Product: PDFpen and PDFpenPro Company: Smile On My Mac (www.smileonmymac.com). Price: PDFpen - $49.95 and PDFpenPro - $94.95 System Requirements: Mac OS X version 10.4 or above Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Apples

Since both PDFpen and PDFpenPro are the same except item #10 below, I will comment generically, referring to both as PDFpen. PDFpen is a document-based application which can open existing PDF documents or create new ones. It allows you to fill out and save PDF forms; split, combine, and change the order of PDF pages; and mark up & augment PDF documents with text and/or image overlays. Plus, it even allows you to correct text and edit graphics within PDFs. The Pro version allows you to create fillable cross-platform PDF forms. In PDFpen you can do many PDF document manipulations, including: Show PDFs in the following views: single, facing-page, multi-page, and multiple facing-page. Re-order pages in a PDF document, using drag & drop. Insert pages from one PDF into another (drag & drop or copy/paste). Delete pages from a PDF. Overlay text and images into an existing PDF document (for example, SIGN the document by applying signature image). Replace and correct existing PDF text with editable imprints. Move, resize, and delete embedded PDF images. Fill out and save PDF forms. Add, edit, or remove URLs and page links. Create cross-platform fillable PDF forms (PDFpenPro ONLY). Use with Page Sender (Reviewed by Mark Bazrod) here, for a complete fax turn-around solution. Automate PDF manipulations with AppleScript. In the first two views: Page, and Facing-Page, you can page up or down in your document with the Page Up and Page Down keys, also available as toolbar tools, if you choose to customize the toolbar: In all views you can zoom in and out of your page or document with the Zoom In and Zoom Out controls. There are other viewing options available as well, in this very versatile program. PDFpen can be purchased from the demo or from: the SmileOnMyMac web store at http://store.eSellerate.net/s.asp?s=STR2671635370. You install it by simply dragging its icon to the applications folder, and uninstall it by dragging it to the trash. It is hard to imagine anything that you can NOT do with a PDF document using PDFpen, or at least PDFpenPro. Once you have your document the way you want it, you can send it off using Page Sender, or just print it, or even e-mail it; it will retain the look that you want. I found it a little confusing at first to learn the various menus and options but with a little experimentation and the well-written online help facility, I was able to begin using the program quickly. I have yet to use all the features listed above but I look forward to future experimentation as time and need dictate. In summary, I think PDFPen is a worthy addition to any Mac user's armamentarium of document manipulation tools.

Reviewer: James Sofranko Jim is a Psychologist in Private Practice in the Pottstown and Collegeville areas. He bought his first Mac in 1994 when his wife, Linda, an Art Teacher at Delaware Valley Friends School (DVFS) said, "We have to get a Mac since that is what they use at my school!" So, Jim has DVFS to thank for his being a Mac user ever since. Says Jim, "I never looked back!" He now owns one of the last G5 iMacs, a G4 iBook, a G3 slot iMac and a Power Book 3400c. He does not talk about the old PC in the corner.

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© 2007 by Mark Bazrod & MLMUG
Posted 06/22/07
Updated 06/23/07