Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program(What’s this?)
This software is simple to learn, and has an intuitive interface. To top it all off, it is remarkably stable.
In other words … awesome work by the PDF Fusion team over at Corel!
Background ######## I have been using the Standard and Professional versions of Adobe Acrobat 8 for a few years now, and have been more than happy with them. While I have longed for Acrobat X, I couldn’t quite justify the price tag for an upgrade, especially given how I use this software.
My top uses of Adobe Acrobat and Distiller are: 1. printing to PDF (usually web pages or online receipts) 2. assembling scanned documents – rotating them appropriately, rearranging pages, or combining multiple files into a single document 3. redacting content (e.g., from tax returns) that I need to send to third parties 4. securing documents with a password 5. Occasionally, I use its batch processing features (esp. for adding a password to multiple documents)
As you can see, I don’t quite push the envelope on being an Acrobat power user.
Well, PDF Fusion from Corel fits my needs like a glove. It is focused on the 20% of PDF manipulation functionality that you’ll probably need 80% of the time.
So what can you do with it? #################### 1. It has a PDF printer that lets you create PDFs from any application that can print, such as a web browser. (Free alternatives include CutePDF and PrimoPDF.) 2. You can assemble a new PDF by dragging and dropping pages from multiple source documents. You can then rotate, move, and even delete pages. 3. It supports all Office formats as sources. I assembled a PDF document using pages from a PowerPoint file, an Excel file, a Word document, and a Visio drawing! 4. Export PDFs as a Word document. It is rather fast – taking 2:20 mins to convert a 450 page PDF document to Word, and faithfully reproducing tables, columns, and images. There is great value here as you can now edit in Word, and then reconvert to PDF when done. 5. It lets you redact text within a PDF document, including a nifty global “find and redact” feature which instantly redacts found text literally in a jiffy. 6. The Corel PDF Batch Converter can password protect PDF documents using a simple drag and drop operation. 7. Add bookmarks to a PDF document 8. Perform basic edits to text. The word “basic” is key here. You select text and then type over it. It does not support word wrap – so text may be clipped by the page’s edge. 9. Insert a new blank page to a PDF, add a Free Text control on to it – which is a RTF editor with basic control of fonts, formatting and color. 10. Email the assembled PDF file using your default email application
Workflow ###### A typical workflow goes something like this. First you pick the source documents you want to work with (conversion from many formats is automatic); Next, you create a new target document which is the blank canvas that you’ll fill; Finally, you assemble your target document, using “views” that give you different ways of looking at the participating source documents and the target document. The Assembly View displays thumbnails for each document, and Page View lets you read a single page. (A third view, Flick, is reminiscent of flicking through pages on a mobile device, but has been mostly superfluous in my usage.)
Note that the important Navigation pane is only available when in Page view. This pane grants you access to the Bookmarks, Comments, and Pages tabs. (The tabs are at the bottom of this pane).
Conclusion: ######## I’ve run this on a Windows XP machine, as well as Windows 7 32-bit, and it has worked flawlessly. However, software being software, the best way to avoid a ton of frustration is to try before you buy. I’d ***highly recommend*** that you download the online trial version of this software. You can always enter your serial number once you purchase the product, to get a fully functional copy. Note that Corel does not require the onerous activation process used by other companies.
The user manual is stellar. I am one of those people that actually reads manuals, and I found this one to be very well written.
What are some of its limitations? It does not support creating searchable PDFs from scanned documents (a biggie for me); it does not support the creation of fillable forms; it does not create PDFs from TWAIN/WIA scanners; it cannot overlay multiple pages to create a single PDF page; it cannot convert a PDF document to Excel; and it does not do side-by-side compares of PDFs.
Some of its competitors add these features – and you may want to consider Nuance’s PDF converter 7 (if you can live with its DRM/activation issues) and Nitro PDF (which has some stability concerns but is currently very competitively priced). I haven’t used either…
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program(What’s this?)
PROS: Inexpensive PDF creation program Slick user interface Great fidelity when converting PDF to Word documents (or other Microsoft Office files)
CONS: Other products offer more features at a similar price Minimal and clunky editing features Cannot fill in PDF forms Lowest fidelity of tested PDF manipulation software when converting complicated document files to PDF Low quality graphics rendering when converting documents to PDF Only minimal control over output settings compared to other products No OCR feature (found in Nuance PDF Converter 7, which is priced similarly) Not much added value to available free products
Corel PDF Fusion is the latest PDF conversion and manipulation software offering from Corel. Although it sports a sleek interface, the software is disappointing when compared to its main rivals. It offers basic features and a sleek interface, but in the end it does not allow for simple editing of PDF documents, filling/saving PDF forms, and does not convert Office documents to PDF with the best fidelity.
Before I start the review, I have to admit that I have a bias. I truly believe that if you really want the best of PDF conversion software and that spending the money isn’t an object that you should just go with Adobe X Pro. Adobe is still the gold standard for PDF conversion, creation, and manipulation out there. The Adobe X Pro product also can do things that lesser programs simply cannot do. Adobe users can create far more sophisticated PDF documents, easily deploy PDF forms to the web or by email, and even collect data from such forms.
There are problems in paradise for the average user, however. The Adobe software is large and cumbersome and comes with a hefty price tag. Moreover, although Adobe also makes some of the most versatile and powerful software out there, they have a knack for making software that isn’t so intuitive. It can take a lot of time to simply learn how to use the program. For the average Joe who just wants to easily view some PDF documents, convert some of these to PDF, and fill in some forms and save them, Adobe’s offering is probably too much.
Enter programs like Corel PDF. Corel sports a very user friendly, streamlined interface and is very simple to use. Viewing documents is as simple as dragging them into the program’s window. They are quickly tabbed and can be viewed in standard page view; or you can use flick view–a cool animated mode where you flip through the pages with a flick of your mouse; or you can put them in assembly view, where you can mix and match pages from PDF or even other document types to make a new multi-page PDF document. Simple edits can be made to show someone how to revise the text. Text can be highlighted, struck out, underlined, or redacted. Comments/notes are easily placed.
Sadly, this is where the advantages to this program end. The program does not allow you to easily make simple changes to the text or even fill in PDF forms and save them. You cannot edit directly in the document as you do with a simple word processor. This kind of editing is found in most other paid-for PDF editing packages. (NOTE: You can edit text only by highlighting and replacing it. A pop up panel comes up when you highlight and you then select text editing. You then get a window that has the highlighted text in the box. You can replace this or edit it, but if the number of characters is greater than the space available, the result is text overlap and a shabby looking document.) For me this was a major negative and a non-starter. There are plenty of free programs for PDF production and conversion that allow you to do all the things that PDF Fusion allows you to do. They may not be as pretty, but they are certainly as capable. Most free offerings that aren’t simply readers allow for form filling, simple editing, and saving. Editing text from within a PDF is a rarity for free PDF program; but if I am paying for the program I want the ability to edit easily.
When it comes to converting Microsoft Office documents to PDF, PDF Fusion does an acceptable job. But Nuance’s offering(PDF Converter Professional 7.0)and Nitro PDF Pro (Nitro PDF Professional V6) do a much better job of maintaining document fidelity. (In fact, if all you are interested in is PDF conversion, you can download Nitro PDF’s free PrimoPDF converter and get the same high fidelity PDF conversion free of charge.)
Corel’s rendering of graphics was simply not up to snuff. PDF Fusion, even at the highest quality settings rendered pictures that were too fuzzy. The edges of curved lines on the Corel rendering were jagged and of too low a resolution. Most of the font replacement choices were…
Authors bio is coming up shortly. 
Simple, stable, and focused,
This software is simple to learn, and has an intuitive interface. To top it all off, it is remarkably stable.
In other words … awesome work by the PDF Fusion team over at Corel!
Background
########
I have been using the Standard and Professional versions of Adobe Acrobat 8 for a few years now, and have been more than happy with them. While I have longed for Acrobat X, I couldn’t quite justify the price tag for an upgrade, especially given how I use this software.
My top uses of Adobe Acrobat and Distiller are:
1. printing to PDF (usually web pages or online receipts)
2. assembling scanned documents – rotating them appropriately, rearranging pages, or combining multiple files into a single document
3. redacting content (e.g., from tax returns) that I need to send to third parties
4. securing documents with a password
5. Occasionally, I use its batch processing features (esp. for adding a password to multiple documents)
As you can see, I don’t quite push the envelope on being an Acrobat power user.
Well, PDF Fusion from Corel fits my needs like a glove. It is focused on the 20% of PDF manipulation functionality that you’ll probably need 80% of the time.
So what can you do with it?
####################
1. It has a PDF printer that lets you create PDFs from any application that can print, such as a web browser. (Free alternatives include CutePDF and PrimoPDF.)
2. You can assemble a new PDF by dragging and dropping pages from multiple source documents. You can then rotate, move, and even delete pages.
3. It supports all Office formats as sources. I assembled a PDF document using pages from a PowerPoint file, an Excel file, a Word document, and a Visio drawing!
4. Export PDFs as a Word document. It is rather fast – taking 2:20 mins to convert a 450 page PDF document to Word, and faithfully reproducing tables, columns, and images. There is great value here as you can now edit in Word, and then reconvert to PDF when done.
5. It lets you redact text within a PDF document, including a nifty global “find and redact” feature which instantly redacts found text literally in a jiffy.
6. The Corel PDF Batch Converter can password protect PDF documents using a simple drag and drop operation.
7. Add bookmarks to a PDF document
8. Perform basic edits to text. The word “basic” is key here. You select text and then type over it. It does not support word wrap – so text may be clipped by the page’s edge.
9. Insert a new blank page to a PDF, add a Free Text control on to it – which is a RTF editor with basic control of fonts, formatting and color.
10. Email the assembled PDF file using your default email application
Workflow
######
A typical workflow goes something like this.
First you pick the source documents you want to work with (conversion from many formats is automatic);
Next, you create a new target document which is the blank canvas that you’ll fill;
Finally, you assemble your target document, using “views” that give you different ways of looking at the participating source documents and the target document. The Assembly View displays thumbnails for each document, and Page View lets you read a single page. (A third view, Flick, is reminiscent of flicking through pages on a mobile device, but has been mostly superfluous in my usage.)
Note that the important Navigation pane is only available when in Page view. This pane grants you access to the Bookmarks, Comments, and Pages tabs. (The tabs are at the bottom of this pane).
Conclusion:
########
I’ve run this on a Windows XP machine, as well as Windows 7 32-bit, and it has worked flawlessly. However, software being software, the best way to avoid a ton of frustration is to try before you buy. I’d ***highly recommend*** that you download the online trial version of this software. You can always enter your serial number once you purchase the product, to get a fully functional copy. Note that Corel does not require the onerous activation process used by other companies.
The user manual is stellar. I am one of those people that actually reads manuals, and I found this one to be very well written.
What are some of its limitations? It does not support creating searchable PDFs from scanned documents (a biggie for me); it does not support the creation of fillable forms; it does not create PDFs from TWAIN/WIA scanners; it cannot overlay multiple pages to create a single PDF page; it cannot convert a PDF document to Excel; and it does not do side-by-side compares of PDFs.
Some of its competitors add these features – and you may want to consider Nuance’s PDF converter 7 (if you can live with its DRM/activation issues) and Nitro PDF (which has some stability concerns but is currently very competitively priced). I haven’t used either…
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|The competition is better: not enough functionality for commercial PDF conversion software,
PROS:
Inexpensive PDF creation program
Slick user interface
Great fidelity when converting PDF to Word documents (or other Microsoft Office files)
CONS:
Other products offer more features at a similar price
Minimal and clunky editing features
Cannot fill in PDF forms
Lowest fidelity of tested PDF manipulation software when converting complicated document files to PDF
Low quality graphics rendering when converting documents to PDF
Only minimal control over output settings compared to other products
No OCR feature (found in Nuance PDF Converter 7, which is priced similarly)
Not much added value to available free products
Corel PDF Fusion is the latest PDF conversion and manipulation software offering from Corel. Although it sports a sleek interface, the software is disappointing when compared to its main rivals. It offers basic features and a sleek interface, but in the end it does not allow for simple editing of PDF documents, filling/saving PDF forms, and does not convert Office documents to PDF with the best fidelity.
Before I start the review, I have to admit that I have a bias. I truly believe that if you really want the best of PDF conversion software and that spending the money isn’t an object that you should just go with Adobe X Pro. Adobe is still the gold standard for PDF conversion, creation, and manipulation out there. The Adobe X Pro product also can do things that lesser programs simply cannot do. Adobe users can create far more sophisticated PDF documents, easily deploy PDF forms to the web or by email, and even collect data from such forms.
There are problems in paradise for the average user, however. The Adobe software is large and cumbersome and comes with a hefty price tag. Moreover, although Adobe also makes some of the most versatile and powerful software out there, they have a knack for making software that isn’t so intuitive. It can take a lot of time to simply learn how to use the program. For the average Joe who just wants to easily view some PDF documents, convert some of these to PDF, and fill in some forms and save them, Adobe’s offering is probably too much.
Enter programs like Corel PDF. Corel sports a very user friendly, streamlined interface and is very simple to use. Viewing documents is as simple as dragging them into the program’s window. They are quickly tabbed and can be viewed in standard page view; or you can use flick view–a cool animated mode where you flip through the pages with a flick of your mouse; or you can put them in assembly view, where you can mix and match pages from PDF or even other document types to make a new multi-page PDF document. Simple edits can be made to show someone how to revise the text. Text can be highlighted, struck out, underlined, or redacted. Comments/notes are easily placed.
Sadly, this is where the advantages to this program end. The program does not allow you to easily make simple changes to the text or even fill in PDF forms and save them. You cannot edit directly in the document as you do with a simple word processor. This kind of editing is found in most other paid-for PDF editing packages. (NOTE: You can edit text only by highlighting and replacing it. A pop up panel comes up when you highlight and you then select text editing. You then get a window that has the highlighted text in the box. You can replace this or edit it, but if the number of characters is greater than the space available, the result is text overlap and a shabby looking document.) For me this was a major negative and a non-starter. There are plenty of free programs for PDF production and conversion that allow you to do all the things that PDF Fusion allows you to do. They may not be as pretty, but they are certainly as capable. Most free offerings that aren’t simply readers allow for form filling, simple editing, and saving. Editing text from within a PDF is a rarity for free PDF program; but if I am paying for the program I want the ability to edit easily.
When it comes to converting Microsoft Office documents to PDF, PDF Fusion does an acceptable job. But Nuance’s offering(PDF Converter Professional 7.0)and Nitro PDF Pro (Nitro PDF Professional V6) do a much better job of maintaining document fidelity. (In fact, if all you are interested in is PDF conversion, you can download Nitro PDF’s free PrimoPDF converter and get the same high fidelity PDF conversion free of charge.)
Corel’s rendering of graphics was simply not up to snuff. PDF Fusion, even at the highest quality settings rendered pictures that were too fuzzy. The edges of curved lines on the Corel rendering were jagged and of too low a resolution. Most of the font replacement choices were…
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