PDF guides and how-tos

Short, practical guides for everyday PDF jobs, each with the tool that does it.

• How to compress a PDF for email

  Make a PDF small enough to email without wrecking it. Why PDFs get big, what to compress, and how to check the result.

  Uses: Compress PDF

• How to merge PDF files into one

  Combine several PDFs into a single document in the right order. Steps, tips for mixed orientations, and how to fix mistakes.

  Uses: Merge PDF

• How to extract pages from a PDF

  Pull specific pages out of a PDF into a new file, or split a document into parts. Page ranges explained with examples.

  Uses: Split PDF

• How to make a scanned PDF searchable (OCR)

  Turn a scanned PDF into one you can search, select and copy text from. What OCR is, how to run it, and how to get good results.

  Uses: OCR PDF

• How to convert a PDF to Markdown

  Turn a PDF into clean Markdown with headings, lists, tables and links, for AI tools, notes and documentation. What is kept and what isn't.

  Uses: PDF to Markdown

• How to compare two PDF files and see what changed

  Find the differences between two versions of a PDF. How the comparison report reads, and tips for contracts and reports.

  Uses: Compare PDF

• How to translate a PDF into another language

  Translate a PDF into Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Japanese and more. What you get, what to check, and when to use a human translator.

  Uses: Translate PDF

• How to summarize a long PDF with AI

  Get the key points of a long PDF in seconds. Choose the length and style, and learn how to check an AI summary before you rely on it.

  Uses: Summarize PDF

• How to password protect a PDF

  Lock a PDF so it needs a password to open. How to choose a strong password, what permissions do, and what to do if you forget it.

  Uses: Protect PDF

• How to redact a PDF properly

  Remove names, numbers and other sensitive details from a PDF for good. Why black boxes aren't enough, and how to check that redaction worked.

  Uses: Redact PDF

• How to compress a PDF to a specific size (100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB)

  Application forms often cap uploads at 100 KB, 200 KB or 1 MB. Here is how to get a PDF under a set size and what to do if it won't fit.

  Uses: Compress PDF