PDF ReDirect: Merge, Rotate, Optimize & Encrypt PDFs - Windows
A Solution for Basic PDF Editing: PDF ReDirect
Responding to a reader’s request for an affordable PDF tool capable of resizing and optimization, a search for suitable editors was undertaken. While numerous applications exist for reading PDFs as alternatives to Adobe Reader, those offering editing capabilities are less prevalent.
Challenges in Finding Suitable Software
Many programs initially identified as potential solutions were either no longer actively developed or hadn’t received updates for several years, effectively becoming abandonware. Furthermore, some open-source PDF editors exhibited compatibility issues with Windows 7 or were exclusively designed for Linux operating systems.
PDF ReDirect: A Promising Option
Among the applications considered, PDF ReDirect stood out due to its consistently positive user reviews. This software functions as a virtual printer, enabling the creation of PDF files from various documents, while also incorporating essential editing features.
These features include the ability to merge PDF files, rotate pages, and optimize file sizes. Currently ranked as the fourth most popular application in CNET’s Document Management Software category, behind Foxit and Adobe Reader, PDF ReDirect promises an ad-free experience with no functional restrictions – a claim substantiated by the unobtrusive presentation of its Pro version.
Installation and Functionality
The installation file is approximately 7MB in size, and the application itself occupies 12.9MB of disk space after installation. Like many PDF 'converters', it installs as a virtual printer, simplifying PDF creation from any printable file.
However, unlike most virtual printers, PDF ReDirect provides options for modifying the newly created PDF.
Editing Features of PDF ReDirect
Users can combine multiple PDF files by adding documents to the Merge List.
Arrow buttons facilitate page reordering, with a preview available to the right. A built-in file explorer on the left allows for browsing and previewing PDF documents from various locations on the hard drive.
Optimization and Rotation
Before saving, the picture quality can be adjusted, directly impacting the final PDF file size. Four levels of optimization are available, with the default setting of Good offering a balance between quality and size. The Low setting is recommended for maximizing file size reduction.
Page rotation is also supported within the application.
Security Options
For enhanced security, PDF ReDirect allows users to encrypt PDF files by setting a password.
Limitations and Alternatives
Despite its useful features, PDF ReDirect does not offer PDF bursting – the ability to split a PDF into individual pages. While direct extraction of specific pages isn’t available, users can achieve a similar result by selectively printing desired pages.
Similarly, deleting pages requires printing the pages *before* and *after* the unwanted ones, effectively creating a new PDF without the excluded content.
For more advanced features, alternative tools may be necessary. For instance, PDF-XChange Viewer provides watermarking capabilities and extensive document markup options, including commenting.
Other Useful Tools
PDFEscape, a web-based application, offers merging, splitting, and rotation functionalities. The open-source Inkscape allows for object manipulation within PDFs, though it imports only one page at a time.
While a single application encompassing all these features would be ideal, the availability of these separate programs provides a comprehensive set of options. What tools do you utilize for PDF markup and editing?
