Read this article to understand how to edit PDF in Google Docs. Follow the easy steps to format text, insert images, charts, tables, etc:
Until recently, PDF wasn’t as important a document. It made us think about legal contracts, agreements, purchase orders, etc. It was a document you would print, fill, and scan to send them digitally again.
With time, PDF has become a staple of our online world. And along with that developed the need to edit it online. There are many websites and apps you can use to edit PDFs, but Google Docs beats them all.
In this article, we are going to tell you how you can easily edit PDFs in Google Docs.
Table of Contents:
How To Edit PDF In Google Docs
There are two steps to edit a PDF in Google Docs. First, convert it to Google Docs and then edit it. So, let’s start with how to edit PDF in Google Drive
A) Convert PDF To Google Docs
To edit the PDF in Google Drive, you will have to first convert it to Google Docs.
Google Drive supports several file formats like Word, PDF, Spreadsheet, etc. You can easily edit any file, including PDF, with Google Drive without having to install any new app on your device.
Here’s how to do it:
Method#1
#1) Go to your web browser.
#2) Go to your Gmail account.
#3) Click Drive.
#4) Click on New
#5) Select File Upload.
#6) Select the PDF file you want to edit.
#7) When the file is uploaded, click on Recent.
#8) Find the file and right-click on the file.
#9) Go to Open With.
#10) Select Google Doc or ‘Connect more apps’ and select a PDF editor.
Method#2
#1) Open Google Docs directly.
#2) Click on Blank.
#3) Go to File.
#4) Select Open.
#5) If the file is in Drive, select My Drive and click on the cross beside documents to have access to all file formats.
#6) If it is on your device go to Upload.
#7) Click on ‘Select a file from your device’, or you can drag and drop the file to upload it to Google Docs.
#8) Find the PDF file you want to open.
#9) Click Open.
#10) When the file is uploaded, click Open again.
#11) Select ‘Open with’ at the top of the Doc.
#12) Select Google Docs.
Further reading =>> Top tools to convert PDF to Word document
B) Edit PDF In Google Docs
Once you have opened the PDF with Google Docs, you can now use the Docs as a PDF editor. There are many tools in Google Docs you can use for editing your PDF file.
Editing and Formatting Text
Once your PDf opens in Google Docs, it gets converted to Word format and its text becomes editable. You can delete, add, edit and format text.
To change the format of the text, follow the steps below:
- Select the text.
- Go to Format.
- Select Text.
- Pick your options from the dropdown menu as shown below.
Set Column Style
If you want to readjust columns in your PDF, increase or decrease it, you can do this as well by following these steps:
- Go to Format options.
- Go to Columns.
- Select the column style.
Adding Text And Paragraph
To add text anywhere, click where you want to add text and start typing. To add a new paragraph, click between the two paragraphs where you want to insert a new paragraph and hit enter. Now type or paste the text you want.
Inserting Images
The best part about editing a PDF in Google Docs is you can easily add images to it, as many as you want.
Follow these steps:
- Click on the blank space where you want to insert an image.
- Go to the Insert option.
- Choose Image.
- Select where you want to add the image from.
- Click on the image.
- Click OK.
Editing Images
You can even edit the existing images in your PDF file with Google Docs. You can crop, readjust the margin to set the image position, recolor the image, adjust transparency, brightness, and contrast, and replace the image with another one.
Cropping
- To crop an image, click on it.
- Select the crop option from the toolbar.
- Adjust the edges to crop the image
Set Image Position
- Click on the image.
- Select from In-Line, Wrap-Text, Break text, Behind Text, and In Front of Text options.
Other Image Editing
- Click on the image.
- Go to Image Options.
- Select Size and rotation to edit the size, rotation, and tilt of the image.
- Select Recolour for changing the tint of the image.
- Click on Adjustment to change the Transparency, Brightness, and Contrast of the image.
Replacing Image
- Select the image you want to replace.
- Click on the Replace Image option in the toolbar.
- From the dropdown menu, select the source of your image.
- Select the image you want to replace with.
- Click Ok.
Inserting Charts
You can insert 4 different kinds of charts in PDF using Google Docs.
#1) A Bar Graph
#2) A Column Graph
#3) A Line-Graph
#4) A Pie Graph
To put charts in your PDF:
- Click on the empty space where you want to insert a chart.
- Select Insert option.
- Go to Chart.
- Select the chart option you want to insert.
- To edit the chart, click on the chart.
- From the drop-down arrow, select ‘Open Source’.
- It will open in Spreadsheet.
- Make the changes you want.
- Navigate back to docs.
- Go to the chart and click on Update.
Inserting Tables
To insert the table, follow these steps:
- Click on the empty space.
- Go to Insert.
- Select Table.
- Pick up the number of rows and columns you want.
- Click on the box.
If you want to add or delete rows, right-click on the row or column you want to delete. Select delete row/ delete column. To add a row or column, right-click on the row above or below which you want to add the row or on the column left or right of which you want to insert a column and select the appropriate option.
Adding a Footnote
Adding a footnote in your PDF is easy with Google Docs.
To add footnotes,
- Go to the page you want to add a footnote to.
- Click on Insert.
- Select Header and Footer.
- Click on Footer.
A typing area will appear for you to type your footnote on. You can also underline, highlight, or align your footnote using Google Docs editing tools.
Downloading Document
When you are working on Google Docs, every change you make gets saved automatically. After you have edited the document, you can either Email the file or download it in PDF or a different file format.
- To save the file as PDF, go to the File option, click on Download As and select PDF. If you want to save it in a different format, select the preferred format.
- To Email, go to the File option and select Email, add a recipient, subject line, and message. At the bottom, select the format as PDF and hit send.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) Can you edit a PDF document in Google Docs?
Answer: Yes, it can be done. Upload your PDF file on Google Docs. It will convert into an editable Word File. You can now edit your PDF file as you see fit.
Q #2) How do you enable editing on Google Docs?
Answer: On the top right-hand side corner is a Share option, click on it. Go to the Get Link option. If you see Change to anyone with the link option, click on it and select Editor. Now add the emails of the people you want to share with. They will be able to edit your Doc file.
Q #3) How do I make a PDF editable for free?
Answer: Go to Google Docs, select File, and click on Open. Go to the PDF file you want to make editable, select it, and click Ok. In the window that will open, go to the Open With option at the top-center and select Google Doc. Your PDF file is editable for free now.
Q #4) How do I restrict editing in Google Docs?
Answer: On the top right-hand side corner is a Share option. Click on it. Go to the Get Link option. If you see Change, click on it. Click on the Arrow beside anyone with the link and select Restricted.
Q #5) How do I edit a shared Google Doc?
Answer: To edit a shared Google Doc, you should have edit access. Click on the shared link to open the shared Doc. If you are not able to edit, the file may be “view only” for you. Click on the Request Edit Access option to send the request to the owner of the file. When the request is granted, click on the shared link to open the file and start editing.
Conclusion
Editing a PDF in Google Docs is extremely easy. Once you open the PDF in Google Docs, it turns into an editable Word Doc, and then you can make the desired changes easily.
Also read =>> How To Merge PDF Files Into A Single Document
You can add and delete texts. You can edit images and tables. Add charts and footnotes and a lot more. And when you have edited the file, you can download it in PDF or any other file format you want. You can also email it directly as an attachment in any file format.
Suggested reading =>> How to add a voice over to Google Slides