How to create a PDF file, cheaply?

by **Paul Herber** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 07:32:08 GMT

On 6 Nov 2003 14:34:48 -0800, XXXX@XXXXX.COM (Roger Redford)
wrote:

>Dear Experts,
>I have a document that I would like to email
[...]
>What is a cheap or free PDF document writer that I
>could use to convert MS Word files?

http://www.pdf995.com/

--
Regards, Paul Herber, Paul Herber Systems Ltd. http://www.pherber.com/
SanDriLa - SDL/MSC application for Visio
email address is spam-trapped - s/*@/paul@/

by **William Penrose** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 08:18:24 GMT

On 6 Nov 2003 14:34:48 -0800, XXXX@XXXXX.COM (Roger Redford)
wrote:

>What is a cheap or free PDF document writer that I
>could use to convert MS Word files?

Ghostwriter. Free, but I've found it almost impossible to use.

You can rent the use of Acrobat by the month from Adobe.

Newer versions of Word will allow you to lock documents so they can be
opened and read, but not changed.

Bill Penrose

AJixie windowsxp outlook excel excel soft-sys.matlab windowsxp.help_and_support word.docmanagement dotnet.framework.aspnet excel.worksheet.functions os.linux.advocacy dotnet.languages.csharp windows.vista outlook sqlserver exchange.admin windows.server.sbs windowsmedia.player dotnet.languages.vb office lang.python windowsupdate powerpoint sqlserver.server frontpage.client access.forms access.formscoding windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser lang.labview access.queries windowsxp.network_web win2000 jobs lang.java.programmer lang.ruby lang.c++ windowsxp.basics

by **JL Amerson** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 08:39:17 GMT

There are some knock-offs available. PDF995, PDF-XChange are two of them.
Bear in mind that they are NOT Adobe products therefore you might not get
the same results as with the real thing.

I haven't heard of Acrobat Writer. I did a search at Adobe's website and
didn't get any hits on a program by that name. If you are asking if, for
example, I could edit a .pdf file you create with a Brand X program with my
Acrobat Standard software, I wouldn't want to guess one way or the other.
Your document may "appear" to be a real .pdf file but that doesn't mean it
will behave like one.

Do yourself a favor - spend the money for the real thing. You won't regret
it. I don't.

"Roger Redford" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message

> Dear Experts,
> I have a document that I would like to email
[...]
> Acrobat Writer?
> Thanks

by **Tom Beer** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 08:54:15 GMT

"JL Amerson" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message

> There are some knock-offs available. PDF995, PDF-XChange are two of them.
> Bear in mind that they are NOT Adobe products therefore you might not get
[...]
> didn't get any hits on a program by that name. If you are asking if, for
> example, I could edit a .pdf file you create with a Brand X program with

my

> Acrobat Standard software, I wouldn't want to guess one way or the other.
> Your document may "appear" to be a real .pdf file but that doesn't mean it
[...]
> Do yourself a favor - spend the money for the real thing. You won't regret
> it. I don't.

How is Acrobat the "real thing" while the competitors are not? The spec is
public and there are many products that comply with the spec - indeed some
are more compliant than Adobe's products.

I use ghostscript / ghostview with great success, and the price is right
(ie. free).

We also use pStill (www.pstill.com) in our commercial environment with much
success (The level of support for this product is great).

Tom.

by **Bob** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 09:31:27 GMT

On 6 Nov 2003 14:34:48 -0800, XXXX@XXXXX.COM (Roger Redford)
wrote:

>Dear Experts,
>I have a document that I would like to email
[...]
>What is a cheap or free PDF document writer that I
>could use to convert MS Word files?

The new version of OpenOffice (v 1.1) makes pdf files. I've used it a
couple of times; seems to work nicely and simply.

bob

by **Don Schmidt** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 10:50:07 GMT

Mike, you talked me into it. <G>

Here's my canned answer on converting to PDF files.

You will need a program to convert the file to a pdf format. There is of
course Adobe Acrobat but its a bit on the spendy side for most folks at $250
or higher. I had the need to create pdf files some 5 years ago and did some
trials on freeware, shareware and commercial programs (excluding Adobe
Acrobat). The winner for me was/is the commercial program PDF-XChange that
goes for ~$40 US.

PC Magazine, Aug 5 issue compares 11 pdf programs with PDF-XChange sharing a
three way tie for a 4 star rating and came in first of the three for price.

You can read the article at:

http://www.pacifier.com/ ~dschmidt/osia_vancouver_usa/page5.html

Click on the Snowman at the bottom of the page for the PC Magazine article.

You can see some pdf files created with PDF-XChange at:

http://www.pacifier.com/ ~dschmidt/osia_vancouver_usa/index.html

Bring up any of the 60+ files on the Il Messaggio Archives page.
Click on the song link and enjoy the visit.

Late breaking news! The above was referring to PDF-XChange ver 2.5.
Version 3.0 has been released! More features, better conversion.
The cost has been increased. Check the web site for costs and a free
download for trying out.

BTW, the PDF-XChange site is:

http://www.docu-track.com

Ciao,
--
Don
Vancouver, USA, a great city in one of the 45+ countries in America!
Discovered by Italians, explored by Italians and named after an Italian.
Molto bene!

"Roger Redford" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message

> Dear Experts,
> I have a document that I would like to email
[...]
> Acrobat Writer?
> Thanks

by » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:48:17 GMT

If you are not using the PDF for pre-press then any junk PDF program will
do, as that is all the PDF wanna-be programs are.

If you are doing pre-press work or expect and demand quality, then only the
full version of Adobe Acrobat will do.

--
The US should free all those
illegally held prisoners they are
torturing, abusing and denying
human rights being held at
Guantanamo Bay.

by **Waldo** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 18:43:56 GMT

Pre-press work in MS Publisher??? ;-)

I agree on your remark, just want to add Jaws PDF Creator. All the other PDF
wannabees are not suited for pre-press work.

Waldo

"Sublisher? < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message
> If you are not using the PDF for pre-press then any junk PDF program will
> do, as that is all the PDF wanna-be programs are.
> If you are doing pre-press work or expect and demand quality, then only
the

> full version of Adobe Acrobat will do.
> --
[...]
> human rights being held at
> Guantanamo Bay.

by **Don Schmidt** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 21:29:05 GMT

No need to reinforce your reputation David, you are well known.

--
Don
Vancouver, USA, a great city in one of the 45+ countries in America!

"Sublisher? < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message
> If you are not using the PDF for pre-press then any junk PDF program will
> do, as that is all the PDF wanna-be programs are.
> If you are doing pre-press work or expect and demand quality, then only
the

> full version of Adobe Acrobat will do.
> --
[...]
> human rights being held at
> Guantanamo Bay.

by **Don Schmidt** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 21:50:08 GMT

We use PDF-XChange for pre press work and receive compliments weekly. Also,
Il Messaggio (our primo newsletter) has been honored with the prestigious
letter of commendation from the Society of Humanitarian Arts.

Seems we're both satisfied, here with the masses who are pleased, and you
with your criticism without trial.

Here's the short list of who is using Tracker Software:
Lufthansa Systems Infratec Gmbh, US Dept Of Labour, BDO Dunwoody LLP, United
States Army(TMDE), Lockheed Martin, MBNA Bank INC, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche
British Airways, Boeing, State North Carolina, State Of Virginia, Oracle
Corporation, BE & K (Worldwide), John Deere Engineering Inc, Borg Warner
Inc, State Of Hawaii, CSC Pharmaceuticals Handels GmbH, EDS Inc(Electronic
Data Services), Deloitte Consulting, DuPont Inc, Faegre & Benson LLP,
Fujitsu, GE Inc, Hitachi, IBM (Germany), IBM (UK), Intellisoft Inc, Swire
Group, Kent State University, University Of Hawaii, Kompass Group, The
National Center for State Courts (NCSC), The New Zealand Police, Nielsen
Media Research, Nikko Materials (USA)Inc, State Of Ohio, Ove Arup and
Partners Int Ltd, University of Massachusetts, Purdue University, Radamec
Defence Systems Ltd, Stockholm University, Pitney Bowes, Hoover Company Inc,
McGraw-Hill, Toshiba, U.S. Steel, University Antwerp........

--
Donald The Magnificent
Editor
Publisher
A1 Reporter
Art/Graphics Illustrator
Vancouver, USA, a great city in one of the 45+ countries in America!

"Waldo" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message
> Pre-press work in MS Publisher??? ;-)
> I agree on your remark, just want to add Jaws PDF Creator. All the other
PDF

> wannabees are not suited for pre-press work.
> Waldo
[...]
>
> > If you are not using the PDF for pre-press then any junk PDF program

will

> > do, as that is all the PDF wanna-be programs are.
> > If you are doing pre-press work or expect and demand quality, then only
[...]
> > human rights being held at
> > Guantanamo Bay.

by **Brian Kvalheim - [MS MVP]** » Fri, 07 Nov 2003 22:52:20 GMT

Hi Waldo ( XXXX@XXXXX.COM ),
in the Microsoft?newsgroups
you posted:

|| Pre-press work in MS Publisher??? ;-)

Been doing it for years, and it's been working awesome. Publisher 2003 has
improved 10 fold with the composite cmyk support, making it that much
better.

--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Office Publisher MVP
Official Publisher MVP Site:
http://www.kvalheim.org

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

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