I have attached these instructions for those that would prefer a local copy.
If you prefer to read this online, here we go...
I have used many pdf tools and viewers in Linux and each has a sweet spot of functionality. For example, pdfarranger is great for assembling, moving and organizing pdf pages while the lightweight viewers like Atril are great for a quick glance.
However,if you want to mark up,with comments, draw shapes, add text boxes, OCR text, edit fillable forms, add page numbers or measure to scale on a pdf file, then you want the free pdf tool called Pdf-Xchange Editor. Some of the functions require a license but there is plenty of functionality for free.
I have not found the equivalent functionality for working with pdf files in Linux so I always add this program to my Peppermint os installs by using PlayonLinux (POL).
Now that Peppermint os is based on Debian,it takes a bit more effort. The following instructions are what I use to get Pdf-Xchange Editor working on Peppermint OS.
From the following link: https://www.tracker-software.com/product/downloads
I choose the PDF-XChange Editor Plus option to download the PDFXVE9.zip file. The latest version as of this tutorial is 9.2.359.0.
Once downloaded, unzip the file and save the PDFXVE9.exe file for installing after we get Playonlinux installed.
The order of install is important for playonlinux. If you have already installed POL without enabling i386 multiarch, only 64-bit package versions are installed. Even if you uninstall POL, enable multiarch and reinstall POL again, the necessary packages aren't marked for download.
There is a package called libwine (installed during the installation of POL the first time) that prevents the marking of these necessary packages including it's own 32-bit version libwine:i386. The workaround is to enable multiarch, remove the libwine package and then install POL again.
Step 1: Install PlayonLinux
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt remove libwine
$ sudo apt install playonlinux
Libwine is not installed originally with Pepperint OS, so the step to remove libwine is optional.
Step 2: Enable multiarch
On 64-bit systems you should enable a 32-bit architecture for multiarch. This is needed for running 32-bit Windows applications (many modern apps are still 32-bit), but also for large parts of the Windows subsystem itself. If in doubt, you do need it!
You can identify your architecture with the following terminal command:
$ dpkg –print-architecture
E.g. for amd64 (which most users have) you need i386. Enable it with the following command:
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 && sudo apt update
Step 3: Install wine
Make sure that all of the following packages are installed:
For 64 bit architecture:
$ sudo apt install wine
$ sudo apt install wine32
$ sudo apt install wine64
$ sudo apt install libwine
$ sudo apt install libwine:i386
$ sudo apt install fonts-wine
Now you can open POL from your menu of installed programs and click install:
POL will try and inventory all the prebuilt scripts for software in its libraries. You do not have to wait for this and you can go click in the lower left corner on “Install a non-listed program”.
There will be 2 warning screens (read them!) until you get to the “Manual installation” screen. Once you get that screen, click “next”.
The next screen gives you two options:
1.Install in a new virtual drive ( Choose this option)
2. Edit or update an existing installation.( Only useful after you have completed an install but want to update the version)
The next screen will ask you to name your VirtualDrive. I usually name it “PdfXEditor”
The next screen will ask what kind of virtual drive you want to create so choose 64 bit windows installation. Unless you are installing on 32 bit hardware.
At this point POL will set up a virtual drive and install wine components. When that is done, a screen will come up asking you to browse to the location of the saved install file(PDFXVE9.exe)
Once the file location has been selected the install screen should come up. Once it does, I normally select the “Complete” option
After the program installs the finalscreen willapear and the box for “Launch PDF-Xchange Editor” must be un-ticked. Make sure that box is left empty as shown below before clicking “Finish”.
POL places a temporary link on the desktop while in the main window it asks to create a short cut and it shows several pre-populated options in a list. I pick the one that is closest to the name of the executable program.
Since I chose “PDFXedit.exe, I only have to add/append “or” to complete the name as shown in the next screen below
After you click next, the desktop icon will be renamed to what you entered and you can select “I don’t want to make another shortcut”.
You can launch PdfXchange Editor from the desktop, from inside Playonlinux or you can set up your own launcher. It is also quite easy to pin the program to plank.
The software install is now complete and you are free to explore the many features.
If you want to get a few tips, I show a few helpful things about the program in the descriptions below.
Since POL has to fire up a virtual operating system, launching PDF-Xchange Editor is not the fastest. Once it is up and running, there are a few settings I always adjust. Using the “File”tab on the top menu, select “preferences” and a new screen will open so choose “customize UI” in the Categories list to allow you to adjust the menu and toolbar font. The font Noto Sans Semibold gives a good balance of contrast while keeping the menu size small. The available font selections will change with the version of wine installed. I was using wine 6 (unstable) while the install instructions currently install version 5 wine.
Since this is a “freemium” software, I like to hide all the functions that require a license. In the categories menu list click on “Registration” and select the box to “hide all licensed features from toolbars and menus”.
I hope that gets you started on unlocking the power of Pdf-Xchange Editor!
I have attached these instructions for those that would prefer a local copy.
If you prefer to read this online, here we go...
I have used many pdf tools and viewers in Linux and each has a sweet spot of functionality. For example, pdfarranger is great for assembling, moving and organizing pdf pages while the lightweight viewers like Atril are great for a quick glance.
However,if you want to mark up,with comments, draw shapes, add text boxes, OCR text, edit fillable forms, add page numbers or measure to scale on a pdf file, then you want the free pdf tool called Pdf-Xchange Editor. Some of the functions require a license but there is plenty of functionality for free.
I have not found the equivalent functionality for working with pdf files in Linux so I always add this program to my Peppermint os installs by using PlayonLinux (POL).
Now that Peppermint os is based on Debian,it takes a bit more effort. The following instructions are what I use to get Pdf-Xchange Editor working on Peppermint OS.
From the following link:
https://www.tracker-software.com/product/downloads
I choose the PDF-XChange Editor Plus option to download the PDFXVE9.zip file. The latest version as of this tutorial is 9.2.359.0.
Once downloaded, unzip the file and save the PDFXVE9.exe file for installing after we get Playonlinux installed.
The order of install is important for playonlinux. If you have already installed POL without enabling i386 multiarch, only 64-bit package versions are installed. Even if you uninstall POL, enable multiarch and reinstall POL again, the necessary packages aren't marked for download.
There is a package called libwine (installed during the installation of POL the first time) that prevents the marking of these necessary packages including it's own 32-bit version libwine:i386. The workaround is to enable multiarch, remove the libwine package and then install POL again.
Step 1: Install PlayonLinux
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt remove libwine
$ sudo apt install playonlinux
Libwine is not installed originally with Pepperint OS, so the step to remove libwine is optional.
Step 2: Enable multiarch
On 64-bit systems you should enable a 32-bit architecture for multiarch. This is needed for running 32-bit Windows applications (many modern apps are still 32-bit), but also for large parts of the Windows subsystem itself. If in doubt, you do need it!
You can identify your architecture with the following terminal command:
$ dpkg –print-architecture
E.g. for amd64 (which most users have) you need i386. Enable it with the following command:
$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 && sudo apt update
Step 3: Install wine
Make sure that all of the following packages are installed:
For 64 bit architecture:
$ sudo apt install wine
$ sudo apt install wine32
$ sudo apt install wine64
$ sudo apt install libwine
$ sudo apt install libwine:i386
$ sudo apt install fonts-wine
For 32 bit architecture:
$ sudo apt install wine
$ sudo apt install wine32
$ sudo apt install libwine
$ sudo apt install fonts-wine
Now you can open POL from your menu of installed programs and click install:
POL will try and inventory all the prebuilt scripts for software in its libraries. You do not have to wait for this and you can go click in the lower left corner on “Install a non-listed program”.
There will be 2 warning screens (read them!) until you get to the “Manual installation” screen. Once you get that screen, click “next”.
The next screen gives you two options:
1.Install in a new virtual drive ( Choose this option)
2. Edit or update an existing installation.( Only useful after you have completed an install but want to update the version)
The next screen will ask you to name your VirtualDrive. I usually name it “PdfXEditor”
The next screen will ask what kind of virtual drive you want to create so choose 64 bit windows installation. Unless you are installing on 32 bit hardware.
At this point POL will set up a virtual drive and install wine components. When that is done, a screen will come up asking you to browse to the location of the saved install file(PDFXVE9.exe)
Once the file location has been selected the install screen should come up. Once it does, I normally select the “Complete” option
After the program installs the finalscreen willapear and the box for “Launch PDF-Xchange Editor” must be un-ticked. Make sure that box is left empty as shown below before clicking “Finish”.
POL places a temporary link on the desktop while in the main window it asks to create a short cut and it shows several pre-populated options in a list. I pick the one that is closest to the name of the executable program.
Since I chose “PDFXedit.exe, I only have to add/append “or” to complete the name as shown in the next screen below
After you click next, the desktop icon will be renamed to what you entered and you can select “I don’t want to make another shortcut”.
You can launch PdfXchange Editor from the desktop, from inside Playonlinux or you can set up your own launcher. It is also quite easy to pin the program to plank.
The software install is now complete and you are free to explore the many features.
If you want to get a few tips, I show a few helpful things about the program in the descriptions below.
Since POL has to fire up a virtual operating system, launching PDF-Xchange Editor is not the fastest. Once it is up and running, there are a few settings I always adjust. Using the “File”tab on the top menu, select “preferences” and a new screen will open so choose “customize UI” in the Categories list to allow you to adjust the menu and toolbar font. The font Noto Sans Semibold gives a good balance of contrast while keeping the menu size small. The available font selections will change with the version of wine installed. I was using wine 6 (unstable) while the install instructions currently install version 5 wine.
Since this is a “freemium” software, I like to hide all the functions that require a license. In the categories menu list click on “Registration” and select the box to “hide all licensed features from toolbars and menus”.
I hope that gets you started on unlocking the power of Pdf-Xchange Editor!
Last edit: rwcanuck 2022-06-25
Tested, and the install instructions worked fine.
Thank you.
Last edit: MintSpider - Peter Paterson 2022-03-23
Good news Mintspider! Let me know if you have any issues with any of the features as I have used this software for a few years.
Oh, already deleted the software.
Was merely checking your method.