Hey all,

My father’s business requires him to work a lot with PDF forms, combine PDF files, convert scanned pictures to files, etc.

I’ve found Master PDF editor, but I’ve found it to be buggy – specifically when trying to create a new PDF from multiple files the program errors out saying it can’t create the file.

I’ve also tried running Foxxit PDF editor through WINE but that’s abysmal.

Any recommendations on Linux native software paid or FOSS, that can fill forms, create/combine PDFs, and do basic edition (rotating pages, etc) that my 70 year old dad can learn to use?

I moved him away from Windows with the Windows 11 debacle, and he’s liked Linux so far except for this one issue

Thanks all for your help?

***** EDIT *****

Thanks all for your responses, I’ll be trying out StirlingpPDF, PDFSam, OnlyOffice, and re-trying MasterPDF editor over the holidays while I have some 1:1 time with my dad. Tl;Dr: playing family IT and switching your parents to Linux is rough 😂

1 point

OnlyOffice is the best I think…

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1 point

Whoa I had no idea OnlyOffice had a PDF editor, I’ll be checking that out this week, thanks!

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1 point

Does OO do PDF now? Perhaps it’s time to upgrade my Nextcloud server again.

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1 point

Add the Collabra online built in CODE server and Nextcloud Office apps. Link them up and you have Libre Office in your browser on your Nextcloud. You can get more complicated: https://collabora-online-for-nextcloud.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install/

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1 point

No thanks. OnlyOffice is way better. Better interface and better MS compatibility. Plus it’s built for web, while Collabra is a glorified VNC session.

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1 point

LibreOffice has a PDF editor that I use regularly, but its got one big flaw: interpreting word wrap.

Seeing this thread, I’m going to try some of these out.

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0 points

Object draw is not a pdf editor sadly, it’s technically something else but I forget what. I made the same mistake a couple weeks back

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2 points

Master pdf editor works great for me. License costs $80, but compared to Adobe prices it is basically free.

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1 point

I’ve never had issues with it either, but it’s probably overkill for OP’s requirements.

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12 points

For “basic edition (rotating pages, etc)”, I myself always use pdftk.

“If PDF is electronic paper, then pdftk is an electronic staple-remover, hole-punch, binder, secret-decoder-ring, and X-Ray-glasses.”

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2 points

Did too until recently, started to switch to qpdf aqs it seems more openly maintained while doing about the same job with, arguably, clearer documentation than pdftk.

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13 points

Don’t browsers allow you to do form fillable these days? I swear i just filled one with firefox the other day. Maybe that’s too limited?

For combining pdfs, pdftk from the command line is my goto. The command line interface for it isn’t too complicated.

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1 point

Exactly. OP should start by seeing what’s possible in Firefox.

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1 point

It does, as well as adding pictures into it and drawing by hand, so handwritten signing shouldn’t be an issue, either.

It doesn’t allow you to merge several PDFs, that’s still something they need other software for.

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