Microsoft Word 2013 to allow PDF editing

[nsane.forums]

From the information we have seen it seems that Microsoft could skip right over Adobe's PDF software, allowing users to edit PDFs and read them within the Word 2013 UI.

Microsoft Office is the most popular office software suite in the world, and therefore businesses have grown reliant upon it. While other alternatives exist nothing is quite so common as Microsoft Office running on an everyday computer. There are gripes with Microsoft Office from different people, for different things. Microsoft's decision to change the UI to the 'Ribbon' instead of the traditional menus back in 2007 still ignites some debate among people who feel it was a silly action, and among those who have grown to love it.

One thing everyone probably felt was missing was PDF editing. From Office 2007 onwards, you could save a document as a PDF from inside the software. Office 2010 included it natively, while you did need an add-on for 2007, but neither would let you edit your PDF afterwards. This is set to change in Office 2013: Paul Thurrott's WinSuperSite claims that Microsoft intend to add a PDF reader to Word 2013 as well, thereby skipping right over Adobe's own Reader and Acrobat software to display files. Neowin previously covered the report that an Office 2013 beta could be a week away.

Office 2013 in what is referred to as 'Reading Mode'

From what we can tell, Microsoft's new offering could completely change how people interact with PDFs. The file type is difficult to work with, and is normally used only for reading instead of editing due to the difficulties associated with it. A PDF tends to be the final draft, and can be read on eBook readers, such as Amazon's Kindle. If they could be edited as well, you could see some book layouts being changed to suit eInk displays more effectively in the future. The PDF file has been around since 1993, so it already has enjoyed impressive longevity. Microsoft might just make it more appealing as it ages.

View: Original Article

[rajeesh]

Built-in PDF Editing Reportedly Coming to Office 2013

The upcoming Office 2013 productivity suite from Microsoft is set to deliver an upgraded user experience through more than just visual changes.

We already learned that the Redmond-based software giant is set to pack the new application version with a series of graphical changes that would bring it in line with the Metro UI in Windows 8, but there’s more to it.

The functionality of the suite will be improved as well, through the addition of new features to its various components.

One of them is the Word 2013 application, which is now said to be en-route to receive full-blown support for PDF files.

The app was already capable of saving documents in PDF format in Office 2010, and could also allow for this feature through a plug-in available for Office 2007.

However, users could not edit PDF files in Office unless they grabbed and used a third-party application, something that should change in the next release of the suite.

According to a recent article on LiveSide, Microsoft will pack native support for PDF editing in Office 2013. All that users would need to do is to click File > Open > Browse, and select the wanted document.

Word 2013 will also come to the market with support for PDF file viewing, Paul Thurrott suggests, adding that the application will automatically reflow text in a columnar view for a better experience. It will also enable users to mark a spot on the document and return to it immediately as they reopen it.

Chances are that the feature will be visible in the Beta release of Office 2013, which Microsoft said would land sometime this summer. However, rumor has it that it could be released as soon as next week.

Office 2013 is expected to become commercially available in the beginning of the next year, following the release of Windows 8, pegged for mid-October 2012.

http://news.softpedi...13-278922.shtml

[DKT27]

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