How to create a PDF file
by Scott
If you can print the file ... you can convert it to a PDF, free!
You don't actually need a printer to create a PDF document from your original file, but it is as easy as printing. The first thing you need to do is download a program called CutePDF writer, look for the "free download" link. After downloading CutePDF Writer, install the software by double clicking on the downloaded file and choosing the default installation options.
That's really all there is to it. Now every time you have a file you need to convert into a PDF file simply open that file in it's original program choose print from the file menu just like you would if you were going to print the file normally. Once the print dialog box appears choose CutePDF Writer as your printer in name drop down box and print. The CutePDF Writer then opens a Save dialog box and asks you for the file name and location to save the PDF file. Enter the information and then click save, CutePDF Writer will create the PDF file in the location you choose and you're all done. You've just converted your document into a PDF file for free!
The only downside to this free PDF creation tool is you can't modify the PDF file after it's created, you have to modify the original source file and then recreate the PDF file as in the paragraph above. If you're willing to pay a little, CutePDF has a tool called CutePDF Professional that will allow you to edit PDF files as well as create them.
So what is a PDF file?
The acronym PDF stands for Portable Document File. The PDF file file format was created by the Adobe Corporation to make the process of transferring files between different computers across the globe in different languages easier, all you need a free PDF reader program (Adobe Reader - formally called Adobe Acrobat Reader) to view the file.
Prior to the creation of PDF file you had to have the original program used to create the file installed on every computer you wanted to open and read the file. This isn't always possible since some programs cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Purchasing an expensive product license just so someone can view a file doesn't make a whole lot of sense. With the invent of the PDF document all you have to do is convert the file to the PDF format and anyone who installs a free PDF reader program can read the file.
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