editing PDF files...?

[joko]

Hi

I have a PDF file, that appears to have very few security restrictions...i want to print it (which is allowed) - but the file is huge...(544 pages) and contains a lot of wasted space and just coloured pages, images etc ...id like to copy it into another format (perhaps word?) and delete some of the stuff i dont want to print...how can I do this?

I am aware I can just choose the pages i want to print...but i dont want to have to wade thru 544 taking page numbers...id rather just delete the stuff i dont want.

also what does 'copy to clipboard' mean?

thanks

[sn�gs]

You can delete the individual pages you don't want, then re-save the .pdf file with another name so you keep the original...

Or using the text tool in Acrobat, you can copy and paste text within the .pdf into Word etc.

(I use Apple Macs but 'assume' the above is the same on a PC)...

[joko]

cheers, trouble is, it appears that most of the pages are scans of a book...can these be converted into text?

thanks

[ACtheTROLL]

there are various pdf to text/word etc progs (try google)
or you could try an ocr prog

you get varying success - basically once it's a pdf ... it's not editable - the author has the original, edits that... and makes a new one.

bottom line is - if you want to modify it - you'll have to put in some time and effort

[sn�gs]

''it appears that most of the pages are scans of a book''

As in ''placed .jpegs or .tiffs within the original document'', pre-.pdf?

If so, then even having 'the original document' won't help. As AC says above, have a look online for a free OCR scanning programme...

[fo3nix]

If it's a scanned book, I'd forget trying to use OCR software.

If you haven't got time to wade through the pages to see which ones to not print, then you certainly don't have enough time to fix random errors from the OCR software.

I also use a Mac, and in Preview, you can press the delete key to delete pages. I suspect there is a similar option in Acrobat reader?

Otherwise, you may need something like Acrobat Pro.