Frequently Asked Question

Adobe Acrobat Pro is a PAID program that lets you make real changes to PDF files. Note: Acrobat Pro is not the same as the free Acrobat Reader. Only some staff have Acrobat Pro. If you do not have it and you need it for your job, contact the Help Desk to ask about access before you start. The free Acrobat Reader cannot edit PDF text or images.

Edit text and images in a PDF:

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

1. Open the "Edit a PDF" tool (look in the right-hand panel or under the "All tools" menu, then choose "Edit a PDF" or "Edit").

1. The page will show editable boxes around the text and images.

1. To change words, click into a block of text and type. You can also delete or add text like you would in a word processor.

1. To change a picture, click the image to select it, then use the options on the side to replace, move, resize, or delete it.

1. When you are done, click File, then Save (or "Save As" to keep the original untouched).

Combine several files into one PDF:

1. From the main Acrobat Pro screen, choose the "Combine files" tool.

1. Click "Add Files" and select the PDFs (and other documents) you want to merge.

1. Drag the files into the order you want them to appear.

1. Click "Combine." Acrobat will create one new PDF, which you can then save with File, then "Save As."

Split, reorder, delete, or rotate pages:

1. Open the "Organize Pages" tool (in the right-hand panel or the "All tools" menu).

2. You will see small thumbnail pictures of each page.
- To reorder: click and drag a page thumbnail to a new position.
- To delete: click a page, then click the trash-can icon.
- To rotate: click a page, then click a rotate (turn) button.
- To split: click the "Split" button and choose how you want to divide the file (for example, by number of pages), then confirm.

1. Save your changes with File, then "Save As."

Export a PDF to Word or Excel:

1. Open the "Export PDF" tool (in the right-hand panel or the "All tools" menu).

2. Choose the format you want:
- Microsoft Word (.docx) for documents.
- Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) for tables and spreadsheets.

1. Click "Export."

1. Pick where to save the new file and click Save. Acrobat will create a Word or Excel copy you can open and edit in Office.

Tips and warnings:
- Use "Save As" and give edited files a new name so you always keep the original PDF in case you need to start over.
- When you export a PDF to Word or Excel, the layout is usually very close but not always perfect. Always review the exported file and fix any spacing, tables, or numbers before you rely on it.
- Combining files can make a large document. If you need to email it and it is too big, the Help Desk can suggest ways to reduce the file size.

If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.