How to Create PDF Files for Free or Convert from any Documents
Preface
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. PDF is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout 2-D document (and, with Acrobat 3-D, embedded 3-D documents) that includes the text, fonts, images, and 2-D vector graphics which comprise the documents.
PDF is an open standard that was officially published on July 1, 2008 by the ISO as ISO 32000-1:2008.
Create PDF Files for Free
mixed from reviewsaurus.com and freebies.about.com
PDF (Portable Document Format) is one of the most used format when it comes to distributing documents across the web. However, Adobe Acrobat is a paid program (not Acrobat Reader) and expensive too, so it becomes difficult for everyone to purchase such a software and have the ability to create the PDF files.
Here I would like to mention some of the ways through which you can create the PDF files for free and without spending even a single penny!
1. Using Open Office
With the help of Openoffice.org you can export the documents in PDF format. This is the best way to create PDF documents for free. If you already have a recent copy of OpenOffice.org you have what you need to create PDF files. Just open the document in one of the OpenOffice.org applications, click on the file menu and choose export to PDF. If you don't have OpenOffice.org you can download it for free and use use it at home or in a business setting at no cost. The software is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris and in a number of different languages.
2. Using online office like Zoho, ThinkFree or Google Docs
These service i.e. Zoho and ThinkFree or Google Docs allows you to export the files as PDF. So, when you have some important document, just open them in these online office programs and export them as PDF.
3. Converting the documents using free online converters
There are a number of online PDF converters, but most of them require registration and make you jump through various hoops to get your PDF file. PDF Online only requires that you supply an email address to use for receiving your PDF file.
PDF Online reduces image resolution, does not preserve hyperlinks, and will not process a file larger than 2 megabytes. I only recommend an online PDF converter if you just need a quick conversion and can't install OpenOffice.org or a print driver based PDF creator.
4. Using free software
There are various free softwares which allow you to create the PDF files. CutePDF is one of such softwares. CutePDF is basically a print driver that produces PDF files instead of sending your document to a printer. The main reasons you might want to use CutePDF instead of OpenOffice.org is that it is an extremely small program and will allow you to create PDF files directly from any application that you can print from. You just print your document and select the CutePDF driver instead of another print driver.
The only two drawbacks to CutePDF that I can see are that it doesn't preserve hyperlinks in a document and it doesn't give you options like the amount of compression to use and whether to use security options in your PDF file.
There is an open source program that works like CutePDF but gives you lots more options. However, it still will not preserve hyperlinks. You can download PDFCreator if you need the extra flexibility.
5. Through Microsoft Office
LyteByte has got a great article which tells you that how you can create the PDF files using Microsoft Office Applications.
Here I would like to mention some of the ways through which you can create the PDF files for free and without spending even a single penny!
1. Using Open Office
With the help of Openoffice.org you can export the documents in PDF format. This is the best way to create PDF documents for free. If you already have a recent copy of OpenOffice.org you have what you need to create PDF files. Just open the document in one of the OpenOffice.org applications, click on the file menu and choose export to PDF. If you don't have OpenOffice.org you can download it for free and use use it at home or in a business setting at no cost. The software is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris and in a number of different languages.
2. Using online office like Zoho, ThinkFree or Google Docs
These service i.e. Zoho and ThinkFree or Google Docs allows you to export the files as PDF. So, when you have some important document, just open them in these online office programs and export them as PDF.
3. Converting the documents using free online converters
There are a number of online PDF converters, but most of them require registration and make you jump through various hoops to get your PDF file. PDF Online only requires that you supply an email address to use for receiving your PDF file.
PDF Online reduces image resolution, does not preserve hyperlinks, and will not process a file larger than 2 megabytes. I only recommend an online PDF converter if you just need a quick conversion and can't install OpenOffice.org or a print driver based PDF creator.
4. Using free software
There are various free softwares which allow you to create the PDF files. CutePDF is one of such softwares. CutePDF is basically a print driver that produces PDF files instead of sending your document to a printer. The main reasons you might want to use CutePDF instead of OpenOffice.org is that it is an extremely small program and will allow you to create PDF files directly from any application that you can print from. You just print your document and select the CutePDF driver instead of another print driver.
The only two drawbacks to CutePDF that I can see are that it doesn't preserve hyperlinks in a document and it doesn't give you options like the amount of compression to use and whether to use security options in your PDF file.
There is an open source program that works like CutePDF but gives you lots more options. However, it still will not preserve hyperlinks. You can download PDFCreator if you need the extra flexibility.
5. Through Microsoft Office
LyteByte has got a great article which tells you that how you can create the PDF files using Microsoft Office Applications.
