Create and sign PDFs with PDFsam and PDF-XChange Editor

Los PDF files have become a standard for sharing contracts, invoices, resumes, manuals and official documents in virtually every sector. They maintain the format, look the same on any device, and are very convenient for the recipient… but when it comes to editing, combining, or signing them, things change, and problems begin if you don't have the right tools.

The good news is that you don't need to spend a fortune on suites like Acrobat to create, edit, organize and sign PDFsWith a combination of programs like PDFsam, PDF-XChange Editor and other free or low-cost alternatives, you can set up a very complete workflow: prepare the PDF, reorder or split pages, add annotations, insert and validate digital signatures and even protect or unprotect documents.

What can you expect from a good PDF editor and manager?

Before diving into PDFsam and PDF-XChange Editor, it's helpful to understand what can be expected from modern PDF software, because many users only "open and read" when in reality it's possible to do much more. many more advanced operations on a PDF.

In day-to-day use, a competent PDF editor or manager should allow you edit text and images, fill in forms, add comments and highlight important information. That's the minimum requirement to be able to work comfortably with documents and not depend on continuous forwarding or multiple versions. Word for any silly change.

Another key aspect is page management: it's very practical to be able to merge multiple PDFs, split a long document, rearrange pages or rotate them if they've been scanned upside down. This is in addition to format conversion (from PDF to Word, Excel, HTML, images, etc.), which is vital for companies that need to reuse information or extract data.

Equally important is safety: it is becoming increasingly common for it to be required Protect PDFs with a password, limit printing, apply digital signatures or even securely delete sensitive information using redaction features. This is where electronic signature tools and certificates come into play.

Finally, some users, and especially advanced developers, are looking for solutions that allow automate the creation and editing of PDFs programmatically. That's where libraries like IronPDF make a difference, because they allow you to integrate PDF generation and signing into your own applications.

PDF-XChange Editor: much more than a simple viewer

The first thing that stands out when you open the program is that it has a somewhat classic, but very functional, interface, with tabs for working with multiple documents at once and a toolbar full of icons. The key advantage is that you can customize this toolbar to include only the functions you actually use, reducing visual clutter and streamlining your workflow.

As a viewer, PDF-XChange Editor stands out for being Fast, lightweight, and capable of handling heavy documents without making your computer crawl. It allows you to open multiple PDFs simultaneously, switch between them in tabs, and use a very convenient internal search engine, which also integrates shortcuts to search engines such as GoogleYahoo! or Wikipedia.

As for the basic edition, the free version already lets you insert text into the document, add images, create and modify bookmarksas well as including URLs, barcodes, and comments. It's ideal for filling in gaps, making minor corrections, or enriching a PDF without having to recreate it from scratch.

One very powerful feature is its OCR (optical character recognition) module, which allows you to extract content from scanned documentsIt can capture both text and images, allowing for reuse or editing. It also enables the creation of new PDFs from scanned images or Office-compatible text documents.

Annotation and commenting functions in PDF-XChange Editor

One of the reasons why PDF-XChange Editor is so popular is the huge variety of tools for bookmark, comment and collaborate on documentsThis makes it perfect for reviewing contracts, technical documents, or academic work.

In the comments tab you will find options for add sticky notes, highlight text, underline, strikethrough and create all sorts of visual reminders with arrows, polygons, clouds, and other graphic elements. This way you can guide someone else on what needs to be reviewed or simply leave reminders for yourself.

It also has a stamp system, with which you can mark a PDF with predefined messages (such as “Approved”, “Reviewed”, “Confidential”) or create your own custom stamps. It is especially useful in environments where many documents are handled and a quick visual check of their status is needed.

In the free version you can display, import and export comments, which is very useful if several people are working on the same PDF. The Pro version adds extra features such as collecting and deleting comments in batches, which further speeds up intensive reviews.

For those who take measurements on plans or technical documents, the program includes tools for measure distances, perimeters and areasThis makes PDF-XChange Editor an interesting option for architects, engineers, or technicians who need to review graphic documents without resorting to heavyweight CAD software.

Advanced editing, digital signature, and differences between the Free and Pro versions

The free version of PDF-XChange Editor already allows a wide range of tasks: 3D PDF compatibility, annotation tools, content tagging for PDF/UA accessibility improvements, insertion of images and signatures, modification of bookmarks, addition of shapes and objects, links and spell checking, among others.

Upgrading to the Pro version unlocks more advanced tools that are key in professional environments, such as the ability to Add overlays, watermarks, headers, and footersor insert pages from one PDF into another document. You can also reorder layers, adjust resolution and scale, and create automatic bookmarks.

Another big difference in the Pro version is that it allows batch conversions, Combine multiple files into a single PDFIt allows you to directly convert images or text to PDF and perform advanced page manipulation (deleting, rotating, cropping). These features are especially useful when handling many documents daily.

One of the aspects where PDF-XChange Editor shines is in its ability to add, manage and validate digital signaturesYou can insert your signature as an image or as a digital signature based on a certificate, including details such as location, date, time, and reason for signing. This is crucial when working with legal documents or contracts remotely.

In addition to signing, the program facilitates the encryption of PDFs, so you can Protect documents with a password, limit printing or copying and ensure that only authorized individuals can access the content. Combined with annotation and editing options, this makes PDF-XChange Editor a very complete solution for office work.

Practical tips for editing text and content with PDF-XChange Editor

If you want to modify the text itself, you can double-click on the paragraph or phrase that you want to change. From there you can copy, cut, paste, and modify the font size, style (bold, italic), color, or typeface. Right-clicking on the text opens a comprehensive menu with all these options.

When you need to adjust paragraph formatting, there is a specific section where you can configure alignment, indents, and spacingThis is very useful for making the document cleaner and more homogeneous, especially if you are mixing new content with some of the original.

On the other hand, PDF-XChange Editor allows insert, rotate and crop entire pages (in the Pro version), as well as extracting them to a different file. This is especially useful for sharing only certain parts of a contract, report, or dossier without having to send the entire document.

A very practical trick: when editing text, get used to using the right mouse button to quickly access options like "Undo," copy, and paste. This way, if you make a mistake with a change, You can reverse it in a second without risk to destroy the original format of the document.

PDF-XChange Viewer: Classic and still useful version

Although PDF-XChange Editor is the logical evolution, many people still use or remember it. PDF-XChange Viewer as a lightweight alternative to Adobe ReaderThis viewer, also from Tracker Software, has been one of the best options for viewing and quickly annotating PDFs for years.

PDF-XChange Viewer also allows add comments, encrypt documents, insert text, extract entire pages and convert PDFs to various image formats such as BMP, JPEG, TIFF, or PNG. Its greatest strength has always been the balance between lightness and power, allowing you to handle large documents without slowing down your PC.

The free version of the Viewer can be used both privately and commercially as long as it is not redistributed with other software for profit. When running in trial mode, you will see certain features marked as PRO, indicating that they are only fully available with a license; however, It allows you to test much of the program's potential..

Its download options include classic EXE installers, MSI packages for network deployment, and even a portable version that you can carry on a USB driveThis portability is perfect for technicians or users who work on different computers and need their tools always at hand without complex installations.

Although nowadays the most logical approach is to use PDF-XChange Editor directly, knowing about Viewer is useful because you will still find it installed on many computers and it shares the same philosophy: High performance, many features, and low resource consumption.

PDFsam Basic: Combine, split, and organize PDFs with precision

While PDF-XChange Editor focuses on reading, content editing, and signing, PDFsam Basic complements that aspect brilliantly. the structural management of PDF files: merging documents, splitting them, rearranging and rotating pages, etc. It is an open-source project available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

PDFsam (PDF Split and Merge) stands out for offering a very visual interface for combining files: you can Drag and drop PDFs, rearrange pages, remove pages you don't need and generate a new final document without altering the internal content of each page. It is ideal for preparing contracts, dossiers, or reports from multiple sources.

Among its most useful tools is the ability to Compress PDFs, change page size, and convert documents to grayscaleThis last point comes in handy when you need reduce the size of a file to send it by email or upload it to a platform that limits the size.

It also has specific functions for splitting files: you can sort a PDF by number of pages, by bookmarks, by file size or at points where specific text changes within a defined area (for example, the invoice number). This allows you to automate the fragmentation of large batches of documents.

Among its security features, PDFsam offers tools for encrypt and decrypt PDFs with 256 or 128 bit AESYou can add print or copy permissions, and generate unprotected versions from documents for which you already know the password. Furthermore, you can extract specific pages, merge them, rotate them, and convert images to PDF quite easily.

Signing PDFs: practical options in PDF-XChange, PDFsam Enhanced and other programs

When it comes to signing PDF documents, nowadays you have two main approaches: Sign "by hand" by inserting an image of your signature or use a certificate-based digital signature that provides legal validity and traceability (time, date, identity, reason, etc.). PDF-XChange Editor covers both possibilities.

Within PDF-XChange Editor you can create and manage a digital signature certificateYou can associate it with your identity and apply it to documents, indicating the reason for signing, location, and timestamp. Additionally, you can save personalized stamps with your scanned handwritten signature for faster signing in internal or less formal processes.

Within the PDFsam ecosystem, there is PDFsam Enhanced, a paid version more focused on content editing and security, which includes redaction functions to permanently hide sensitive informationThis allows for the protection of confidential data before sharing a document, which is essential in legal, healthcare, or financial fields.

If you're looking for all-in-one alternatives focused on Windows, EaseUS PDF Editor is another interesting program: it acts as PDF creator, editor, converter, and signerIt allows you to validate documents using digital signatures, convert between PDF and Office formats, compress files, add watermarks, and protect with a password.

Other popular tools for signing and editing PDFs include online solutions like Sejda PDF Editor, PDFescape, and PDF BOB, each offering its own combination of browser editing, annotation, and signing capabilities. They typically limit the number of free tasks per day or the file size, so they're best suited for... specific uses and documents that are not particularly large.

Other free editors and viewers for specific tasks

Besides PDF-XChange Editor and PDFsam, there are a number of programs worth knowing about if you want to cover the full range of possibilities without spending too muchNot all of them offer the same thing, but each one has its niche where it fits very well.

Foxit PDF Reader, for example, is a free reader that also acts as basic editor with collaborative featuresIt allows you to add comments, use stamps, and integrate storage in the cloud and enjoys a more modern and user-friendly interface for those who get overwhelmed by too many technical options.

LibreOffice Draw, integrated into the LibreOffice suite, is another powerful and 100% open-source alternative. It opens PDFs as if they were drawings composed of editable images and text boxesThis offers a lot of freedom to redesign pages, but in return, it can distort the original format when making deep changes.

Sejda PDF Editor stands out in its online and desktop versions for its very clean interface and for allowing quickly fill out and sign forms from your browser No registration is required. However, the free version limits daily tasks, maximum file size, and the complexity of the documents it handles.

PDFescape Editor and PDF BOB are other online options designed for Add text, notes, signatures, links, and minor modifications They're quick and easy. They work well when you're on a computer that isn't yours or can't install software, but they don't replace a powerful desktop editor in intensive workflows.

And if you're looking for something focused on reorganizing pages without too many frills, PDFsam Basic remains a go-to: split, merge, extract and rotate documents In a simple and free way, perfect to complement any content editor you already have installed.

Advanced solutions for developers: IronPDF and automation

When you go a step further and want to integrate PDFs into your own applications, programs with a graphical interface fall short, and libraries like IronPDF for C# and .NET environmentsIt's not an "open and edit" application, but a set of tools for managing PDFs from code.

IronPDF allows you to convert HTML, CSS, JavaScript and complete ASPX pages to PDF Maintaining the original design down to the millimeter, which is very useful for generating invoices, reports or tickets directly from web or desktop applications without intermediate processes.

In addition, it offers an API for edit text, insert images, add annotations, bookmarks and metadata on existing PDFs, as well as merging and splitting documents or programmatically extracting specific pages. This makes it possible to automate tasks that would be slow and repetitive with manual tools.

In terms of security, IronPDF integrates features of digital signature, file encryption, and permission managementThis allows for the implementation of fully automated workflows where a server generates, signs, and protects PDFs without human intervention.

One interesting point about IronPDF is that it offers free development licenseThis allows freelancers, startups, and hobbyist developers to test and build solutions without upfront costs. A commercial license is only required when deploying to production environments for end customers.

For projects where PDFs are a key part of the business workflow (invoicing, report generation, contract documentation), this combination of automation, editing, and programmatic signing This makes IronPDF a tool that goes far beyond what classic desktop editors offer.

By combining tools like PDFsam to manage document structure, PDF-XChange Editor for interactive review, annotation, and signing, and solutions like IronPDF or alternative editors for specific needs, it is possible cover virtually any scenario related to PDFs without depending on a single expensive suite. Choosing the right set of programs according to your needs. profile (basic user, office, legal environment, developer) makes the difference between struggling with every document or having a smooth and efficient workflow.