Re: How to convert PDF file originally created in Illustrator/InDesign to editable format

["Kathleen MacDowell" <kathleen -at- writefortheuser -dot- com>]

In some versions of Acrobat Pro (I'm pretty sure back to 6, definitely 8,
and whatever version came just before) you can export the document as a Word
doc (and other types of files). You can also export the graphics to several
formats. As Al said, you can also open the PDF in Illustrator/Photoshop,
though I find Illustrator most versatile.

 Note that none of these solutions is likely to work if the document has
security, unless you have the password. Also, if opening a file in
Illustrator, make a backup copy first--it's possible to overwrite the
original with the pieces you're extracting.

Good luck,

Kathleen


On 6/7/07, Reffelt, Sheila <Sheila -dot- Reffelt -at- alcoa -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Thank you for that helpful information. I, too, suggested Professional,
> but you gave an amazing amount of helpful information. I am new to the
> product, and appreciate all you folks here who really give yourselves
> generously to the cause!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pro TechWriter [mailto:pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:38 PM
> To: Karla Ortega
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: How to convert PDF file originally created in
> Illustrator/InDesign to editable format
>
> Hi Karla:
>
> What version of Acrobat do you have? If it is 7.0 Professional or above,
> you
> can use Acrobat's built-in text recognition to recreate the text.
>
> The drawings may need to be re-created (sorry), but the help does say
> you
> can convert the graphics. I've never done that, but would sure like to
> know
> if it works. If you have to recreate the drawings, you can do a screen
> capture and use a drawing program to either autotrace or redo by hand as
> an
> overlay.
>
> Here are the instructions from the Acrobat Help:
> *
>
> Converting image-only scanned pages to searchable text
> *
>
> If you did not apply OCR when you scanned the paper document, you can
> apply
> it afterward using the Recognize Text Using OCR command. OCR software
> enables you to search, correct, and copy the text in a scanned Adobe PDF
> file. You can convert the pages in one of three file formats: Formatted
> Text
> and Graphics, Searchable Image (Exact), and Searchable Image (Compact).
> All
> formats apply OCR and font and page recognition to the text images and
> convert them to normal text. The searchable image file types have a
> bitmap
> image of the pages in the foreground and the converted text on an
> invisible
> layer beneath.
>
> You can use the Recognize Text Using OCR command on pages that were
> scanned
> or imported at 144 ppi and higher.
> *
>
> To convert scanned pages to searchable text:
>
>   *
>   1. Open the file you want to convert, and choose Document > Recognize
>   Text Using OCR > Start.
>   2. Specify the pages to be converted.
>   3. Under Settings, click the Edit button if you want to change the
>   primary OCR language, the PDF output style, or the image
> downsampling. For
>   PDF Output Style, choose Searchable Image (Exact) to keep the
> original image
>   in the foreground and place searchable text behind the image. Choose
>   Searchable Image (Compact) to apply compression to the foreground
> image to
>   reduce file size but also reduce image quality. Choose Formatted Text
> &
>   Graphics to reconstruct the original page using recognized text,
> fonts,
>   pictures, and other graphic elements.
>   4. In the Recognize Text dialog box, click OK.
>
>
>
> On 6/6/07, Karla Ortega <karla_e_ortega -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> > We have some .pdf files originally created in InDesign and
> Illustrator,
> > not the source files, and need to be able to edit them, add new text,
> and
> > new graphics.
> >
> > When we try to select text, it's impossible because it seems the .pdf
> was
> > saved as a graphic.
> >
> > Any ideas???
> >
> > The next step will be to try to scan the pdf and see if any text comes
> > out....
> >
> > Urgently looking for an answer/answers! Help.
> >
> > Thank you much,
> >
> > Karla
> > Karla_E_Ortega -at- hotmail -dot- com
> > _________________________________________________________________
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-- 
Kathleen MacDowell
www.writefortheuser.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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