Producing PDF Files
PDF files have lots of uses.
- They are smaller than Word documents and are easier to transfer between computers or to the web because of this.
- Nearly everybody has an Adobe Acrobat Reader to display them and it’s free software available to all types of PC’s.
But what if you want to create PDF files from your Word Documents say? Adobe does have professional software, but it tends to be comprehensive and for that reason it’s not that affordable.
There are cheaper alternatives. I for instance use PDF Complete, but even that costs $49.95, but in my case it may have been bundled with this HP computer.
There are also a host of products found, if you type “creating PDF documents” into Google. Some are even free. One that looks like giving a trial to is CutePDF. But I haven’t tried it, so use it at your own peril, after first seeing if there is a review of the software somewhere. If anybody has used it perhaps they would post their opinion here!
This overview on Gizmo’s web site is worth reading, as it lists and reviews free PDF file creation programs. It’s probably worth searching Gizmo’s site for other free software you need.
The Anonymous Widower 
Are you on a PC or a Mac. I use Word 97 on a PC and one of the save options I have is to save it as a .pdf, I do this a lot because I originate documents for various charitable groups and the printer I use prefers .pdf Indeed a couple of years ago I edited a recipe book and that went to the printer as a .pdf
Comment by liz | October 22, 2010 |
I’d forgot about that, but I’ve never used it. I use Word 2007, but I also create the odd PDF from programs, I’ve written.
IT’s worth a try if you’re using Word 2007.
Comment by AnonW | October 22, 2010 |
It works really well, some of the files I have sent have had fairly complex graphics which I had done in Adobe Photoshop, 20+ layers until I flattened them. Plus a 40 page church magazine with images, text, tables, all sorts of things. And of course if you are printing from .pdf files you have the option of the file being scaled to fit the page, if the printer on which it is being printed doesnt offer borderless – mine is a professional spec A3 photo printer.
Thinking about it, that is one of the main reasons I now use word instead of publisher, since I cant save publisher as .pdf, plus since I do the graphics in Photoshop, I can easily drop them into word 97 as a high res.jpg or .gif
Comment by liz | October 22, 2010 |
Microsoft Word has a Save As PDF option and it works very well. We send out all our documents in PDF form.
Comment by John | October 23, 2010 |