The computer app
Jobs that are too big for a web page, done on your own computer.
What it is
A program for Windows and Mac that does everything this website does, and the jobs below that a web page cannot do. Like the website, it works on your own computer and does not send your files anywhere. It also works without the internet.
It is being built now. It is not ready yet.
What only the computer app will do
Word, Excel or PowerPoint to PDF
Turning an office file into a PDF needs the same engine an office program uses, which is too large to run inside a web page.
PDF to Word, Excel or PowerPoint
A PDF does not know what is a paragraph or a table. Working that out well takes more power than a web page has.
Change the words already in a PDF
Correcting or rewriting the words that are already on a page, so the lines re-flow, needs an editing engine that is being built for the computer app.
Move or replace pictures in a PDF
Changing pictures that are already part of a page needs the same editing engine.
Save a web page as a PDF
A web page is not allowed to read another web site, so this cannot be done here.
Make a long-term archive copy (PDF/A)
Archive PDFs must follow strict rules that need a specialised engine.
Shrink scans without losing the words
The website can only shrink scans by turning pages into pictures. The computer app will shrink them and keep the words selectable.
Very large files and whole folders
A web page has a limited amount of memory. The computer app can work through files of any size and whole folders at once.
Make a form others can fill in
Building tick boxes, lists and boxes that add up needs a form designer, which is planned for the computer app.
Send a PDF to other people to sign
Asking others to sign, reminding them and keeping a record takes days and needs a service running all the time.
Sign with a digital certificate
A certificate signature proves who signed and that nothing changed since. It uses a digital ID kept safely on your computer.
Summarise a PDF or ask it questions
This needs an AI model, which is too large for a web page and should not send your documents elsewhere.