# I need a .pdf editor/combiner **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765 "2010-03-08T20:43:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/1 "2010-03-08T20:43:19Z")
We have a new copier at work, which allows us to make and email .pdf, which is really really nice. I have been getting a lot of information from a friend for the family genealogy. A lot of it is on paper so I’ve been taking it and converting it. However, there are things I would like to do with the .pdf when I get them. I’d like to be able to combine two or more files together. I’d also like to be able to remove blank pages, and add comments to the files. The copier doesn’t have the option of even allowing me to choose if I want to be able to mark up the documents, all I can do is view them and print them. I’d also like to be able to search the files too, I know that some files we get sent at work, through a different means, allows us to convert the file to be searchable. Is there any free program that will allow me to do these types of things, or am I out of luck and just have to deal with lots of smaller files, and not being able to make comments. I have Windows Vista if that matters. I just checked and I have 24 or so files, when I should only have 3-4. It’s not like the files are huge, but it’s hard to find info when it could be anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/2 "2010-03-08T20:57:43Z")
For combining, PDFTools [http://www.sheelapps.com/](http://www.sheelapps.com/) For editing: PDF Exchange Viewer [http://www.docu-track.com/product/downloads](http://www.docu-track.com/product/downloads) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/3 "2010-03-08T21:34:32Z")
I use [pdftk](http://www.accesspdf.com/pdftk/). Unlike PDFTools and PDF Exchange Viewer, it is Free Software. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/4 "2010-03-08T21:35:38Z")
Foxit pdf editor: > **[Free Online PDF Editor | Edit PDF Files Effortlessly with Foxit](https://www.foxit.com/pdf-editor/)** > > Foxit PDF Editor provides a full featured platform to create, manage, convert, OCR, eSign and edit PDF documents. Download the best PDF editor for free now! ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/5 "2010-03-08T21:36:58Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I use [pdftk](http://www.accesspdf.com/pdftk/). Unlike PDFTools and PDF Exchange Viewer, it is Free Software. Both PDF Tools and PDF Exchange Viewer have free versions. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/6 "2010-03-08T21:39:25Z")
> [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Both PDF Tools and PDF Exchange Viewer have free versions. They may be free as in zero-cost, but they’re not [free software](http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) in the sense I was using the term. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/7 "2010-03-08T21:41:29Z")
I’m sure the OP doesn’t give two shits about that. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/8 "2010-03-08T21:44:13Z")
Well, I think he should care about free software the same way he presumably cares about free speech, and I think you should too. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-pdf-editor-combiner/531765/9 "2010-03-09T20:22:44Z")
Thanks guys, I got one that will work for what I need. The biggest thing was putting a few hundred pages together with ease.