Software to make PDFs

[Wozza]

Excuse the dull techie question (hello MYOB!) but does anyone know of any good AND cheap PDF-making software?

Piracy is not an option, and Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Pro is too expensive.

Anyone?

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Must be something free online. I got something for linux a while back.

 

[Titanic]

There's a few sites to research here...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=free+pdf+create+software&meta=

That interweb thing's very handy sometimes

 

[Wozza]

Sorry, I should have made it clear - I want to know the BEST, preferably based on users' experience.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

the best PDF software?

Adobe 6.0 pro.

 

[Pevenseagull]

I used to use 'open office' freeware, that seemed to do the job

 

[Wardy]

Adobe is best. If you cannot afford that try searching Download.com

 

[The Large One]

In our studio, PDFs are made by creating a PostScript file (sending a print document to file, rather than to the printer). You then put the Postscript file through Adobe Acrobat Distiller to make the PDF. The settings to make the PDF (i.e. to make it hi-res or lo-res) are contained within Distiller.

www.adobe.com

 

[Wozza]

This is not for publishing. It's for filesharing across the Internet. Needs to reduce JPGs (pages from mags) and PowerPoint presentations - and that's it.

Not worth investing in Adobe Acrobat for the use its gonna get.

Guess it'll be trial and error with shareware crap.

 

[beorhthelm]

firstly, you dont need Pro, standard will do and is about £100 less. Secondly, you wont get Jpegs any smaller as they are already pretty efficently compressed. PowerPoint is another matter and one that im not too familiar with, but understand the typically users create them using bitmap images that are massive, hence the stupid size of many presentations. If the user insert jpegs instead then that'll make alot smaller. But then you'll need software to convert bmp to jpeg...

 

[Pevenseagull]

as I say, this does the job:


http://www.openoffice.org/product/

OpenOffice.org 1.1 gives you everything you'd expect in office software. You can create dynamic documents, analyse data, design eye-catching presentations, produce dramatic illustrations, and open up your databases. You can publish your work in Portable Document Format (.pdf), and release your graphics in Flash (.swf) format - without needing any additional software. OpenOffice.org 1.1 is now available for more users than ever, with support for complex text layout (CTL) languages (such as Thai, Hindi, Arabic, and Hebrew) and vertical writing languages.

If you're used to using other office suites - such as Microsoft Office - you'll be completely at home with OpenOffice.org 1.1. However, as you become used to OpenOffice.org 1.1, you'll start to appreciate the extras that make your life easier. You can of course continue to use your old Microsoft Office files without any problems - and if you need to exchange files with people still using Microsoft Office, that's no problem either.

 

[Wozza]

firstly, you dont need Pro, standard will do and is about £100 less. Secondly, you wont get Jpegs any smaller as they are already pretty efficently compressed. PowerPoint is another matter and one that im not too familiar with, but understand the typically users create them using bitmap images that are massive, hence the stupid size of many presentations. If the user insert jpegs instead then that'll make alot smaller. But then you'll need software to convert bmp to jpeg...

Thanks for advice but I can't use compressed JPGs as the text needs to be readable (they're reviews from magazines).

You're right about the PPP and bitmaps.... but re-educating staff is more hassle than it's worth.

 

[Pevenseagull]

a lot of happy users of this great piece of freeware

http://www.openoffice.org/about_us/testimonials.html

 

[Wozza]

Looks nice but I just need a simple conversion tool.

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

I've heard that a program called pdf and 3 numbers (985? as in PDF985) is good, and is configured as a printing device (like printing to Fax) so it's simple. Haven't used it myself, but it has been recommended.

 

[Wardy]

I have to admit I used openoffice for word processor and spread sheet before I decided to get a copy of Office XP Pro and tbh it was fine.

 

[Cian]

OpenOFfice's PDF option is the best on Windows.

On BeOS, BePDF's Printer Driver is excellent.....

 

[glosterseagul]

the best PDF software?

Adobe 6.0 pro.

he's right!

 

[Haardvark]

http://www.pdf995.com - it's free, and I've used it for years.

There you go...I've spent 2 years reading this board, and never felt compelled to join in, now my first post is a nerdy one.

 

[Wozza]

I'll give it go, thanks.

(And welcome)