What is the best PDF editor for electronic schematics

[Planobilly]

Hi,

As I download PDF schematics almost every day I would like to know what you think is the most useful PDF editor at any price.

Thanks,

Billy

[Richard Crowley]

EDITOR?  It is not clear what you are asking here.
Schematics that have been rendered to PDF are not "editable". They are, at best, primitive geometric objects, and more likely just bitmaps.

If you mean a PDF viewer, there are many free ones available for you to try and see if YOU like it. And of course, it depends on what operating system you are using (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)

If you want to EDIT schematic diagrams, then you will not be using PDF files, and you must use whatever software was used to create the original schematic diagram file.

[Kilrah]

Might want to clarify what you want. Create PDFs? Modify existing ones?

PDF's are made by "printing" to a virtual printer from any application that can print, and are not intended to be modifiable.

[rstofer]

Google is your friend!

http://www.labnol.org/software/edit-pdf-files/10870/

[Karel]

The purpose of pdf is to provide a document that looks te same everywhere and can not be edited (or at least should not be edited).
A pdf document is (almost) always the result of an export/conversion from another format that can be edited.
So, if you want to edit a schematic, pdf is useless.

[drtaylor]

Depending on how the schematic is rendered, it is often editable as a PDF. I use Adobe Illustrator to edit PDF files including schematics. Of course this is a very expensive program if you obtain it legally. But it does work for this purpose. So it is not correct to state that editing a PDF rendering of a schematic is useless. But I never do this for my designs as I have the original CAD schematics. But I have done it for schematic PDFs from obsolete programs. Even if the PDF is rendered as BMP and not vectors, you can cover errant sections, and draw over it with AIs tools if you just need minor changes. Then, of course, AI can save it as an editable PDF.

That being said, it does not allow you to update net lists or use library parts (unless you take the time to make AI library parts).

I use AI for all kinds of electronic purposes such as assembly prints, PCB fab drawings, etc. In some ways it is better than traditional CAD programs for this as you can easily include photos, text, drawings, etc, and even import DXFs from CAD programs.

I suppose there is a possibility that this works for me because I do all my design on a Mac, and AI on Windows machines may not work the same for editing PDFs.

[Planobilly]

Hi guys,

I mostly need to read them. I need to make them larger/smaller or rotate them. I sometimes would like to take a snap shot of a small part of a schematic to post that to a web site to be able to talk about it. I use the schematics to repair things, normally guitar amps.

Some PDF's are password protected to greater or lessor degrees, so there is not much one can do about that. I don't have a large format printer other than going to the office supply store to get them printed out. I can print 8 1/2 X 14. I gave some thought to printing them out on that format and scanning them back into the computer and creating a new PDF that I have control over. I have not tried that yet.

At least a few of the guitar amp companies like Fender, Mesa Boggie, Matchless and others who I have a in with will provide me with good schematics...well as good as they have...lol

I did a trial of Acrobat Reader DC. It is very costly. I am trying PDFescape at the moment. Acrobat works well enough but I am not sure it is worth the price of $15 a month or $450 outright.

I have good quality windows 10 based computer systems and large monitors to display on while I work.

I am sure there are ways to solve many of the issues with schematics because I have seen others clean them up and make them more readable for example. I am not sure what software they used to do that.

Cheers,

Billy

[Planobilly]

Hi Drtaylor,

Your post was coming in while I was posting.

I also use CAD programs for the little bit of original work I do. The better software for anything now days is very expensive. I have a friend who owns Solid Works and I get to use his machine to design parts. The program cost 30 grand!!

I have not looked to see what Adobe Illustrator cost now days. I don't think there is too much difference on MAC or Windows now days. This may be a good solution for me.

Thanks,

Billy

[lapm]

Personally i use schematic program that can export pdf or printer driver that exports to pdf... Pdf is there just documenting purposes and easy sharing of schematics.

[rdl]

...
I mostly need to read them. I need to make them larger/smaller or rotate them. I sometimes would like to take a snap shot of a small part of a schematic to post that to a web site to be able to talk about it. I use the schematics to repair things, normally guitar amps.
...

SumatraPDF can do all that. It's free. It can also be used for many other document types such as ebooks. It can run in portable mode, no installation required. It does not run active content, so there is no need to worry about potentially malicious embedded scripts. I've been using it for many years.

http://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/

[ANTALIFE]

...
I mostly need to read them. I need to make them larger/smaller or rotate them. I sometimes would like to take a snap shot of a small part of a schematic to post that to a web site to be able to talk about it. I use the schematics to repair things, normally guitar amps.
...

SumatraPDF can do all that. It's free. It can also be used for many other document types such as ebooks. It can run in portable mode, no installation required. It does not run active content, so there is no need to worry about potentially malicious embedded scripts. I've been using it for many years.

http://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/

I used Sumatra for like a week before I got annoyed with not being able to highlight/annotate PDF's, in the end I went back to Foxit Reader which is pretty powerful and not as bloated as Adobe.

[rdl]

...
I used Sumatra for like a week before I got annoyed with not being able to highlight/annotate PDF's, in the end I went back to Foxit Reader which is pretty powerful and not as bloated as Adobe.

What do you mean by "highlight/annotate" ?

SumatraPDF uses control + click and drag to highlight anything and copy it, but you cannot actually edit or add to the document.

The only limitation I've found to be a problem is the inability to fill in form fields, such as in IRS income tax forms.