While it may seem like a new trend, the idea of the paperless office has been around since the 70s - and shows no signs of stopping. Yes, it's a positive move for the environment, and for reducing your office's carbon footprint - but did you know that it can also save you a lot of money and makes you and your team more efficient? Source: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema  Let's take a look at the hard numbers. Efficiency experts claim the average worker uses over 10,000 sheets of paper a year at an annual cost of roughly $80. But that's just for the...

If you're used to creating and managing files in Google Docs or MS Office, you're probably used to sharing or sending them without another thought. I mean, everybody has Office, right? Turns out, it's kind of a gamble. Are you sure the person you're sharing your file with has the exact same software you do? If they don't, they might not be able to even open your file. And if you're sharing the file with a group, that's even more opportunities for your well-formatted text doc or complex spreadsheet to get mangled in the translation. In some instances - let's...

If you do any type of work on a computer, chances are you have received or sent someone a PDF. PDFs are useful because they are compatible on almost any platform or software, and maintain their original formatting. However, the drawback of PDFs is they cannot be easily edited. If you need to make a minor change to a file such as a signing a PDF, splitting a PDF, or removing text, then there are a plenty of paid and free PDF editing tools, including DocFly.  Every now and then you may need to make significant changes to a file. In...

It wasn't so long ago that, when it came to file sharing across platforms and devices, anarchy was the order of the day.  Sheer, maddening chaos.  Macs and PCs refused to play nicely, images wouldn't send over already-lackluster internet connections, even documents created on different versions of common software programs refused to cooperate.  It's a wonder anything got done.  There must be a better way.  At least, that's what the bright minds of Team Camelot were convinced. Spearheaded by John Warnock, one of the Adobe Systems founders, Team Camelot was tasked with creating a new file format. One that would...

One of the most popular search engine queries relating to PDFs is "PDF to Word". When I looked at the data, the first thought that jumped out at me was: "I know why! Everyone wants to edit a PDF using a format they are familiar with!". While I wasn’t sure of my hunch back then, I now believe that my instincts were correct. The biggest issue with PDFs (and ironically, also their main strength) is that they are very difficult to edit. Users of PDF files who are stuck trying to make edits usually react in two ways – they...

When you receive a PDF form to fill out, your first instinct may be to print the file, fill it out by hand and then scan the document. This is what the vast majority of people who receive a PDF online do - print it, sign it, scan it, resend it. Surely there must be an easier way to sign documents online? Happily, there are now free online tools that allow you to fill out and add your signature online to any PDF you receive. By filling out a form online, you save time, money and help save our environment by reducing...

If you’re sharing an image file, such as a JPG, with someone you don’t know very well, watch out! The person who receives the file may modify it (without your knowledge) and even claim it as their own work.     PDFs offer substantially better security than JPGs or other image files Unlike PDF files, image files can be easily modified and do not leave an electronic footprint of any changes that were applied to the file. This means a dishonest person can steal your work (by claiming they authored the file – for example) without leaving any traces. As...

When people ask me for help with their PDF editing needs, I always try to clarify what they mean by "edit". For some people, editing means annotating or filling out a form, in which case most free PDF solutions can easily meet their needs. For others, they are looking to edit the text of a PDF file or convert a scanned image into an editable Word file. Given the wide variety of needs with regards to PDF editing, I decided to write a blog post on this important subject.

The success of the PDF file format is a great example of how a product becomes a global technical standard, like the PDF has. For anyone looking to build or invest in a new technology that hopes to become a standard, I can't think of a better lesson from history. In the early 90s, the PDF was competing against several other file formats including DjVu, Envoy, and Common Ground Digital Paper.  

PDF files are hard to edit because they aren’t meant to be edited! While there are many solutions that enable a user to make changes to a PDF to some degree, they all suffer from weaknesses in one way or another. Let’s dig deeper into why this is the case.