How to Create a PDF File without Acrobat

A work in process...

How to Create a PDF File

• Option 1: Use the Adobe Free Service

  This service converts your file (e.g. an MS WORD .DOC file) directly into PDF.

  This is the simplest way, via a free service at the Adobe Website which allows you to convert a small number of files for free. This is the simplest procedure, BUT

  • You will have to register with Adobe.
  • You get 5 conversions free. After that, you have to register for the service and pay a monthly fee.
  • There may be a risk that the free service gets overloaded and will not deliver (i.e. if several hundred CHI submitters try to convert their files at the same time).

  How to Convert Your File

  • Step 2.1 - Go to the Adobe Website
  • Step 2.2 - Register for the free trial; you will receive email instructions for how to access the service.
  • Step 2.3 - Select "Convert a file"
  • Step 2.4 - Enter the name of the file you want to convert, and under "Optimization Settings", chose "print", and the security options and delivery method of your choice.
  • Step 2.5 - Once you have received the PDF file by email, check that it prints and iscorrect.

     

• Option 3: Converting Without External Service

  This path is more complicated, but means you do not have to rely on an external service.

  How to Convert Your File

  1. You have to produce a Postscript (.ps or .prn) file first. (If you are using LaTeX or another tool that outputs ps, go to 2 below)

     If you use Word,

     • select the "Print" option
     • check the "print to file" box
     • make sure the printer selected is a Postscript printer (check with your system manager if you are not sure)
     • name the file ("mychipaper.ps")

  2. Download, install and use OPTION A or B
     • OPTION A: Ghostview - this is a free product
       1. Go to http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost
       2. Download "GSView 4.0" and "AFPL Ghostscript 7.00" and the user manual, making sure you select the right version for the machine/operating system you are using.
       3. Read the user manual (Readme.htm) for installation and use of the program.
     • OPTION B: Pstill - you need to buy a license to use this, but you can try a free download version.
       1. Go to http://www.wizards.de/~frank/pstill.html
       2. Download the appropriate version for your operating system.
       3. Read the user manual for installation and use of the product.
          
          

1. http://www.sigchi.org/chi2002/producing.html
2. Creating FastLane PDF Files   [NSF]
3. Ghostscript, Ghostview and GSview
4. Appligent Code Examples, Instructions and Samples
5. Creating PDF Files Using Only Available Free Software
6. How To Create PDF Files For Free Under Windows 2000/XP
7. Search Engines and PDF (Acrobat) Files: SearchTools Report
8. Searching the Contents of PDF Files on a Web Site
9. Acrobat version 6 now incorporates the Onix search engine for searching PDF content on local disks and networks. Onix
10. Graphing with PDF is a demonstration of the interactive graphing that is possible by programming JavaScript commands into a PDF document.
11. PDF files: A Quick Guide for Economists
12. Online conversion tools for Adobe PDF documents
13. Adobe PDF Conversion by Simple Form    [Adobe online]
14. A Guide to PDF for Scholars Using the bepress System    FAQ: PDF
15. Simplified Requirements for Creating PDF Files for IEEE Xplore     [PDF]
16. txt2pdf: to convert txt, text, textual report, spool into pdf
17. Jaws PDF Creator, Editor and Server Software
18. Creating and Using PDF Files   [Case Western Reserve University- 08/25/99]  [PDF]
19. Making PDF Files Accessible.
20. What to Do When PDF Files Do Not Open
21. Universal Design Education Online
22. Frequently Asked Questions About PDF Files
23. Adobe Reader Speed-Up
24. FREE SVG - Free PDF to SVG Conversion
25. Form tools
    1. Form tools   [PDF Zone]
26. PDF Viewers
    1. PDF viewers   [PDF Zone]
    2. PDFgo.com: Java PDF Document Viewer
    3. Ansyr Primer 3.1 PDF Viewer   [ Windows CE and Pocket PC ]
    4. WinCE PDF Viewer For Mobile Devices
27. Enterprise PDF Creation, Conversion and Manipulation Tools - activePDF Incorporated

PDF Resource Links

The links below are for non-NSF sites that specialize in PDF information and instructions.

NOTE: All the links will open a new browser window.

• Adobe Corporation Site
• Adobe's Technical Document Site
• Adobe Support & Products Site
• Microsoft
• Microsoft Font Properties Extension
• Microsoft "An Introduction to Embedding"
• PDF Research Site
• PDF Zone Site
• PDF Planet Site
• University of Wisconsin (Ghostscript)
• University of Utah, Math Department (Type I font info)

Free

• pdf995 ( The free versions display a sponsor page in your web browser each time you run the software )
• FreeDist ( The Freeware equivalent of Adobe distiller. )
• Mulps21PDF (Combine multiple printjobs into one PDF)
• FreePDF
• HTMLDOC (Converts HTML files to PDF or PS--suggested by WhiteThunder)
• CutePDF Printer (Suggested by Antonio)
• PDF reDirect (Free, No popups, Can save to hard drive or network -- Suggested by Michel of EXP Systems)
• WinPDF (document info, content encryption and live hyperlink support -- Suggested by Alain of PDFDesk Informatique)
• Go2PDF (document info, content encryption support -- Suggested by Alain of PDFDesk Informatique)
• PDF4Free (document info support -- Suggested by Alain of PDFDesk Informatique)
• PrimoPDF (a free PDF creation tool that allows you to 'print' to PDF from virtually any Windows application -- Suggested by Doug S. of ActivePDF.)

PDF to HTML Conversion Tools

• Adobe's online PDF Converter will convert PDF to HTML, for free, one file at a time.
• pdftohtml is free open source converter that runs on the Unix command line, it is sometimes incorporated by search engines as part of the indexing process.
• Xpdf is free open source software, includes a viewer and components for parsing PDF documents.
• Adobe recommendsBCL Magellan which converts PDF files to HTML, preserving the structure of the page, graphics, lines, hyperlinks and so on.
• Clickcat-P2H is another converter program, which offers a downloadable trial version and various special features.
• Very PDF.com's PDF2HTML application can do on-the-fly or batch conversions, also has a free trial version, and source code available.

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David J. Hark
HARK/INTERNET-HELP, Inc.
P. O. Box 201 Shepherdstown, WV 25443-0201
304-876-2607
N8GMQ
dhark@fred.net
dhark@dhark.com
http://www.dhark.com
http://www.fred.net/dhark

Last updated: 19 September 2004

© 2004 David J. Hark