OmniDocHow to delete text and page content in PDF editor
Explain how to delete text and specific content on the page in situ in the PDF editor, including first determining whether the text can be edited, OCR the scanned document first, checking item by item after deletion, and what to do with objects that cannot be processed by the editor.
Key points of this article
- First use the mouse to drag and select text to determine whether the PDF has a text layer. If it is selected, it can be edited directly. If it is not selected, it is probably an image.
- When deleting text, select only the words and phrases you want to delete, delete them at their original position, and do not touch adjacent paragraphs.
- Scanned or photographed PDFs must be OCR recognized first, then deleted, and the recognition results must be manually checked section by section.
- If the editor cannot delete non-text objects such as pictures and lines individually, it will be more stable to go back to the source file, delete it and then re-export the PDF.
- Save a copy before modification. After modification, check the residue, accidental deletion, alignment and page number one by one. If there are any problems, go back to the copy and redo it.
After opening a PDF, many people want to delete a redundant sentence, a typo, or a line of expired dates, but find that it cannot be modified directly by typing the keyboard like Word. PDF records the position and style of each word on the page, and deletion operations must be performed on these contents in the editor. This article is intended for readers who need to modify existing PDFs, such as deleting old clauses in contracts, repeated paragraphs in paper manuscripts, and outdated numbers on reports.
After reading, you will know how to first determine whether the text can be edited directly, then use the PDF editor to delete the text in place, and finally how to check the results to avoid deleting errors or leaving afterimages. This article only talks about deleting text and specific content on the page, not adding or deleting entire pages.
How to delete text in PDF editor? One sentence conclusion
Delete text directly in situ in the editor, which is suitable for most PDFs with optional Chinese text; scanned documents must first recognize text; the editor can only handle non-text content such as pictures and lines, so it is usually more stable to modify it back to the source file. The table below can help you choose quickly.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse can select text | Use PDF editor to directly edit paragraph text and delete target words and phrases | The text layer is readable, and changes only fall on the corresponding text. |
| Scan or take photo to generate PDF | OCR recognition first, then edit and delete | The essence of the page is an image, and there is no way to delete it directly. |
| Just remove a word or a number | Select exactly the original paragraph and then delete it | Does not affect surrounding layout and has a small verification range |
| What you want to delete are pictures, table lines or decorative elements | Go back to the source file (such as Word, PPT), delete it and re-export the PDF | The editor may not be able to remove such objects individually |
| Need to delete a lot of the same content | Search page by page and delete them one by one, and check them once completed. | Missing deletions are more common than excessive deletions, and looking page by page is more reliable. |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
- Whether text can be selected. Use the mouse to drag a section of text on the PDF. If it can be highlighted, it means that the text layer exists and can be edited directly. If it cannot be selected, it is probably a picture and needs to be OCRed first. This step determines how the entire process will proceed.
- scope of deletion. Deleting a word usually only changes one place; deleting an entire paragraph will change the position of the subsequent text. You need to check whether it spans two pages and whether it is aligned with tables or legends.
- Whether to keep the originals. Editing will change the current file. It is recommended to save a copy first. If there is a problem, you can go back to the copy and redo it, saving you the trouble of finding the original manuscript from scratch.
- Whether the font is special. For PDFs that use special fonts or embedded fonts, the newly entered text may be slightly different from the original text. When checking, pay special attention to the look and feel of the modifications.
- Subsequent use. If you want to use Word to continue editing after deletion, you can first confirm whether it can be exported to Word format to avoid being unable to continue using it after editing.
Steps to delete PDF text in place in OmniDoc
- Download the desktop client from download.omnidoc.top and open the PDF that needs to be modified in the client. PDF editing functionality is available in the desktop client.
- First save a copy, add "modified version" and other marks to the file name, and keep the original copy unchanged.
- If it is a scanned document, first use the OCR function to recognize the text, and then enter editing. After the recognition is completed, check for typos and omissions against the original page.
- Select the function of editing paragraph text to make the text editable.
- Use the cursor to select the words and sentences you want to delete, and select only the parts that need to be removed to avoid deleting adjacent sentences together.
- Check other locations that need to be deleted page by page. Treat each location in the same way. Do not skip based on impressions.
- After deleting, check on the current page whether the modified part is aligned with the adjacent text, and whether the font size and color are consistent.
- Save changes and export as a new PDF file. If you want to continue editing in Word, you can also export to Word format.
Check each item after completion
After getting the results, it is recommended to go through the following list one by one. When a problem is discovered, give priority to going back to the copy and redoing it, rather than repeatedly patching the changed files.
| Check item | What do you think? | What if there's a problem? |
|---|---|---|
| Whether the deletion is clean | Use the reader's search function to search for deleted words and confirm page by page that there is no residue. | Go back to edit mode to add and delete, and search again to confirm |
| Have you deleted it by mistake? | Compare the copy and check the contents of each paragraph before and after the deletion. | Go back to the copy and re-operate to narrow the selection. |
| Alignment and font size | View the left and right margins, line spacing, and font size of the changes and adjacent lines | When the difference is obvious, re-enter the paragraph with the same font size |
| Number and number of pages | Turn to the last page and check that the number of pages is the same as the original, and the page number is not misplaced. | Check whether page breaks or entire paragraphs have been deleted by mistake, and redo it with a copy if necessary |
| OCR recognition result | Each paragraph of the scanned text is compared paragraph by paragraph with the original page. | Manual correction of wrong words and missing words, OCR results need to be checked manually |
| Non-text object | Are the pictures, lines, and table borders still there? | If the editor cannot delete separately, re-export the PDF after deleting the origin-pull file. |
# Core comparison
There are several common ways to delete PDF content, which are suitable for different scenarios.
| Practice | Suitable for the scene | Pay attention |
|---|---|---|
| Delete text in place in the PDF editor | You can select words, just remove words or numbers. | To select one by one, delete and check for alignment and residue |
| OCR the scanned part before deleting it. | If you take a picture or scan a piece, you need to change its Chinese characters. | OCR results need to be checked manually, and typos should be corrected. |
| Re-export PDF after the origin-pull file is deleted | Delete pictures, tables, decorative elements, or make more changes | You need to keep the original editable file and check the layout after export |
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why do some PDF mice choose no Chinese characters?
In most cases, the page itself is an image, such as a scanned piece or PDF generated by a photo. At this point, use OCR to recognize the text before editing it.
2. After deleting the text, will the original format be messy?
As long as you select only the parts you want to delete, the changes usually only affect the location of the deletion. However, after deleting the whole paragraph, the position of the following text may change and need to be checked and aligned page by page.
3. Can you delete an element in a picture or table?
The editor focuses on text, and objects such as pictures may not be deleted separately. If you cannot handle it, it is recommended that you go back to the source file and delete it and re-export PDF.
4. Can I continue to change the deleted PDF in Word?
You can select the Word format when you export, and then continue to modify it in Word. Also check whether the layout and text are complete after export.
# Summary
The key to delete the text in the PDF editor is to judge whether the text can be selected, then delete it accurately in place, and finally check the residue, erroneous deletion and alignment item by item. Save a copy before modification, encounter picture objects or scanned pieces, respectively use the method of back-to-origin file or OCR first, the result will be more reliable.
