5

I'm looking for a Windows freeware that:

  1. can remove a page (example: remove page #7 from a 50-page PDF, and save the result as PDF)

  2. can move a page (example: move page #23 from a 50-page PDF to the end of the file)

  3. can extract a page (example: extract page #11 into a new PDF)

  4. can rotate pages

  5. can do all these things visually, like in Adobe Acrobat Pro (i.e. drag/drop pages in a page-thumbnails grid):

    enter image description here

I've tried:

  • PDFCreator: doesn't allow condition 5 (visual edition), because, for example, it requires to open the PDF document, Print, Choose PDFCreator, "Page: 1-6;8-50" to remove page #7

  • PDFArchitect: the basic version is free, but the one that allows conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is not freeware. [More specifically, the free version allows 1, 2, 4, 5, but extracting a page is not possible, a popup suggesting to upgrade is displayed].

  • PDFSam: idem, the version that allows condition 5 is PDFsam Visual, not free

  • PDFill: condition 5 not met

  • pdftk: idem

Note: a portable tool would be great!

Note2: please provide a screenshot in your answer, so that it can be useful for all users

Improve this question
3
  • In case of PDFArchitect wouldn't a workaround be: remove all pages except the page you want to keep and save the document under a different name? (Didn't check as I don't have PDFArchitect installed).
    – albert
    Mar 30, 2018 at 18:04
  • Yes that's what I do for now, you're right, it works well, until I find a better solution.
    – Basj
    Mar 30, 2018 at 19:16
  • PDF-Shuffler is what you are looking for and also FOSS, but does not provide binaries for windows what i guess you are using, although this information is missing...
    – DJCrashdummy
    Mar 30, 2018 at 20:17

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
2
+50

NAPS2 is a free, open source Windows application (with experimental Linux support in beta), available in both installer and portable forms. I believe it does everything you want it to. While it was originally intended for scanning, you can import a PDF (drag and drop) and then add, remove, and reorder pages. You can then reexport as PDF. If you want to extract pages, you can hold down control, select the pages you want to extract, release control, and press the down arrow next to Save PDF to save just the selected pages. NAPS2 also has an OCR feature that can run on PDF pages that don’t already have recognized text in them.

Only downside I know of is that it doesn’t update automatically, but this is available in the About box in the beta version, available at https://github.com/cyanfish/naps2/releases.

https://www.naps2.com/download.html

Improve this answer
2
  • I tried it, it's quite good, but it doesn't really "open" PDF, but rather it "imports" PDF (quite long task for a > 10 pages PDF) into a new canvas, and recreates a new PDF at the end. It probably reencondes the images?
    – Basj
    May 22, 2018 at 11:53
  • @Basj I don't remember it taking that long to process a PDF for me, but the OCR feature can be slow sometimes. You could try disabling that if you have it enabled.
    – user9811991
    May 22, 2018 at 13:55
0

In your case, I have 3 suggestions:

First: PDFescape

enter image description here

Can do items 1, 2, 4 and 5. Free, online (portable) and does not leave a watermark. Do not need to create a profile, or a subscription. Just upload your PDF, edit it however you wish and download again.

Second: PDF-XChange Editor Plus

enter image description here

It is not free, but hold on, it can do all you wish, plus there is a portable version and it is only (at the moment of this post) a one-time purchase of $54.50, much cheaper than the rest. One-time no subscription (which allows for a one year free update/upgrade period), so I seriously suggest to take a look into it.

Third: LibreOffice Draw

enter image description here

Covers most of your requirements (except item 3, the catch is that depending on the PDF, there may be some formatting issues, as LibreOffice Draw converts your PDF and then exports it as a PDF again.

Improve this answer
6
  • The first (I tested the standalone desktop version) doesn't do all of that (see pdfescape.com/signup/?selplan=premium), it requires the Premium or Ultimate (36$ / yr or 72$ / yr). About online version: I'm not looking for an online tool but desktop standalone.
    – Basj
    May 22, 2018 at 11:19
  • If the second is > $50, and more generally if it's not free, then I prefer to buy once for all the reference software "Adobe Acrobat XI Pro" for 34€ here.
    – Basj
    May 22, 2018 at 11:22
  • Iw as actually suggesting the web/online version of PDFescape, but I understand, a shame I couldn't help you. Cheers!
    – TVDN
    May 22, 2018 at 11:25
  • 1
    Not so sure, but I would still pay >50 to have a portable PDF editor in my pocket. :) I also updated the suggestions to include LibreOffice Draw, it is also portable (I like portable software).
    – TVDN
    May 22, 2018 at 11:36
  • 1
    I did think they were similar and gave me the feeling of "keep away" but never thought they would be from same devs. More suspicious now.
    – TVDN
    May 22, 2018 at 11:50
0

PDFArranger. https://github.com/pdfarranger/pdfarranger

Apart from their crazy menu (What is wrong with "File > Open"?), it is an excellent tool.

It does exactly what you are looking for, and it feels really nice.

enter image description here

enter image description here

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.