The PDF Dragon: A Journalist’s Quest for Freedom from Software Giants
By Minja, a veteran journalist who has worked for leading news organizations likeXinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, CCTV, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times.
The PDF format, despite its dominance in document sharing,has become a captive of a few powerful software companies. While Adobe Acrobat reigns supreme, other players like PDF Expert have emerged, each vying for control over our digitallives. This has led to a situation where users are often forced to pay exorbitant prices for features they may not even need, and their choices are limited by the dictates of these software giants.
In this article, I will delve into thechallenges of navigating the PDF landscape, exploring the pitfalls of relying solely on expensive software solutions and advocating for a more independent approach. My journey began with a realization that almost every PDF-related problem could be solved by Adobe Acrobat, but at ahefty price. I felt like I was constantly justifying my use of free or affordable alternatives by emphasizing their cost-effectiveness. However, this approach felt disingenuous, as it failed to address the underlying issue of being held captive by software monopolies.
The turning point came when I stumbled upon a series of articles by Hoakley, a writer known for his in-depth analysis of PDF manipulation. His work opened my eyes to the reality of the situation: we were not fighting windmills, but a real dragon – the PDF software oligarchy. This realization spurred me to explore alternative solutions and develop my own methods for handling PDFs.
The problem lies in the way these software giants shape our thinking. We are conditioned to believe that PDF means Adobe Acrobat or PDF Expert, limiting our options and dictating our workflow. This is particularly evident in traditional news organizations, where older generations, accustomed to using WPS, often rely on it forall their PDF needs.
I, on the other hand, grew up with iPads and PDF Expert, and I fear that I, too, could become a prisoner of these tools. To avoid becoming a technological dinosaur, I have embarked on a personal quest to find solutions to common PDF problems, writing articles and developingmy own automation scripts. This led to the creation of this special feature, which aims to provide practical solutions for various PDF tasks, from adding bookmarks and page numbers to compressing files and removing unnecessary blank pages.
The key to this approach is to move away from the what to buy mentality and focus on what to use. This doesn’t mean rejecting powerful tools altogether. However, it’s important to recognize that these tools, like young dragons, often overstep their boundaries, seeking to dominate the entire ecosystem and lock users into their proprietary systems.
I learned this lesson the hard way when a popular Chinese PDFreader deleted all my data during a major update, demanding I purchase the latest version. This experience taught me to avoid putting all my eggs in one basket and to favor tools that prioritize open data storage or lack a file system entirely. This allows for greater flexibility and independence, enabling users to choose the right tool for the jobwithout being bound by data constraints.
While using a multitude of tools can lead to fragmentation and inconsistencies, this can be mitigated through the use of plain text, unique identifiers, and automation tools. Even in the highly experience-driven world of reading, there are low-tech solutions available, such as the low-tech reading annotation method.
The ultimate solution, however, lies in taking matters into our own hands. I have been developing and sharing my own PDF tools, using Shortcuts and Automator to create lightweight solutions for tasks like adding page numbers, splitting pages, reversing order, and compressing files. These tools filla gap in the mobile PDF processing landscape, offering a more convenient and user-friendly experience compared to traditional software.
Creating these tools has not only freed me from the constraints of software giants but also provided a deeper understanding of the PDF format and its limitations. This knowledge allows me to identify which tasks are easily accomplished withsimple tools and which require more specialized solutions.
Ultimately, the journey to break free from the PDF dragon is a continuous process of exploration, experimentation, and innovation. By embracing a more independent approach, we can reclaim control over our digital lives and unlock the full potential of the PDF format.
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