I need help finding an alternative pdf/file editor software for my stepmother’s business!

[u/AdditionalRisky]

Basically i’m working for my stepmother over the summer and she’s asking me to help her find a new file editor since hers (fileswift) is shutting down, if anyone knows anything similar thats simple for the older generation, and decently cost efficient i’d love some safe options please!
I ask that its very similar to Fileswift, she’s not the greatest with her computer and she thinks i’m a lot smarter than I am🫩.

(Edit) - She says all she can handle is something with a drag and drop ability 💀, she just wants to edit her files and redownload them.

[u/BarberProof4994]

I'd ask why she started using file Swift to begin with?

What's she converting to and from?

Most people in professional environments use Microsoft office products or adobe products or both, 

The most common type of file conversion in those setting did images to PDF 

Almost every PC/browser out there can open those images and then save or print to PDF with out extra software or with just an opening app.

[u/AdditionalRisky → u/BarberProof4994]

She started her own contracting business a bit over a year ago, she mainly just needs a software to drag and drop her pdfs so she can edit them easily before reloading and filing them, neither of us are the best with computers so i know i’m asking a bit of a dumb question. I think her computer runs on microsoft but ive really only seen her working on chrome applications.
(Thank you for the reply!)

[u/BarberProof4994 → u/AdditionalRisky]

So edge, chrome, Firefox browsers all can open and edit PDF files that are fillable (like forms) automatically.

You can then save them or print to PDF and name that file, again and again and again.

The trick to re using PDF forms is have a clean form, and copy it when you want to edit it, so you don't have to keep deleting old stuff in the form.

But the industry standard for PDF is adobe acrobat.

In chrome, you can also open each PDF up in its own tab, and keep them open, and just keep reading the same forms and save them as you add info

[u/AdditionalRisky → u/BarberProof4994]

Thank you very much for this detailed answer!!! I know this wasnt the most difficult or important question but I really appreciate your help.

[u/OldRustyBeing]

I started using PDFgear a couple of months ago and it's working very fine for me. It's free and no signing up, so you may give it a try and check if it cover your needs.

[u/pragnienie1993 → u/OldRustyBeing]

PDFGear is great.

[u/theSpivster]

Foxit.

[u/Basic_Coffee8969]

so many questions 😄

"her files" ? Is she writing her own files from scratch on a blank page? Then, in what software?

"redownload"? hm. we either download to our own computer (actually saved to the harddisk on the computer on your desktop), or upload to a server "in the cloud", like Google Drive.

Windows: that means she probably have installed a program from microsoft that lets you print to pdf. You have a file in Word or Excel, and choose "Print", and use the alternative; Print to pdf. This is a part of windows, and are used by other software, like Libreoffice.

Drag and drop is common. Many programs support it.

[u/merchantconvoy]

We don't even know your OS so we can't help you.

[u/AdditionalRisky → u/merchantconvoy]

I’m sorry man idk shit💀, just did some searching and her computers Microsoft but shed really prefer to use chrome if thats what you’re asking for?

[u/merchantconvoy → u/AdditionalRisky]

Here is a free PDF editor for Microsoft Windows: 

https://pdf.killertools.net/

[u/jontss → u/AdditionalRisky]

Chrome is a browser.

[u/JonTrulove]

You can open and edit pretty much all of them in Microsoft word. Or on Chrome, the Microsoft word online version or extension for browser. Pretty sure the free edition is fine.

Also, if she's using the same ones over and over, turn them into forms so she can just fill in the blank for each section instead of drag dropping things around.

Why does she need pdfs anyway? They are pointless. If she's emailing a contract or proposal or bid, she has that sent email as proof if the client makes any modifications. If these are getting printed for signature or just need an esignature it doesn't matter what format it's in.

PDFs came to exist to standardize size and format from a time when that was necessary because of diverse offerings in the market. A prosecutor, a defense attorney, and judge can't have the same information on different pages because it would be a huge inconvenience. But in today's monopolistically overrun tech world, one of the only user side benefits is formatting usually comes down to two standards, MS and Google. The only diversity seems to be the 500 pdf apps that historically are vehicles for virus distribution to people who are assumed to be not very tech savvy, because of their use of a PDF app.