I need to erase a few lines in a PDF before forwarding it, but on my phone the apps I tried only let me draw or highlight. Is there a simple way to remove text?
That is annoying, especially on a phone. If the text is part of the original PDF, most mobile apps cannot truly erase it; use a white rectangle or redaction tool to cover the lines, then flatten or save a copy before sending. For worksheets I usually use the redaction option if available, as it is safer than simply drawing white over the text.
On my phone I usually open the PDF in Google Docs and see if it turns into editable text, then delete the lines and save it back as a PDF. It doesn’t always come through cleanly. For anything notary related, I ask for the original Word file instead.
I run into this on site when I need to quickly strike a clause from a contract. The easiest way I have found on mobile is using pdfcap.com. You just upload the document there and use the erase tool to wipe out those specific lines of text. What kind of phone are you using for this?
Had the same issue last month with a field report. Most phone apps just let you draw or highlight, so I cover the lines with a white filled rectangle from the markup tools and save a new file. It is not a true delete but it looks clean enough to forward. If that is not enough I wait until I am back at my desk.
@Nicholasb23 I do the Google Docs trick at the library too, it works more often then you’d think. One tip: zoom in after saving back to PDF, because I learned the hard way that tables and checkboxes can shift around. I’d avoid it on anything with form fields, since those tend to get scrambled in the conversion.
honestly on a phone it’s really hard to actually remove text from a pdf. the simplest workaround i know is using the drawing tool you already have to put a white box over the lines you want gone, then save. it’s not perfect but it works in a pinch when you just need to forward something
Make a backup copy first before you touch anything, learned that the hard way.
Try AltoSignPDF app, it has a whiteout/erase tool not just highlight, works fine on my phone for quick edits.
@shy_pal I use the white box trick for flyers too, it gets the job done. One thing I learned the hard way: the old text is still sitting underneath, so anyone can select or search it. I make a copy, then print to PDF from my phone to flatten it. Not sure that works on every phone, but it has been fine on mine.
Tbh the easiest workaround on a phone is using the built-in markup tool to draw a solid white box over the text. It does not truly delete the underlying text, but it visually covers it up before you send it off.