skills/file-tools/references/tool-guide.md

31.6 KB · Oct 2, 2026 · 00:36 UTC

# FileStation website tool guide

Verified against published source version 43, 21 September 2026. These are website tools, not GPT API actions. Availability and plans may change.

Website: https://filestation.io

The GPT does not have account access or automatic draft synchronization. Website sign-in recovery is local to the same browser and tab, lasts up to 24 hours, and is not continuous autosave.

## Compress PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/compress-pdf

Make a smaller PDF for easy sharing.

Limitations: Content-preserving mode keeps page content. Stronger image mode removes text selection, links, forms and signatures. Size targets are not guaranteed. Keep the original.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF and select content-preserving or image compression.
2. For image compression, choose quality, resolution and an optional target size in KB.
3. Compare the before-and-after sizes, review the result and save a copy.

Will compression preserve selectable text?
The content-preserving mode keeps the existing page content without downsampling images. The stronger image mode flattens pages and removes selectable text, links, forms and signatures. Size targets are not guaranteed, and the original is retained if it is smaller.

## PDF to Word

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-word

Extract PDF text into an editable Word file.

Limitations: Text extraction only. Original layout, images and tables are not preserved. Scans need OCR first.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF containing selectable text.
2. Run PDF to Word.
3. Download the DOCX and check paragraph order before editing.

Will the Word file look exactly like my PDF?
No. This tool extracts text rather than recreating the original design. Images, columns and table layouts are not preserved. Scanned PDFs need OCR, which is not provided by this tool.

## Merge PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/merge-pdf

Bring multiple PDFs together in one file.

Steps:
1. Choose the first PDF, then use Add PDFs / Merge.
2. Drag page thumbnails into order and remove unwanted pages.
3. Choose Export PDF and save the combined document.

Can I reorder pages after merging?
Yes. Use the page organizer to drag thumbnails, rotate pages or delete unwanted pages before export. Review forms, links and signatures: the editor export may flatten or omit interactive features.

## Edit PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/edit-pdf

Add text, highlights and drawings with a live preview.

Limitations: Tap a page to place content. Edit text replaces selectable words visually and flattens the affected page on export. Scanned text needs OCR.

Steps:
1. Open a PDF and select a page.
2. Choose Add text or Edit text, or open More tools for signatures, highlights, images, stamps, links, notes, search and page management.
3. Open the export centre, choose pages and format, then prepare and save your download.

Can I change the original words in a PDF?
Choose Edit text and tap a selectable text block to replace it visually. The affected page becomes an image on export, with the new text on top; other original text on that page is no longer selectable. This does not reflow surrounding content or recognize scanned text.

## Images to PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/images-pdf

Turn JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF and WebP into a PDF.

Limitations: Choose A4, Letter or image-size pages, orientation and margins. Images follow the order shown. Your browser must be able to decode the selected image.

Steps:
1. Choose one or more supported images.
2. Use the ordering controls to arrange the images.
3. Create the PDF and download it.

Which image formats can I use?
JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP and GIF work when your browser can decode them. Other formats, including TIFF or HEIC, may need conversion to JPG or PNG first. Choose A4, US Letter or image dimensions; adjust margins before creating your PDF.

## Sign PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/sign-pdf

Draw your signature and place it on a page.

Limitations: Adds a signature image. No certificate, identity verification or signing audit trail.

Steps:
1. Choose your PDF.
2. Draw or upload a signature, then click the page to place it.
3. Review its position and download the result.

Is this a certificate-based digital signature?
No. This tool adds a visual signature image. It does not verify identity, issue a signing certificate or create an audit trail. Check the recipient’s requirements before using it.

## Split PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/split-pdf

Split at visual cut points or save separate pages.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF and review the thumbnails.
2. Reorder or remove pages if needed.
3. Choose Split PDF, prepare the download and save the ZIP.

How do I save only a few pages together?
Select those page thumbnails and choose Extract selected. That creates one PDF containing the selection. Separate PDFs (ZIP) exports each chosen page separately.

## PDF to JPG

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-jpg

Export PDF pages as high-quality images.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF.
2. Choose the pages to convert and run the tool.
3. Download the JPG output and open the ZIP if multiple pages are included.

Can I edit the PDF text in the JPG output?
No. JPG is a raster image format. The visible page is rendered into pixels, so links, form fields and selectable text are not retained.

## PDF to PNG

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-png

Save crisp PNG images of your pages.

Steps:
1. Choose your PDF.
2. Choose the pages and start conversion.
3. Download the PNG output; multiple pages may be packaged in a ZIP.

When should I choose PNG instead of JPG?
PNG uses lossless image compression and can be useful for diagrams and text-heavy pages. It may produce larger files than JPG. Neither format retains PDF text selection or forms.

## Rotate PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/rotate-pdf

Turn selected pages in the right direction.

Steps:
1. Open the PDF in the organizer.
2. Use Rotate on the thumbnails that need changing.
3. Check the preview and export the PDF.

Can I rotate one page without rotating the others?
Yes. Each thumbnail has its own rotate control. A click turns that page by 90 degrees; repeat until the orientation is correct.

## Delete PDF pages

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/delete-pdf-pages

Remove the pages you no longer need.

Steps:
1. Choose the PDF and open its page organizer.
2. Delete individual pages or select several and use the selected-page delete action.
3. Keep at least one page and export your result.

Does deleting pages change my original file?
No. Changes are made to the in-browser working copy. Export creates a new download. Keep your original if you might need the removed pages later.

## Extract PDF pages

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/extract-pdf-pages

Keep only the pages you choose.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF.
2. Select the checkboxes on the required page thumbnails.
3. Choose Extract selected and save the new PDF.

Will extracting pages remove them from my original?
No. The selected pages are exported as a new PDF. The original file on your device is not overwritten by the tool.

## Organize PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/organize-pdf

Set the order of your document pages.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF to see its pages.
2. Drag thumbnails or use Move earlier / Move later in the editor.
3. Review the final order and choose Export PDF.

Can I organize pages on a phone?
Yes. Use the page drag handle with touch, or select a page and use Move earlier / Move later. Smaller documents are easier to handle on devices with limited memory.

## PDF Reader

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-reader

Open and read a PDF right here.

Steps:
1. Choose the PDF you want to read.
2. Search selectable text or use the previous and next page buttons.
3. Keep or download a copy if you need it after leaving the page.

Can I open an encrypted PDF?
Password-protected or unsupported PDFs may fail to preview. Open an unencrypted copy that you are authorized to use. This reader does not bypass password protection.

## Annotate PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/annotate-pdf

Highlight text and add notes or drawings.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF and select a page.
2. Choose a text, highlight or drawing tool and place your marks.
3. Adjust or remove added marks, then export the PDF.

Are annotations the same as redaction?
No. Highlights, drawings or text placed over a page do not securely remove underlying information. Do not use this tool to redact confidential content.

## Number pages

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/add-page-numbers

Add page numbers to your document.

Steps:
1. Choose your PDF.
2. Select the pages, starting number and label position.
3. Review label positions and download the numbered document.

Can I choose a custom starting number?
Yes. Set the starting number, optional prefix, simple or total format, and header or footer position. Only selected pages receive numbers; check for overlap before sharing.

## Crop PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/crop-pdf

Trim individual edges on selected pages.

Limitations: Changes the visible page area. Cropped content remains in the file; this is not redaction.

Steps:
1. Choose the PDF.
2. Select the pages, then drag a rectangle on the preview around the area to keep.
3. Apply the crop and review the result before downloading.

Does cropping permanently remove hidden content?
No. Cropped content remains inside the file and can be exposed by other software. Cropping is not a privacy or redaction tool.

## Watermark PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/watermark-pdf

Add a text watermark to every page.

Steps:
1. Choose your PDF.
2. Enter your text and choose size, color, opacity and rotation.
3. Apply the watermark and download a reviewed copy.

Does a watermark prevent copying?
No. A watermark is a visible label, not encryption or access control. It does not stop someone from copying, editing or sharing the document.

## Fill PDF forms

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/fill-pdf-forms

Complete existing text and checkbox fields.

Limitations: Supports AcroForm text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and radio buttons. XFA forms are not supported.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF with supported form fields.
2. Enter values in the displayed field controls.
3. Process and download the filled PDF.

Which PDF forms are supported?
The tool supports AcroForm text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and radio buttons. XFA forms and some custom scripted forms are not supported. A scanned form is only an image, not an interactive form.

## Flatten PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/flatten-pdf

Make form fields part of the page.

Limitations: Flattens AcroForm fields; does not flatten every annotation type.

Steps:
1. Choose a completed PDF form.
2. Run Flatten PDF.
3. Open the output and verify the field values before sharing.

Does flattening make a PDF impossible to edit?
No. This tool flattens AcroForm fields, not every annotation or type of content. Other PDF software may still modify the document.

## PDF to text

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-text

Extract selectable text into a TXT file.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF with selectable text.
2. Run PDF to text.
3. Download the TXT and check the reading order.

Why is my text output empty or in the wrong order?
Scanned pages may contain no selectable text. Multi-column layouts and positioned text can also change extraction order. This tool does not perform OCR.

## Text to PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/text-pdf

Turn a plain-text document into a PDF.

Limitations: Latin-script text is supported in this browser version.

Steps:
1. Choose a TXT file.
2. Run Text to PDF.
3. Review the generated PDF and download it.

Does this preserve rich formatting or every language?
No. The input is plain text, not a Word document. The current built-in font workflow supports Latin-script text; other writing systems may not render correctly.

## PDF to Excel

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-excel

Export text rows to a spreadsheet.

Limitations: Text rows are exported to cells. This does not reconstruct tables or formulas. Scans need OCR first.

Steps:
1. Choose a PDF containing selectable text.
2. Run PDF to Excel.
3. Download the spreadsheet and review the rows and cells.

Will tables and formulas be reconstructed?
No. This tool exports extracted text rows into cells. Optional gap-based column detection is approximate. It does not reconstruct reliable table structure, restore formulas or read scanned tables using OCR.

## PDF to PowerPoint

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-ppt

Make a slide deck from your PDF pages.

Limitations: Each page becomes a slide image. Text and shapes are not individually editable.

Steps:
1. Choose your PDF.
2. Run PDF to PowerPoint.
3. Download the presentation and review the slide images.

Can I edit each word and shape on the slides?
No. Each PDF page becomes a single slide image. You can position the image or add new content in PowerPoint, but original words and shapes are not separate editable objects.

## ZIP to PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/zip-pdf

Turn a ZIP of images into one PDF.

Limitations: Choose paper size, orientation and margins for image files inside the ZIP. Other files are ignored.

Steps:
1. Choose a ZIP containing images.
2. Run ZIP to PDF.
3. Check page order and download the combined PDF.

Can I merge PDFs inside a ZIP with this tool?
No. ZIP to PDF reads supported images and fits them onto your chosen page size. To combine existing PDFs, extract them on your device and use Merge PDF.

## PDF Scanner

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/photo-to-pdf

Capture a photo and make a PDF.

Limitations: Use your phone camera or choose photos. Choose paper size, orientation, margins and grayscale. Automatic edge detection is not included.

Steps:
1. Choose a photo, or use your phone’s camera option when available.
2. Create the PDF.
3. Review the image and download the document.

Does PDF Scanner automatically detect edges or read text?
No. This tool places your photo on your chosen PDF page size with adjustable margins and optional grayscale. It does not include automatic edge detection, perspective correction or OCR.

## Pages to PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pages-to-pdf

Convert Apple Pages documents with the connected renderer.

Limitations: The connected LibreOffice renderer must support your Pages version. Fonts and unsupported Apple features may change the result.

Steps:
1. Check that the document processor is connected.
2. Choose a .pages file and confirm server processing.
3. Convert, review the preview and download your PDF.

Does this use Apple’s own rendering engine?
No. It uses LibreOffice’s Pages import filter. Compatibility varies by Pages version and document features. For an exact Apple rendering, export PDF from Pages itself.

## PDF to PDF/A

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/pdf-to-pdfa

Create and validate an archival PDF/A-2b copy.

Limitations: Requires the conversion engine and veraPDF validator. PDF/A-2b may differ from the profile required by your archive.

Steps:
1. Check processor availability and choose your PDF.
2. Confirm upload and start archival conversion.
3. Download the validated PDF/A-2b copy and review it.

Is adding a PDF/A metadata label enough?
No. The processor converts the document and runs veraPDF using the PDF/A-2b validation profile. Failed or unavailable validation blocks the download. Keep your original and check your archive’s required profile.

## Word to PDF

URL: https://filestation.io/tools/word-pdf

Turn DOCX headings, text, tables and images into a PDF.

Limitations: Local reading copy: DOCX only. Original pagination, headers, footers, charts and advanced layout are not reproduced. Export from Word for an exact-layout PDF. Server layout mode, when connected, renders supported original formatting; fonts and unsupported features can still differ.