Adding text in Preview?

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Level 1

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Adding text in Preview?

I downloaded an application form (for a job) that defaulted to preview. I tried adding text on preview but nothing is typing out. Is there a way to convert to Microsoft Word or is there a trick to adding text on preview?

mac os x 10.5.8, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 27, 2010 8:19 AM

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Answer 1

k.panic

Level 3

605 points

Oct 28, 2010 7:48 AM in response to sarracuda

Well, you won't be able to type any text if the document wasn't created to be directly edited in the first place.

In Preview, if you open the PDF and then select Tools from the top menubar, you have an Annotate option. There's an Add Text option and you can use the Fonts menu to pick the right font/size/color. That's really all you can do if you don't have a PDF that's got text boxes inserted already.

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Answer 2

k.panic

Level 3

605 points

Oct 27, 2010 9:21 AM in response to sarracuda

Is it a PDF? If so, I'd recommend downloading Adobe Reader, which is free.
http://get.adobe.com/reader/
It handles editable PDFs better than Preview, at least in my experience. You may want to download a fresh copy of the application if you can, I've had Preview do weird things to editable PDFs.
If you still can't edit it, you can always overlay text, but it's easier if you don't have to. Preview has annotation tools, you can add text boxes, I believe.

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Answer 3

sarracuda Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2010 9:13 PM in response to k.panic

Yes it is a PDF file. I downloaded Adobe Reader and I was having the same problem with preview were I have text tool selected but when I go to type, nothing shows up.
Is there anything else I can do?

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Answer 4

sarracuda Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2010 7:40 AM in response to leroydouglas

I must be doing something wrong or the file is not in the right format. I tried PDFpen and I am still unable to type text on the PDF document. I select the right tool, and the place where I want to type in new text and yet nothing is typed out.

Anymore suggestions? What am I doing wrong?

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Answer 5

sarracuda Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2010 8:37 AM in response to k.panic

It's an application to job. They have the option of sending the file via e-mail and thus making me assume (as bad as assuming may be) that it would be possible to fill the application out on the computer as apposed to printing it out and writing by hand. I played around with the settings on the PDFpen program and I am finally able to produce what I have been needing to do. The only problem is now, is that typing it out takes longer than writing it out because I have to make minor adjustments like lining up the text with the line it needs to be along.

Thank you for all of your help! I think I've got it form here on.

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Answer 6

Oct 28, 2010 7:46 PM in response to sarracuda

Glad you've solve the problem with PDFpen.
If I were you, I'd like to try other methods, too.
1. Skim, which is also free. Its annotation function is very powerful. You can use the text note to fill forms.
2. Use a PDF to Word converter for mac, and fill forms in MS word. http://www.anypdftools.com/pdf-to-word-for-mac.html If you prefer PDF files, create PDF from Word using Microsoft Save As PDF add-in or Cutepdf writer.

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Answer 7

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,370 points

Oct 27, 2010 10:07 PM in response to sarracuda

You can try PDFpen. It works well for me. http://smilesoftware.com/PDFpen/index.html Try it free, with watermark.

Message was edited by: leroydouglas

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Answer 8

Oct 28, 2010 8:08 AM in response to sarracuda

It certainly sounds like the document simply was not created to allow editing. Presumably, it is intended to be printed out and filled out by hand.

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