How to use GA PDF Editor
Everyday stuff. Click ? in the header for shortcuts. The SVC / PWA serve app\, so a small rendered slice lives at app/docs/ (this page: app/docs/dev/HOW-TO.html).
30 seconds
- Open a PDF (File menu, or drop it on the window).
- Stay in Editor with Pointer to fill forms and move annotations.
- Switch to Form only when you need to place or resize fillable fields.
- Save Project while you work (
.gapdf). Save PDF when you are ready to share.
Editing happens on this machine. Closing the tab without saving loses the work.
Open a document
| Do this | What happens |
|---|---|
| File → Open | Pick one or more PDFs or .gapdf projects |
| Drag a file onto the window | Same as Open |
| Already have pages open | Choose append or new tab |
| File asks for a password | Type it. Cancel aborts the open |
.gapdf is the GA project file — the PDF plus your saved edits.
Editor or Form?
Header slider:
| Side | Use it when you want to… |
|---|---|
| Editor (blue) | Annotate and fill form fields. Pointer to click into a field. |
| Form (purple) | Place, move, resize, or rename fillable field boxes. |
Fill and mark up in Editor + Pointer. Design field layout only in Form.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| F | Jump to Form (Pointer) |
| E in Form | Back to Editor (Pointer) |
| E in Editor | Edit / Stamp tool |
| M | Toggle Editor / Form |
| V or Esc | Pointer / deselect |
Everyday editing (Editor)
| Tool | What it is for | Key |
|---|---|---|
| Pointer / Move | Select, drag, fill form fields | V |
| Edit / Stamp | Work with existing PDF text / stamps | E |
| Add Text | Click to place a text box | T |
| Rectangle / Circle / Line | Draw shapes | R / O / L |
| Redact | Click or drag over text to drop a black cover bar (visual only) | D |
| Table / Grid | Place a simple table overlay | G |
| Snip & Move | Capture a region and place it as an image | S |
| Insert Image | Place a picture | I |
Redaction bars do not auto-select (so you can knock out a run of words). Click a bar later if you need to move or recolor it — you can do that while still on Redact. Visual cover only: the original text is still in the file until you Save PDF.
Save Project vs Save PDF
Save Project (.gapdf) |
Save PDF (.pdf) |
|
|---|---|---|
| When | Still working | Sharing a finished file |
| Annotations | Stay editable | Flattened (burned in) |
| Form fields | Stay editable here | Stay fillable for others |
After Save Project, the editor tries to reopen the file you just wrote and park it in the same tab (Chromium / PWA File System Access). Firefox Downloads cannot be read back — we reopen the bytes we built instead.
There is no server autosave. Save Project often.
Fill a form
Editor + Pointer, click the field. If you cannot type, you are probably in Form mode. Press E then V.
Design a form
Form workspace (F). Click-drag to place a field. Save PDF keeps fields fillable for other readers.
If something is not working
| Symptom | Try |
|---|---|
| Cannot type in a form field | Editor + Pointer, click inside the field |
| Cannot move a form field box | Switch to Form |
| Cannot select a text box or shape | Switch to Editor |
| Edits missing after reopen | You saved a PDF (flattened) instead of a Project |
| Save dialog never appeared | Location is requested before long work; refresh and try again |
Related
- Shortcuts: ? in the app
- Multi-tab / PWA notes: GUIDE-multi-doc-pwa.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG-1.5.5.md
- Repo overview: README.md