Edit PDF in browser
You can load a PDF, perform the necessary operations while checking Thumbnail and Preview, and save it as a separate PDF from the original file.
Open PDF editing toolConclusion: Choose elements to add, place them on the page, and inspect the saved PDF
You can add text, highlights, rectangles, circles, lines, handwriting, images, and signatures. For the selected element, you can adjust position, size, color, transparency, and text decoration.
This is not editing existing text, OCR, true redaction, or electronic certificate signing. Even if the appearance is similar, the security implications differ.
Load PDF and check target page
Check the target page, appended content, font in use, and image format.
| Account to check | Operation/display | judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Text tool and font settings | Consider loading Japanese font files. |
| Image | PNG/JPEG/WebP | Transparency and aspect ratio |
| signature | Handwriting dialog | Visual signature |
| Shapes | Fluorescent, square, circle, and line | Original content remains |
Perform editing operations
Select a type from the Toolbar and place it on the Page.
- Open the PDF.
- Select text, images, signatures, and more.
- Add it to the Page and adjust its position and Size.
- Set color, font, and opacity.
- Save after checking the Preview.
Check with Preview and save as a new PDF
Check the page number, order, orientation, and position of additional elements in Preview. Reopen the saved PDF and check that nothing other than the target page has changed.
| confirmation | places to see | Points to prevent failure |
|---|---|---|
| Page | Thumbnail / Page number | Check for missing/duplicated/sequence |
| Display | Center preview and zoom | Check direction, position, and cut |
| output | PDF after saving | Check the number of pages, filename, and file size. |
Distinguish between easily confused functions in PDF editing
| Actions | What this tool means | not respond |
|---|---|---|
| Add characters | Draw a new text element onto the Page | Edit existing Paragraph directly |
| handwritten signature | Add drawn appearance to PDF | Digital Signature with electronic certificate |
| square | Add shapes to the page | Redaction to remove the original Text |
| Page display | Preview Page with PDF.js | Image PDF OCR |
| Save current page | Output the currently displayed page to another PDF | Specify Range/Batch Extract Multiple Pages |
Even if you cover the text with a black rectangle, the original Text Object may remain. For redacting personal and sensitive information, use a product that has true Redaction capabilities and can verify original data removal.
Notes on in-browser processing and confidential PDFs
DevelopTools PDF editing processes the selected PDF Binary, Filename, signature, and Form input on Browser Memory without sending them to the Application Server. Content Security Policy also prohibits external connections.
However, we do not guarantee the safety of devices, browsers, extensions, screen sharing, or download destinations. For confidential documents, it is also necessary to check the regulations of the user organization, device management, storage location, and edited file.
The original PDF will not be directly overwritten. Save the edited PDF under a different name and check the content, page order, orientation, searchable text, metadata, etc. according to your needs.
Compatible range of PDF editing tools
| Category | Actions | Supported |
|---|---|---|
| loading | PDF selection/Drag & Drop/Add multiple PDFs | Supported |
| Page operations | Move forward/backward/duplicate/add/delete blank pages/rotate left/right 90 degrees | Supported |
| extraction | Save current page as separate PDF | Only 1 page supported |
| P.S. | Text/fluorescence/shapes/lines/handwriting/images/handwritten signatures | Supported |
| form | Existing fillable Form Field | If the PDF has a field |
| Save | Download the entire or current page as a new PDF | Supported |
| Unsupported | Direct rewriting of existing text, OCR, decryption, authentic Redaction, digital certificate signature | Not compatible |
Check implementation and official documentation
The structure of PDF differs depending on the creation application, font, encryption, form, annotation, image format, etc. Don't make a judgment based only on the steps in the article, check the compatibility range of the Tool and Library you are using, and the output PDF.
Example: Add a name and handwritten signature to an application form
Add names with the text tool and signatures from the handwritten signature dialog.
After saving, check for mojibake, position, and clipping.
- Add a name
- Check Japanese fonts
- Add signature
- Post-save check
When handling real signatures, also check the sharing destination, storage location, and device security.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I rewrite existing text in PDF like in Word?
- No. Develop Tools adds text and images to existing pages. It cannot re-edit existing paragraphs or replace fonts.
- Are PDFs and signatures sent to the server?
- Not sent. Load, edit, preview, and output PDFs within the Browser. The user is responsible for confirming the storage location and device management after downloading.
- Can I edit password-protected PDFs and scanned PDFs?
- Decryption of encrypted PDF and OCR are not supported. If you are unable to read the file, please prepare Copy or an OCR compatible product with the protection removed with proper authority.