PDF Editor

A powerful, browser-based PDF editor built into Appfactory Studio. Edit, annotate, and manage your PDF documents with an intuitive interface that supports text editing, drawing, images, signatures, and more.

Key Features

• Rich Text Editing — Add, edit, and format text directly on your PDFs
• Drawing & Shapes — Draw rectangles and ellipses with custom colors and styles
• Image Support — Insert and resize images on any page
• Signatures — Add handwritten or typed signatures to documents
• OCR Scanning — Make scanned PDFs searchable and selectable
• Page Management — Reorder, duplicate, and add pages easily
• Version History — Automatic autosave with the ability to restore previous versions
• Document Sharing — Share documents with team members with view or edit permissions
• Full Undo/Redo — Complete edit history for non-destructive editing
• Live Preview — See changes instantly as you edit

Getting Started

To begin editing a PDF, follow these steps:

1. Open the PDF Editor — Navigate to the PDF Editor from your Appfactory Studio dashboard
2. Create or Open a Document
   • Create New — Start with a blank page or upload a PDF file
   • Open Existing — Select a document from your library
3. Select a Tool — Choose from the toolbar to start editing
4. Make Changes — Add text, images, shapes, or signatures
5. Save — Changes are saved automatically, but you can manually save anytime
6. Share or Export — Share with team members or download the final PDF

Interface Overview

Toolbar

The toolbar at the top contains all editing tools:

• Text — Add and edit text elements
• Image — Insert images from your computer
• Rectangle — Draw rectangular shapes
• Ellipse — Draw elliptical shapes
• Signature — Add signatures
• Undo/Redo — Navigate edit history

Page Thumbnail Rail

On the left side, you'll see thumbnail previews of all pages:

• Reorder — Drag thumbnails to rearrange pages
• Select — Click a thumbnail to navigate to that page
• Right-click Menu — Access options to duplicate, delete, or add pages

Edit Canvas

The main editing area where you:

• Click and drag to move elements
• Resize handles to scale elements
• Double-click text to edit inline
• See real-time preview of your changes

Status Panel

The status panel displays:

• Current zoom level
• Document name
• Save status and autosave indicator
• Share status information

Document Management

Creating a New Document

1. Click "Create New" in the dashboard
2. Choose your starting point:
   • Blank Document — Start from scratch
   • From PDF — Upload an existing PDF
3. Set your page size (Letter or A4)
4. Begin editing

Opening Existing Documents

1. Navigate to the "My Documents" section in the dashboard
2. Click on any document to open it
3. Your document opens in the editor with all previous edits preserved

Saving and Exporting

All changes are saved automatically every 15 seconds once you've saved the document at least once. You can also:

• Manual Save — Click the Save button to save immediately
• Download PDF — Export the final document as a PDF file
• Duplicate — Create a copy of the document with a new name

Sharing Documents

Share your documents with team members:

1. Click the Share button in the toolbar
2. Enter the email address of the person you want to share with
3. Choose permission level:
   • View Only — Recipients can view but not edit
   • Edit — Recipients can view and make changes
4. Click Share

Recipients will receive an invitation and can access the document from their dashboard.

Collaboration Features

Version History

Every change to your document is automatically saved as a version:

1. Click "History" to view all versions
2. See the timestamp and description of each change
3. Click any version to preview it
4. Click "Restore" to revert to that version

Autosave

Changes are automatically saved every 15 seconds. Look for the autosave indicator in the status bar:

• 🟢 Green — All changes saved
• 🟡 Yellow — Saving in progress
• 🔴 Red — Save failed (check your connection)

Tips and Best Practices

Editing Workflow

1. Start with Structure — Add pages and arrange them before adding content
2. Use Consistent Styling — Keep text formatting consistent across the document
3. Group Related Elements — Position related text and images near each other
4. Test Before Sharing — Review your document thoroughly before sharing

Performance

• Zoom Appropriately — Use zoom to focus on details or see the full page
• Limit Elements — Very large numbers of elements may slow down performance
• Regular Saves — While autosave is automatic, manual saves ensure your work is protected

Accessibility

• OCR for Scanned Documents — Use OCR to make scanned PDFs searchable
• Alt Text — Consider adding descriptions of images in nearby text elements
• Color Contrast — Use sufficient contrast for text readability

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Y / Cmd+Y	Redo
Ctrl+S / Cmd+S	Save
Delete	Remove selected element
Arrow Keys	Move selected element (hold Shift for larger steps)
Double-click Text	Edit text inline
Escape	Deselect current element

Next Steps

Learn more about specific features:

• Text Editing — Detailed guide to adding and formatting text
• Images & Signatures — Work with images and signatures
• OCR & Accessibility — Make your documents searchable
• Page Management — Organize your pages
• Sharing & Collaboration — Work with your team
• FAQ & Troubleshooting — Common questions and solutions