A list of online and portable PDF tools worth your attention

DID YOU KNOW that you can create, view, share or change the file format of a PDF  file online?

A while ago, I got a PDF document in my email. This PDF file needed to be converted into an image IMMEDIATELY for a business purpose. Now, was I in a fix or what? I had no PDF reader installed in the computer I was using. But the pc was connected and I consulted my best online friend (Google, who else!)

A Google search for read PDF online opened up the door to new PDF opportunities.

My demand was met  by the number one search result.
Online viewer for PDF, PostScript and Word

Using it was a piece of cake. i didn’t even have to sign up. I just had to upload a PDF file from the web or from my computer.

View PDF files online

I just uploaded the saved PDF and pressed the view button.

And bingo! I could finally view the PDF file! Not only that, on the left side of the new page, I was presented with options to rotate the PDF file. Also there was an instruction on top to click the image to view the small or large version. Hmm….. image? That means, there’s probably a “Save Image as” option in the right-click menu of my mouse. And oh yes, there it was!
Downloading the image (it came as a gif) and later sending it to my client was only a matter of minutes!

And since that was my last bit of office job for today, I got back to checking the search results and to discover PDF tools -  to be able to write a helpful post just for you!

List of useful online PDF tools

Online viewer for PDF, PostScript and Word

This is an online viewer, with which you can view PDF and PostScript files as browsable images and Word documents as web pages. Given a URL on the net or a file on your computer, the viewer will try to retrieve the document, convert it and show it to you. No plugin software is required.

From the site

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Primo online – free online PDF creator

Create PDF online - Convert 300+ file types to PDF documents

PrimoOnline provides a super-fast way to create PDF files online, without the need to install any PDF software. Simply upload your file, enter your email address, and our server-based PDF creator will quickly convert it to PDF and deliver it straight to your email inbox.

From the site.
Here is the list of file formats that can be turned into PDF.

It’s a very handy tool if you ultimately need to email the created PDF to someone. Since it is already available in your email as an attachment, you just have to forward the mail to the recipient and she can download it!

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PDF to Excel (beta)

Convert PDF to Excel online

While it’s not possible to replicate the exact formatting and appearance of the original tables and spreadsheets, we believe our free PDF-to-Excel converter produces more accurate-looking and easier-to-edit XLS files than any other tool out there, including the most expensive desktop products.

Unlike most PDF-to-Excel converters, we successfully detect all tables and discard non-tabular content, leaving you with a clean, easy-to-use XLS file.

Other conversion solutions typically convert the entire contents of a PDF into a hard-to-use XLS file, or force you to manually highlight each table before converting them for re-use in Microsoft Excel or another application.

PDF to Excel does the best job of maintaining look and feel to match the original files.

Most PDF-to-Excel converters extract content into basic Excel files while discarding important formatting. PDF to Excel matches font styles, size, and colors, and wherever possible, reproduces the table appearance with borders, cell coloring, and row/column height and width.

From the site

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PDF to word converter (.doc or .rtf)

convert pdf to word online

Creating a Word file that resembles the original PDF is just the first step.
When you need to quickly re-purpose PDF content in Word, it must also be well formatted. Unlike most PDF-to-Word converters, we use the full range of formatting and layout tools available — including paragraphs, columns, tables, and margins — making pages much easier to edit and manipulate.

from the site
PDF to word is truly feature-rich. Read about the features in their features link.

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PDF Hammer – free online PDF editor

Edit PDF online

# Combine PDF. Create single polished PDF files by merging multiple files
together.
# Edit PDF pages. Quickly rearrange, reorder and delete the pages from
existing PDF files.
# Secure PDF. Protect the contents of PDF files with password-based
security.
# Update PDF metadata. Make PDF files more useful and usable by setting
the document information (metadata) fields, including author, title, subject
and keywords.

From the site

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PDF Download

Download PDF online

* Convert Web pages to PDF (NEW). Convert Web pages into great looking PDF files, and then save, share, print or archive them.
* Convert/view PDF as HTML. View the contents of PDF files faster and eliminate browser problems by instantly converting any Web-based PDF to a browser-friendly HTML Web page.
* Control PDF files in your favorite browser. Stop crashes and get the upper hand on Web-based PDF files by automating and controlling how your Firefox, Flock or Internet Explorer browser deals with them.
* Cross platform, cross browser. Use the PDF Download add-on with with Flock 1, Firefox 2 & 3, and Internet Explorer 7 & 8; on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. Use the PDF Download bookmarklet with Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Flock and Internet Explorer.
* Works in your language. Through the help of our users, PDF Download is now available in 19 languages and counting.

If you are a Firefox/Internet Explorer/Google Chrome user, you can download a browser extension or bookmarklets.

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Zamzar – convert any file to PDF or any PDF to any format online

There’s a good selection to choose from. Just upload your file from a url or from your computer, give them your email address and you will find the converted file in your inbox!

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PDFmenot – a free online pdf viewer
You can easily use PdfMeNot to link to an existing pdf file, use the bookmarklet to onvert all pdf links on a page or automatically fix links to pdfs as you browse. To learn how, just visit their tools page.

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A list of portable PDF tools for your usb drive
Just carry a suitable PDF tool in your usb drive and you will never have any worries about PDF viewing anymore!

Sumatra PDF Portable

Sumatra PDF Portable is the lightweight Sumatra PDF packaged as a portable app, so you can view PDF files on the go. You can place it on your USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive or a CD and use it on any computer, without leaving any personal information behind.

from the site
Read about the features to get a better idea of Sumatra.

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Foxit

Foxit is a portable PDF Reader that allows it’s user to view and print PDF files and can be integrated into your current browser as well. It loads much quicker than Abobe Reader with virtually no delay in opening files.

from the site