PDF Editing overview

Main points:

  • Licensing for Adobe products is changing effective August 4, 2022.
  • Some people who previously used Adobe Acrobat Pro will no longer have access to it.
  • For viewing, printing, and signing PDFs, the free Acrobat Reader program will still be available.
  • For editing PDFs, all full time employees (FTE) in COE will be provided with a license for Foxit PDF Editor.

What is changing?

  • Under the new campus license agreement with Adobe, anyone who uses one of the Creative Cloud products (a suite of software including well-known software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat Pro, among many others) requires a paid license for the entire suite.
  • This includes Acrobat Pro, which we were previously able to provide alone at no additional cost to users. The result is that people who have been using only Acrobat Pro, and whose department was therefore not being charged, will now be charged for a full license.
  • Because PDF editing is by far the most widespread function of the Adobe Creative Cloud across campus, OIT searched for an alternative solution for PDF editing, and settled on Foxit PDF Editor.

What is Foxit PDF Editor?

  • Foxit PDF Editor is PDF software that has advanced features comparable to Acrobat Pro.
  • It is available for both Windows and Mac.

What is the cost to my department for Foxit PDF Editor and Adobe Creative Cloud?

  • ITECS is covering the cost of a Foxit license for all full-time employees in COE. Departments will not be charged.
  • For Adobe Creative Cloud, ITECS has paid for the College in the past, but that is no longer possible given the licensing change and resulting large cost increase.
  • The cost per seat for Adobe Creative Cloud is about 6x as much as for Foxit PDF Editor.
  • As such, ITECS has decided to purchase enough licenses to provide all full-time employees in the College with licenses for Foxit PDF Editor. Temporary, part-time, no-pay, and similar employees can be provided licenses as well.

Do I need PDF editing software to view PDFs?

  • No. You can use a viewer such as the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open, view, print, fill out, and sign PDF documents.
  • You only need to use a PDF editor program like Foxit PDF Editor or Adobe Acrobat Pro if you need to edit or create PDFs.

How can I edit PDFs?

  • Full time faculty/staff: You can use Foxit PDF Editor. All full time employees in COE are entitled to a license, and ITECS is covering the costs.
  • Select full time faculty/staff: You may also have access to Adobe Acrobat Pro via a named user license. 
  • In addition, Eos lab computers have the main Adobe Creative Cloud applications installed and available for use to anyone in the College. 

How can I get started with using Foxit PDF Editor?

  • Your departmental IT can install the software for you. You’ll also get an account that will allow you to sign in and use Foxit. 

How can I re-gain access to Acrobat Pro and the rest of Adobe Creative Cloud?