic edition (rotating pages, etc) that my 70 year old dad can learn to use?

I moved him away from Windows with the Windows 11 debacle, and he’s liked Linux so far except for this one issue

Thanks all for your help?

***** EDIT *****

Thanks all for your responses, I’ll be trying out StirlingpPDF, PDFSam, OnlyOffice, and re-trying MasterPDF editor over the holidays while I have some 1:1 time with my dad. Tl;Dr: playing family IT and switching your parents to Linux is rough 😂

1 point

OnlyOffice is the best I think…

permalink
report
reply
1 point

Whoa I had no idea OnlyOffice had a PDF editor, I’ll be checking that out this week, thanks!

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Does OO do PDF now? Perhaps it’s time to upgrade my Nextcloud server again.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Add the Collabra online built in CODE server and Nextcloud Office apps. Link them up and you have Libre Office in your browser on your Nextcloud. You can get more complicated: https://collabora-online-for-nextcloud.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install/

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

No thanks. OnlyOffice is way better. Better interface and better MS compatibility. Plus it’s built for web, while Collabra is a glorified VNC session.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

LibreOffice has a PDF editor that I use regularly, but its got one big flaw: interpreting word wrap.

Seeing this thread, I’m going to try some of these out.

permalink
report
reply
0 points

Object draw is not a pdf editor sadly, it’s technically something else but I forget what. I made the same mistake a couple weeks back

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

Master pdf editor works great for me. License costs $80, but compared to Adobe prices it is basically free.

permalink
report
reply
1 point

I’ve never had issues with it either, but it’s probably overkill for OP’s requirements.

permalink
report
parent
reply
14 points

Don’t browsers allow you to do form fillable these days? I swear i just filled one with firefox the other day. Maybe that’s too limited?

For combining pdfs, pdftk from the command line is my goto. The command line interface for it isn’t too complicated.

permalink
report
reply
1 point

Exactly. OP should start by seeing what’s possible in Firefox.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

It does, as well as adding pictures into it and drawing by hand, so handwritten signing shouldn’t be an issue, either.

It doesn’t allow you to merge several PDFs, that’s still something they need other software for.

permalink
report
parent
reply
12 points

For “basic edition (rotating pages, etc)”, I myself always use pdftk.

“If PDF is electronic paper, then pdftk is an electronic staple-remover, hole-punch, binder, secret-decoder-ring, and X-Ray-glasses.”

permalink
report
reply
2 points

Did too until recently, started to switch to qpdf aqs it seems more openly maintained while doing about the same job with, arguably, clearer documentation than pdftk.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Linux

!linux@lemmy.ml

Create post

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word “Linux” in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

  • Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
  • No misinformation
  • No NSFW content
  • No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

Community stats

  • 6.4K

    Monthly active users

  • 4K

    Posts

  • 55K

    Comments