Choosing between a PDF reader and a PDF editor depends on the specific needs of the faculty member. For basic tasks like reading, annotating, and filling out forms, a PDF reader is sufficient. However, for creating, editing, securing, and managing documents, a PDF editor is best. Understanding these needs can help faculty members select the right tool to enhance their productivity and efficiency in their academic roles. 

PDF Reader: Essential for Basic Interactions

A PDF Reader is a fundamental tool for anyone who needs to view and interact with PDF documents without Making significant changes. Here are scenarios where a PDF reader is sufficient:

1. Reading and Reviewing Documents
   • Lecture Notes and Articles: You can use a PDF reader to open and read lecture notes, research articles, and other academic materials.
   • Highlighting and Annotating: Most PDF readers allow users to highlight text and add comments, which is useful for reviewing documents and making notes. 
2. Filling Out Forms: 
   • Administrative Forms: Faculty can fill out and submit forms such as travel requests, grand applications, and other administrative paperwork using a PDF reader. 
3. Basic Presentations
   • Displaying PDFs: During lectures or meetings, faculty can use a PDF reader to display and navigate through PDF presentations. 

All Marquette owned and managed desktop and laptop computers have one of the following  PDF readers installed:

• Adobe Reader
• Foxit Reader

PDF Editor: Necessary for Advanced Tasks

A PDF editor offers a broader range of functionalities, making it essential for more complex tasks. Here are situation when a PDF editor is necessary:

1. Creating or Modifying Documents
   • Syllabus and Course Materials: Faculty members who need to create or extensively edit syllabi, course materials, or research papers will benefit from a PDF editor. 
   • Combining Documents: When merging multiple documents into a single PDF, a PDF editor is required. 
2. Advanced Annotations and Editing
   • Detailed Feedback: Providing detailed feedback on student assignments or peer-reviewed articles often requires advanced annotation tools available in PDF editors. 
   • Editing Text and Images: Making corrections or updates to text and images within a PDF document necessitates a PDF editor.
3. Form Creation and Management
   • Interactive Forms: Creating interactive forms for surveys, quizzes, or data collection requires the capabilities of a PDF editor. 
   • Form Field Management: Adding and managing form fields, such as text boxes, checkboxes, and drop-down menus, is a task for a PDF editor. 
4. Document Security
   • Applying Security Features: Faculty members who need to secure documents with passwords, permissions, or digital signatures will need a PDF editor. 
5. Collaboration and Version Control
   • Collaborative Projects: For collaborative research projects, PDF editors allows multiple users to edit, comment, and track changes in real-time. 
   • Version Management: Keeping track of different versions of a document and integrating changes for multiple contributors is easier with a PDF editor. 

IT Services recommends Foxit Editor Pro for PDF Editing.

For information on Adobe Creative Cloud usage, follow this link.