Recommendations on free/low-cost PDF editing software needed

Jeysie · 03-30-2006, 05:52 PM

Is there anyone on the forum who can suggest a way to turn a couple of Excel sheets with formulas and stuff into editable and saveable auto-calculating PDFs without having to pay an arm and a leg?

Peace & Luv, Liz

Jayel · 03-30-2006, 07:02 PM

You can try OpenOffice which is free. You can export text and spreadsheet docs into PDFs. I don't know if you can do "editable" PDFs with it though.

Jeysie · 03-30-2006, 07:38 PM

Yeah, I already have OpenOffice, and if there's a way to create editable PDFs using it, I can't find it.

Peace & Luv, Liz

Lucien21 · 03-30-2006, 10:28 PM

http://www.cutepdf.com/

Jen · 03-31-2006, 07:02 AM

I don't believe you can make a PDF that will work the way an Excel sheet does, at least not without a lot of trouble. Have you ever seen this done before? I think the best you could do would be make a PDF fill-in form that will calculate fields for you based on form data entered by the user, but for that you'd need some kind of PDF creator that will let you build forms in the first place. I have the full version Acrobat CS2, and even with that forms-building is quite the pain in the butt and would not be a viable alternative to Excel.

Jeysie · 03-31-2006, 08:52 AM

Jen: Well, I know I've seen PDFs where you can just plug in numbers into some text boxes on the form and the PDF auto-calculates results out into other text boxes.

I'm basically looking for some solution that will let me easily edit, save, and pass sheets full of formulas and info back and forth across the Net and have everyone have the same info. Instead I've got people using several different word processing programs, with said programs all saving the Excel file in different (barely compatible) ways.

I had thought it would be easier to use something like a PDF instead of having to force everyone to use the same program.

Peace & Luv, Liz

Jen · 03-31-2006, 11:15 AM

Yes, you can set up a PDF to do that, at least using Acrobat (I don't know about any of the free or cheap programs). I guess my best suggestion would be to look around and see what they do. My guess is they all include only the printer driver and none of the more advanced editing tools.

Besides Lucien's link, there is PDF995, PDF Creator, PDF4Free, and a whole host of others.

If the form you want to create is fairly simple, and a one-time-only setup, I'd be happy to do it for you. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you my email address.

03-30-2006, 05:52 PM	#1
Jeysie Diva of Death Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,402	Recommendations on free/low-cost PDF editing software needed Is there anyone on the forum who can suggest a way to turn a couple of Excel sheets with formulas and stuff into editable and saveable auto-calculating PDFs without having to pay an arm and a leg? Peace & Luv, Liz Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals." Last edited by Jeysie; 03-30-2006 at 07:37 PM.

03-30-2006, 07:02 PM	#2
Jayel Club a seal or two Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Oh Canada! Posts: 300	You can try OpenOffice which is free. You can export text and spreadsheet docs into PDFs. I don't know if you can do "editable" PDFs with it though. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-30-2006, 07:38 PM	#3
Jeysie Diva of Death Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,402	Yeah, I already have OpenOffice, and if there's a way to create editable PDFs using it, I can't find it. Peace & Luv, Liz Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals."

03-30-2006, 10:28 PM	#4
Lucien21 Psychonaut Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,114	http://www.cutepdf.com/ Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

03-31-2006, 07:02 AM	#5
Jen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 115	I don't believe you can make a PDF that will work the way an Excel sheet does, at least not without a lot of trouble. Have you ever seen this done before? I think the best you could do would be make a PDF fill-in form that will calculate fields for you based on form data entered by the user, but for that you'd need some kind of PDF creator that will let you build forms in the first place. I have the full version Acrobat CS2, and even with that forms-building is quite the pain in the butt and would not be a viable alternative to Excel. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-31-2006, 08:52 AM	#6
Jeysie Diva of Death Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,402	Jen: Well, I know I've seen PDFs where you can just plug in numbers into some text boxes on the form and the PDF auto-calculates results out into other text boxes. I'm basically looking for some solution that will let me easily edit, save, and pass sheets full of formulas and info back and forth across the Net and have everyone have the same info. Instead I've got people using several different word processing programs, with said programs all saving the Excel file in different (barely compatible) ways. I had thought it would be easier to use something like a PDF instead of having to force everyone to use the same program. Peace & Luv, Liz Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals."

03-31-2006, 11:15 AM	#7
Jen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 115	Yes, you can set up a PDF to do that, at least using Acrobat (I don't know about any of the free or cheap programs). I guess my best suggestion would be to look around and see what they do. My guess is they all include only the printer driver and none of the more advanced editing tools. Besides Lucien's link, there is PDF995, PDF Creator, PDF4Free, and a whole host of others. If the form you want to create is fairly simple, and a one-time-only setup, I'd be happy to do it for you. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you my email address. Share Share this post on Twitter

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