PDF: Portable Document Format

Introduction

PDF files are created using software such as Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat Capture, or similar tools. Acrobat Reader is necessary to view and use the files. When you download the reader, it launches every time you attempt to access a PDF file. PDF files are very useful for documents where you want to keep the original graphic appearance online, such as newspaper columns, document formats, flyers, and so on. In this article, we will learn about PDF in depth.

What is a PDF ?

Portable Document Format is the official term for PDF. Abode created the PDF file format in the 1990s to display files, including graphics and text formatting, independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. In other words, it is a secure file type that may be used to show and share information without the usage of software, hardware, or an operating system. A PDF file contains all the elements of a printed document in an electronic image that may be displayed, navigated, printed, or forwarded to others.

Here some most common scenarios are given −

• Search for information within a PDF file.

• Data from a PDF document copied

• Modify a PDF document's pages by adding, removing, or rearranging them.

• Make a few little adjustments to a PDF document's text, such as fixing mistakes or other errors.

• Combine several files in different formats into a single PDF document.

History of PDF

Adobe Systems released the PDF specs for free in 1993.

2008 On July 1, 2008, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 32000-1:2008, releasing PDF as an open standard.

A Public Patent License to ISO 32000-1 format royalty-free rights for all of Adobe's patents that are required to create, use, sell, and distribute PDF-compliant implementations was issued by Adobe in 2008.

The PDF 1.0 version, eventually underwent updates to become the PDF 1.7 version. Some proprietary, non-standard technologies were also included in PDF 1.7, which later became ISO 32000-1, including the Adobe XML Forms Architecture (XFA) and the JavaScript extension for Acrobat. The release of PDF 2.0, also known as ISO 32000- 2:2017, which excludes non-standard technologies, took place on July 28, 2017.

Applications and Advantages of PDF

• Mobility and portability are made easier with PDF. You cannot read a PDF file anywhere else without using free software, such as the Adobe Acrobat viewer.

• All of the text, images, and photos you have made in your file can be readily converted if you add some visual effects and convert the document to a PDF file.

• PDF provides a simple and secure method for email-based data transfer and sharing. Additionally, the level of user access can be altered.

• Additionally, PDF can have interactive kinds with data import and export functionality.

• You can compress the real data file without sacrificing quality. The speed of data interchange will increase.

Uses of PDF

• For documents like magazine articles, product brochures, or flyers, where the author wants to maintain the original graphic appearance online, PDF files are useful.

• Downloadable and printed documents including application forms, contracts, and resumes can also be stored as PDFs.

• To verify the accuracy of a digital document, PDFs also permit incorporating digital signatures.

Alternative of PDF

Some Alternatives to Easy PDF

• Adobe Acrobat.

• pdfFiller by airSlate.

• Conga Composer.

• Foxit PDF Editor.

• Wondershare PDFelement.

• Inkscape.

• MadCap Flare.

• Microsoft Word.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered text, photos, hyperlinks, form fields, rich media, digital signatures, attachments, metadata, Geospatial features, and 3D objects can all be included in PDF files, which can then be used as source documents. Used to show documents electronically regardless of the technology, software, or operating system being used to view them. As well as we have discussed the history, alternatives, uses, and advantages of PDF.

FAQs

Q1. Is it possible to convert PDFs to other formats?

Ans: It is possible to convert PDF files into other file types like Microsoft Word, Excel, or picture file types like JPG. However, the converting procedure might not completely maintain the original document's format.

Q2. Are there any security concerns with PDFs?

Ans: It's crucial to ensure that recipients trust the source of any PDF files they download because PDFs can contain viruses. Furthermore, PDF files may be password-protected so anyone attempting to open them is required to enter a password to do so.

Q3. What drawbacks can PDFs have?

Ans: The primary drawback of PDFs is that they cannot be edited. A person who needs to make changes to a document after it has been saved as a PDF must go back and do it in the application that created it. The modified PDF image must then be saved again.

Another drawback is that some outdated software cannot read PDF files. Recipients must have a PDF reader downloaded and installed on their computer to open a PDF.