Converting files to PDF

Metathiax · Post by **Metathiax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:44 am

I opened a trial account at Adobe and I was wondering if you guys really pay up $100 per year to convert your files into PDF format. I don't know about you but I think this service is extremely expensive for private use...
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:27 am

There are a couple inexpensive (read open source) alternatives for you. If you were to use Open Office 2.0 for example, you can save your files straight to PDF format. There are also programs (also open source in nature) which allow you to 'print' as a PDF document like PDF Creator (basically like a printer driver).

Here's the like for that one:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

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Metathiax · Post by **Metathiax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:05 am

This is much appreciated info...thanks!!!
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babbage · Post by **babbage** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:11 am

I use OpenOffice also, very good suite of apps. Also, you can consider CutePDF for generating PDF files - though I tend to use OpenOffice mainly.
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Jackal · Post by **Jackal** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:02 pm

I'm a Word fan myself and PrimoPDF works great with it. It's also free and has several options for security and printing style.

Traveller · Post by **Traveller** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:00 pm

For free, there's also PDF995, although it is ad supported. I believe Foxit Software has a pdf creator seperate from its reader. I've used the PDF creator at sourceforge, and while it does work, it requires installing ghostscript as well. It's very bare bones.

I have no problem recommending free, but I use the 800 pound gorilla for PDF (Acrobat 7) and have little practical experience with the other programs.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:45 pm

I use PrimoPDF. Simple, small, and converts anything into PDF, from Word to OpenOffice to web pages to whatever the hell else you can print. OF course, I then use Acrobat 5.5 [I don't like Acrobat 6+] (full version) to modify it and add things like bookmarks and whatnot.

So, no, spending money like that is ridiculous, especially as there are numerous free pdf makers available.

Oh, and one thing about PDF995... it can edit pdfs, instead of just creating them, which can allow one to bypass some things...

dcs · Post by **dcs** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:29 pm

I use CutePDF. OpenOffice's PDF option is nice, but I like having CutePDF too for more flexibility (in case I want to create a PDF of something that is not an Office file).
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Metathiax · Post by **Metathiax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:27 pm

I'm sure to find something that suits me among these options.

Thanks again, you've all been very helpful!
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Metathiax · Post by **Metathiax** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:52 pm

I could use some more of your PDF-related wisdom to enlighten me on the following question : CutePDF vs PrimoPDF, what are their main pros and cons? They look basically the same to me for the purpose of converting Microsoft Office files. Have anyone used both and would care to share about his experience?
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Philotomy Jurament · Post by **Philotomy Jurament** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:32 pm

If you have access to a Mac running OS X, you can convert any document to PDF by choosing "Print..." from the menus and then "Save as PDF..." from the print dialog.