IAnnotate PDF – read PDF and take notes in PDF files. Xournal - handwritten notes and annotations in PDF files Handwritten notes in Linux

Today, PDF is one of the most popular multiplatform formats, which is widely used in printing, website development and the creation of book archives. Using PDF, you can create your own documents and distribute them on the Internet, having previously protected the files from copying. There are several ways to record PDF documents: create them in mode or use paid file editors of the required format.

Write PDF file online

To record documents in PDF format online, it is better to use the Google Docs service. Register in Google system and do the following:
1) Open Google service Docs.
2) Set up columns, upload images and text of your document to the online office field.
3) Print the document in PDF format (Print to PDF option) or save it to your PC.

If you need to convert a ready-made Word document to PDF, you can use free online converters. There is no shortage of them today. Just enter the phrase “ PDF converters» and follow any link.

Writing PDF using special software

You can also create PDF files in the paid version. text editor MS Office 2007, as well as later versions of this program. MS Office allows you to save to PDF as text documents, and presentations. To convert any document to PDF, open the File menu, select Save As, and then select the desired format.

There are also special programs for writing and creating PDF files: HelpCruiser, Bullzip PDF Writer, PDF Writer, CutePDF, TinyPDF, PDFCreator, etc. Bullzip PDF Writer and PDFCreator have certain advantages among them. These programs allow you to add watermarks, edit metadata, and create password-protected files. During operation, you can use 40 and 128-bit file encryption. The remaining programs fall into the category of simpler applications for creating and converting PDF documents. They have a small installer size and perform basic functions for creating PDF documents.

To print text, images or tables in PDF format, use special PDF printers (for example, doPDF). These are free programs that you can easily download to your computer. After installing the program on your PC, press Ctrl+P and select the printer from the list provided.

All of the above applications will help you easily and quickly record or convert any documents to PDF format. Most of these programs are freely available, but some services and applications will need to be purchased for a reasonable fee.

It's very difficult to write reviews of office software. And not because I understand little about them - I understand much more than the average user. But because it is difficult to describe all the functions of such applications.

Some people just want the program to do what it's supposed to do. Someone needs a program to support quite specific operations. Someone wants the program to replace everything in addition to its main responsibilities office programs. It's hard to please everyone and give a perfect review.

Therefore, I will focus on the comments that came to our site... Several times in the last couple of months the issue of reading PDF has been raised, but not just reading, but the ability to make notes in PDF texts. This function is available in decent e-readers. Shortbook, iBooks, etc. have the ability to make color marks directly in the text. But Epub or fb2 formats and simple text selection are one thing, PDF is another matter.

– a program for adding notes to PDF files. It can do a lot in this area - this is what can justify the price of 10 dollars (by the way, like serious office products Pages or Numbers). The program is also convenient to use as a library of PDF files. These and other functions will be discussed in a little more detail in the review.

iAnnotate PDF Review

Managing Files in iAnnotate PDF

The program is good at this. Managing files is very convenient. iAnnotate supports folders and subfolders. Files are distributed by simply transferring them to new folder. You can select folders and files and perform group operations. There is file sorting and display of files by filters (for example, only with notes or the most popular).

The program has a built-in file search, and you can search both by file names and by their contents. The search works quickly, since after loading files into the program, they are indexed.

iAnnotate PDF allows you to sync with Dropbox and work directly with it. Download selected PDF files or folders from there. In addition, it is possible to download in the browser built into the program. Well, finally, you can upload a bunch of files via iTunes in the standard way.

Note: After downloading files in bulk, you should wait until the program processes them. At this time, indexing of files occurs, so it’s worth waiting a couple of minutes after downloading a dozen files.

The first conclusions that can be drawn from iAnnotate PDF are that the approach to file management is very serious. One of the best implementations of this functionality that I have ever seen on an iPad. As a file cataloger PDF program worthy of the highest rating.

Annotation of documents

The iAnnotate program has rich text annotation capabilities. You can mark parts of the text (and not only text) with color... Underline, write your own texts and notes on entries. At the same time, you decide what color to highlight, what line thickness will be by default, what the note will look like: with hidden text or in plain sight.

You can take notes in several files at once, since they open in tabs (just like a serious browser).

A rich set of tools allows you to implement all these possibilities. Moreover, you shouldn’t look at the default panel: the program really has a lot of tools (they even had to be divided into groups) and they can be added to quick access by simply dragging and dropping. It’s a pity that the toolbar is not rubber and you can’t fit much there.

Navigating through the file while annotating is extremely convenient.

Well, what to do with the files after? In addition to regular export, the file can be sent by mail. It is possible to choose in what form to send - you can generally send only those pages that contain marks.

The program itself will generate the required PDF file, which can be read on a computer with a regular PDF reader. This is what the file looks like on a computer after using the iAnnotate PDF program. If you click on 5.2, the program takes you to the end of the document, where all the notes are written. It turns out like a footnote.

Well, a short video of the program for those interested:

Conclusion: iAnnotate PDF is a great product. Yes, 10 dollars is not the price that everyone is willing to pay. But those who need an application of this kind are unlikely to be disappointed. The only downside is a couple of flights during 2 hours of testing. Otherwise, I liked the program.

Today at video tutorial I want to show you how to use free program PDF Viewer edit pdf documents! PDF Viewer free download maybe at the end of the post...

This topic will be especially interesting to those who study, work with pdf documents and develops your business on the Internet!

See also the article on how to recognize text and convert it to Word,

PDF-Viewer vs Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader

Someone might say, “Why do I need some kind of PDF Viewer if I have Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader?!”

Yes, most computers actually have one of these programs installed! I also went through them... But I settled on PDF-Viewer!

Adobe Reader Quite a tough program! If you have a weak computer, then you should especially feel this. My computer is not weak, but I got rid of Adobe Reader a long time ago and forever! An inconvenient program!

Replaced it with Foxit Reader! And I recommended everyone to do it! Foxit Reader good reader pdf documents! But nothing more!

That is, in Adobe Reader And Foxit Reader you can only read, but not edit pdf documents!

Why edit pdf documents?

For example, when I started collaborating with Forex4you (you can read about this), I had to go through account verification, that is, confirm that I am me.

To be honest, my handwriting is not very good :) Imagine what kind of manipulation I had to do - print it out pdf document, fill in all fields, scan and send back to Forex4you. An inconvenient procedure, isn't it? But I didn’t do all this!

Even then I had PDF Viewer and I could no problem edit pdf document and even sign it!

You can make notes in the text, notes in the margins, and underline the necessary words and phrases. All in all edit pdf document, as you please!

Benefits of PDF Viewer

  • You can add comments and annotations (stickers) to any PDF document.
  • You can add Custom Stamps from any art or PDF file.
  • You can make marks (notes) by adding text or objects.
  • You can print on any PDF document.
  • Export PDF documents or entire files into any image format BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG.
  • Copy text from a document or file.
  • Install add-ons to browsers Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
  • Download the portable version and always have it with you on a flash drive.
  • enjoy big amount languages ​​(including Russian and Ukrainian)

(almost like on paper), create drawings in (a tablet will make the work much easier) or take handwritten notes.

Handwritten notes in Linux

I'm drawing on the window

I look at empty walls

Leaving on the sand

Perfect poems.

(C) Chaif

In your favorite Linux distribution There are every possible one, some impossible ones, and two incredible programs, but for handwritten notes there is only one - Xournal. Fortunately, she can do a lot.

Installation and configuration xournal

Installation is simple and straightforward - xournal is included in the distribution kits and requires minimal effort:
After that, launch xournal and start recording your invaluable ideas.

Main features of xournal

Xournal is quite rich in capabilities and at the same time has a very simple interface:

The top row of buttons is standard: open a note file, save, cancel and navigate through pages. It’s convenient that there are buttons for pages on the top panel - click on " Next page" will automatically create a blank page.

Actually, the Pen and Eraser tools are all we need for handwritten notes:


Among the features, it is worth noting support for pressure sensitivity (lines will be thicker or thinner in the drawings) and setting the thickness (Tools - Pen Options).

If you need to draw some kind of graph, you can change the page layout in the Journal - Paper Style menu.


If you turn on Shape Recognizer, then xournal will try to straighten your squiggles into a circle or square. I must say that xournal has very unique ideas about squaring the circle and straight lines :-)

Tagging PDFs with xournal

When reading PDF files, you often want to make notes in the margins and text, or highlight individual sentences so that you can return to them when viewing them again. The ability to make notes in PDF documents, of varying degrees of crookedness, occurs in some programs for Linux:
  • okular: KDEsh monster - and can already do everything except, in fact, quickly view PDF files. Anonymous claims that in latest versions Okular can already do absolutely everything, including saving notes in PDF inside a file.
  • Evince: our (GNOME) answer to Chamberlain (okular), can mark up PDF files, although this ability is hidden from the user.
  • PDFEdit: scary as a mortal sin, and with a crazy interface, nevertheless it can mark PDF documents and save marks inside the PDF.
  • Xournal: can highlight words and sentences with color, it is possible to take handwritten notes (freehand), save notes both in a separate file, and embed them in a PDF file.
This post is about Xournal, although in terms of PDF annotation capabilities, Linux xournal is, of course, far behind ezPDF for Android. For example, the main disadvantage of Xournal is that it is not possible to select text in PDF continuously, in several lines in a row. In ezPDF for Andoird, of course, this is done over the head:

You can’t do this in xournal, because the selection is made using a simple rectangle (you should turn on Shape Recognizer, otherwise the lines will also be uneven):


The color and transparency of the selection can be changed: xournal, alas and ah, makes a layer of notes on top text, so if you make the color completely opaque, it will be impossible to read later.

Links

Marking and annotation of PDF files at least has a place on Linux in the form of xournal, and this makes all sorts of useful things on Linux as well.
9 comments: | | |
Anonymous comments...

Anonymous users of Okular claim that Okular still saves notes and comments in PDF

kyzic comments...

Okular can save the file itself and notes to it in the form of a special archive, which is then torn off by the eyepiece. Of course, there are problems with portability to other platforms, but for personal use it’s quite normal. I still don’t understand what kind of “quick viewing of PDF files” is that Okular supposedly can’t do.

Anonymous comments...

The eyepiece, in any case, runs very quickly in the latest versions - when it starts up :) In addition, it has such a feature as a panoramic view (View mode - Overview) - which is very convenient on a wide monitor, because allows you to view a large amount of information “diagonally” at once.

Anonymous comments...

Anonymous people even opened the PDF file in Adobe Reader before submitting their comment, so Okular definitely knows how to save edits in PDF

virens comments...

I haven’t had time to drink a cup of coffee yet, and Anonymous has already come running to defend my beloved Eyepiece :-)

@Anonymous comments...
Anonymous users of Okular claim that Okular still saves notes and comments in PDF
He hadn't done this before. In version 4.4.5, which is in the now stable Debian, it is an epileptic and brake manure, sorry. But Anonymous claims, and I have no reason not to believe them%-)

@kyzic comments...
Okular can save the file itself and notes to it in the form of a special archive, which is then torn off by the eyepiece.
The eyepiece is not the only (and, at the risk of being torn to pieces by Anonymous into a British flag, not the most important) PDF viewer on the planet. You need to save notes inside the file.

I still don’t understand what kind of “quick viewing of PDF files” is that Okular supposedly can’t do.
Can't scan quickly. Well, he didn’t know how: Anonymous probably already knows how to do it from the nightly assemblies.

@tengu911 comments...
Ocular, at least in the latest versions, runs very quickly
You know, tengu, this is how it’s always with the Epensor: in the latest version, pulled straight from the developers last night, everything suddenly worked. And those versions that are in distribution kits are outdated locomotives compared to Shinkansen :-)

when will it launch :)
Exactly...

In addition, it has such a feature as a panoramic view (View mode - Overview)
Heh, this is also a new mega feature for me: Kdvi was able to do this a long time ago, I have it in KDE 3.5.10. Convenient, yes.

@Anonymous comments...
Anonymous people even opened the PDF file in Adobe Reader before submitting their comment, so Okular definitely knows how to save edits in PDF
It would be nice to attach a notarized (TM) screenshot. Well, just in case. But I corrected the post. If Anonymous repeatedly assures me, who am I not to believe them? :-)

Yes, the post is actually about Xournal, and not about the eyepiece. Although you can’t write much about Xournal there - it has few functions, but the main thing is that it has them. This is generally the only program for notes, and the only justification for my purchase of the X201T.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich

I want to share new fashion from my university (Universidad de Barcelona - Spain). There are 70+ people in our group. We are studying to become a Computer Engineer. The first year everyone walked around with pieces of paper, notebooks, notepads... But when I saw the method of teaching the lesson of most teachers (spotlight presentations), I decided to take a laptop with me and found a note-taking program for pdf format. It is in this format that teachers give us the material. After a couple of classmates saw this program from me, every day the number of laptops in pairs began to increase. Even some teachers began to use it, sending us reports on work with annotations of this program.

So, PDF-XChange Viewer. The program makes it possible fine tuning and includes a huge set required functions which you can read about on the off-site in the Feature List section.

What I like most:

What is the convenience?

And the fact is that everything is done quickly and it is possible, while the teacher is showing the same document on the spotlight, to take notes on the fly exactly in those places where the teacher points to his laser pointer.

If you customize everything, here is my example of some commands:

This can reduce the time it takes to select a function with the mouse and return to the document.

How to get to these settings?
Right-click on one of the panels, unlock if locked, and click again right button select "Customize". Next, go to the “Teams” tab.

And here's what it all looks like:
Original:

With notes:

General form:

Yes, I forgot to say, all settings can be exported and imported. The latest versions of the program have an OCR function.

UPD: There is an alternative for OSX: Skim