PED editor: three different tools that share one name
A PED editor is usually one of three things: NIST's PED (Phase Equilibria Diagrams) Editor, a Java program for digitizing phase diagrams; fan-made ped editors that change the pedestrian characters in Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas; or a PDF editor, typed in a hurry. NIST's tool is described at nist.gov/srd/ped-editor. For PDF documents, Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) works in your browser.
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What you can do with a PDF if you meant “PDF editor”
Fix a typo
Click the text box and correct the word in place.
Update names and dates
Change details in a letter, program or notice.
Rearrange the page
Reposition or resize any text box, picture or shape.
Add a page
Insert, delete or reorder pages in the document.
Drop in a logo
Add or replace a picture and resize it.
Save a new PDF
Paid plans export a print-ready PDF copy.
Here for PDF help? Start with one of these
If “ped” was really “pdf”, these pages answer the most common next questions.
What is the NIST PED Editor?
The NIST PED Editor is a Java program for digitizing phase equilibria diagrams, created by Eric Boesch for the PED Data Center, NIST Standard Reference Database 31. It digitizes binary, ternary and schematic diagrams and extracts their data, and also handles general graph digitizing and two-dimensional scientific drawing. It does not edit PDF documents.
Ready to work on a PDF? Three ways in
For readers who were looking for a PDF editor all along, pick a starting point.
Open a PDF
Drag in the PDF you need to change, or browse to it on your computer.
Up to 250 MB, viewing costs nothing
Open your PDFInside the PublishMedia page editor
Four things that help when you change a PDF someone else made.
Editable pages
Letters and notices made in a program open with their words in text boxes you can click; a page that can't be rebuilt safely shows as a true-to-life image instead.
Import Report
Tells you which pages and fonts to double-check before you start changing words.
Make it editable (paid)
Turns picture pages and scans into editable text and pictures using OCR. It's a reconstruction, so check the result; you can undo it.
Print Preview
Look over every page before exporting, so the PDF you send or print has no surprises.
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Ready-made layouts
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How to edit a PDF when “ped editor” was a typo
If you meant PDF, these four steps get your changes done in a browser.
Create an account
Sign up at publishmediasoftware.com in any modern browser; no credit card is asked for.
Open the PDF
Drag the file onto the start screen and glance at the Import Report for anything to check.
Make the changes
Correct words, change fonts or colors, move or swap pictures, and add or remove pages.
Export and share
Check the pages in Print Preview, then export a print-ready PDF with a paid plan.
6 tools people mean when they search “ped editor”
Two cards cover the real PED editors; four cover PDF editors for anyone who meant PDF. Find your card and skip the rest.
As of October 2026, “ped editor” searches point to three things. NIST's PED (Phase Equilibria Diagrams) Editor, created by Eric Boesch for NIST Standard Reference Database 31, is a Java program that digitizes phase diagrams and is described at nist.gov/srd/ped-editor. Fan-made ped editors modify pedestrian characters in Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas and are not made by Rockstar Games. For PDF documents, options include Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) in a browser, Adobe Acrobat, Preview on Mac and LibreOffice Draw.
1. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia)
For PDF documents, not phase diagrams or game files. Runs in a browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux and iPad. Viewing costs nothing; changing and exporting PDFs takes All-Access at $99 a year or Monthly at $9.99. Limit: no forms or e-signatures.
2. NIST PED (Phase Equilibria Diagrams) Editor
A Java program from NIST for digitizing binary, ternary and schematic phase diagrams, downloaded as a JAR file or Java Web Start version. Limit: mainly tested on Windows, and it does not edit PDF documents.
3. GTA ped editor tools
Fan-made modding tools that change peds, the pedestrian characters, in Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas. Unofficial and not made by Rockstar Games. Limit: no official support, so back up your game files first.
4. Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro
The full-featured PDF editor for Windows, Mac, the web and mobile, with OCR, forms, signatures and page tools, by paid subscription. Limit: more program and more cost than a single quick PDF fix needs.
5. Preview on a Mac
Built into every Mac at no cost. Adds text boxes, signatures and highlights, and reorders or deletes pages in the sidebar. Limit: it can't rewrite the text that's already on the page, and it's Mac only.
6. LibreOffice Draw
Free, open-source desktop software for Windows, Mac and Linux that opens PDFs for editing. Limit: each line of text becomes its own box, missing fonts get replaced, and you must use File › Export as PDF to save.
What PublishMedia costs for PDF documents
PublishMedia works with documents such as PDFs, not phase diagrams or game files, and opening and viewing them is free; free-plan files are kept 7 days, then deleted automatically after a reminder email. Editing, every template, saved projects, unlimited storage and print-ready PDF export are paid: All-Access at $99 a year (Recommended) or Monthly at $9.99, cancel anytime.
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Open and view unlimited Publisher, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and picture files free — stored for 7 days, then deleted automatically. Editing and export are on the paid plans.
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Everything unlocked — full editing, every template in the library, and unlimited storage.
Monthly
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PED editor questions, sorted by what you meant
What is the NIST PED Editor used for?+
The NIST PED Editor is used to digitize phase equilibria diagrams so their data can be extracted, for the PED Data Center (NIST Standard Reference Database 31). It handles binary, ternary and schematic diagrams, and it can also digitize general graphs and make two-dimensional scientific drawings. PED stands for Phase Equilibria Diagrams.
Where do I get the NIST PED Editor?+
The NIST PED Editor is downloaded from NIST at pages.nist.gov/PEDEditor, with an overview at nist.gov/srd/ped-editor. NIST offers it as a Java Web Start version or as a JAR file, so Java must be installed. Java Web Start is no longer part of current Java releases, so the JAR file is usually the simpler route.
Does the PED Editor run on a Mac or Linux?+
The PED Editor is a Java program, so it may start on a Mac or Linux computer with Java installed, but NIST says it has mainly been tested on Windows. Expect less-tested behavior elsewhere. If something misbehaves, a Windows computer is the setup NIST has checked most.
Can the PED Editor edit PDF files?+
No, the NIST PED Editor does not edit PDF documents; it is built for digitizing phase diagrams and drawing scientific graphs. To change the text, pictures or pages of a PDF, use a PDF editor such as Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) in a browser, Adobe Acrobat, Preview on a Mac or LibreOffice Draw.
What is a ped editor in GTA?+
In Grand Theft Auto modding, a ped editor is a fan-made tool that edits peds, the pedestrian characters that walk the game's streets. Ped editors are made for GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas by the modding community; they are unofficial and are not made or supported by Rockstar Games. Back up your game folder first.
Is it safe to download a GTA ped editor?+
A GTA ped editor is as safe as the site you download it from, because these are unofficial fan tools with no Rockstar Games support. Use well-known modding community sites, scan the download with your antivirus, and copy your game folder before changing anything so you can put it back if the game stops working.
I typed “ped editor” but wanted to edit a PDF. Where do I start?+
Start by opening the PDF in a PDF editor; “ped” for “pdf” is an easy slip when typing fast. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens PDFs in any modern browser after a quick sign-up, and viewing is free. Changing text, pictures and pages and exporting a new PDF need a paid plan.
Can the PED Editor digitize graphs that aren't phase diagrams?+
Yes, NIST says the PED Editor can be used for general graph digitizing and for two-dimensional scientific drawing, not only phase equilibria diagrams. That makes it useful for pulling data points out of a plotted curve. It is still a drawing and digitizing tool, not a document editor.
Is PublishMedia connected to NIST or Rockstar Games?+
No, Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) has no connection to NIST, the PED Data Center or Rockstar Games. PublishMedia is a browser-based page editor for documents such as PDFs; it does not open phase diagrams for digitizing or edit Grand Theft Auto game files.
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