WPS Symbol is a PDF editing feature for inserting special characters in WPS PDF; it includes 2 core tasks, with 0 available without membership and 2 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 0 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 2 | Matches the number of membership-required rows in the index |
| Version limit | None specified | Based on the current feature scope |
About This Feature
Overview
Symbol lets you insert special characters into PDF documents in WPS PDF. It is useful for adding math symbols, Greek letters, unit symbols, and common marks while editing text in a PDF.
Core tasks include:
- Insert common symbols from the symbol panel.
- Open the symbol dialog to browse more symbols and related options.
This feature is useful for formula updates, technical document revisions, worksheets and handouts, and contract or form marking.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows device |
| App version | The latest version of WPS Office is recommended |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for local symbol insertion; internet access is needed for download, installation, and account services |
| Other | You need to open and edit a PDF file; for scanned PDFs, OCR is recommended before editing text |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install check | Open WPS PDF, open an editable PDF, enter text editing mode, and confirm that the Symbol entry is available in the toolbar |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In WPS PDF text editing mode, you can use the Symbol button to insert math symbols, Greek letters, and special characters, then switch to a symbol dialog for more options. | Word lets you insert symbols from Insert > Symbol and open More Symbols to browse additional characters and font sets. | Google Docs and Slides support special characters such as arrows, shapes, and accent marks. | Notion supports mathematical characters and expressions through equation input powered by KaTeX. | Acrobat lets you add and edit text in PDFs, then adjust text formatting while working in the PDF. |
| Official Source | — | Insert a symbol in Word | Insert emojis & special characters | Math equations | Change, replace, or delete text |
Advantage: It fits directly into PDF text editing without converting the file format first.; The symbol panel and symbol dialog are grouped in one workflow for repeated symbol insertion during PDF revision.
Overall Conclusion
If your main task is adding math symbols, Greek letters, or common marks directly inside a PDF, WPS provides a workflow that stays close to PDF text editing. Microsoft and Google focus more on general document editing, Notion is more suitable for equation-based content, and Adobe focuses on broader PDF text editing.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main issue | How it helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Formula updates | Teachers, students, trainers | Common math symbols are not easy to type from the keyboard | Open the symbol panel in text editing mode and insert the required symbol |
| 2 | Greek letter entry | Research, engineering, and technical document editors | Need to add characters such as α, β, and γ quickly | Choose Greek letters from the symbol categories |
| 3 | Form and contract marking | Administrative, legal, and operations users | Need to add check marks, stars, triangles, or similar marks | Insert common marks from the special symbol categories |
| 4 | Extended symbol lookup | Advanced editors | The target character is not available in the quick panel | Switch to the symbol dialog to browse more symbols and settings |
| 5 | Preparation for scanned PDF editing | PDF editors | Text in scanned PDFs cannot be edited directly | Run OCR first, then insert symbols in editable text areas |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Edit PDF files | Limited | Available |
| Insert symbols in PDF with Symbol | Limited | Available |
| Basic reading and annotation tasks | Available according to the product interface | Available |
| More PDF editing tools | Partially limited | Available |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly read PDFs and rarely change body text | Free | Better suited to reading and light handling |
| Frequently edit PDF text and insert symbols | WPS Premium | The feature requires PDF editing capability |
| Regularly work with formulas, technical files, or forms | WPS Premium | Helps you keep PDF editing and symbol insertion available for ongoing work |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page