this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2024
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Recommendations on Linux Friendly PDF Software (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by tapdattl@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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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 😂

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[–] cRazi_man@lemm.ee 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've been through a lot of options trying to get the same functionality you mentioned. I've never found a single app that works particularly well. I'm surprised the state of PDF apps is so poor in Linux. Others have mentioned a bunch of apps and each fails in some major way. I'll come back and check this comment section later for new suggestions for my own sake too.

[–] weker01@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

There is a reason for that. PDFs de facto "standard" is complex and documentation is sparse. PDFs were also designed to be static and uneditable which makes a lot of simple edits more complex to implement than people think.

[–] cRazi_man@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

Understandable, but it's a significant diifculty in migrating fully to Linux when PDFs are used everywhere and there are solutions that work well on Windows. This is one of the few things I will get my wife's Windows laptop for.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 1 points 1 week ago

And because Linux users know what an md file is.