Free Resource: PDF Creation By Abbie Drew Jul 5, 2006

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Do you want to create PDF files to give away or sell?

As I'm currently developing a series of reports I intend to offer as PDF files, I needed a PDF creator to transform my documents. I did some research and below is an outline of various options I found.

Before, I list out all the PDF creation software, here's a quick synopsis of my findings - Unless you need a lot of features you can get away with a free PDF creation tool.

I selected Openoffice which is free to download, it reads most MS docs just fine and it's easy to use.

Openoffice has a create PDF button right on the toolbar :). You open your document, hit the PDF button and you're done.

Here's the download page:
http://www.openoffice.org/


Now if you're looking to create fancier PDFs or you need PDFs with more features read on for some software options which are less expensive than Adobe Acrobat Professional.

1) Fine Print PDF $49 or $99 (gets you security
ability - block printing etc.)
FinePrint

Great compression. Very good at creating PDF files but
not as good with graphics.
PCmag review

2) Jaws PDF $84.00
Jaws PDF

Very good at creating PDF files. Better with graphics
but with fewer features than #1.
PCmag review

3) pdf995 free to $20.00
pdf995

A bit better than basic PDF creation can be had for
free with a pop up ad. $20 removes ads. PDF files
created are large.
PCmag review

4) Openoffice - Free competitor to MS Office suite
http://www.openoffice.org/

Openoffice is available for Windows, Linux and several
other platforms.


5) CutePDF - free and $90 versions
CutePDF

Gets good reviews
Reviews
(reviews #1, #2 and #5 CutePDF)

6) Nitro $99
The closest to Acrobat 7.0 at 1/3 the price.
Nitro PDF

>From Cnet "For a long time, Adobe Acrobat was the only
comprehensive PDF-making tool, but a host of programs
now tries to compete. We reviewed the most
full-featured, low-price rival: Nitro PDF. We prefer
Acrobat, but if its tiered pricing places it beyond
your budget, check out Nitro for quick, cheap PDF
creation.
Full Cnet review


I'll end with this final interesting quote from Metro: "Design pros should still spring for Acrobat Professional. Watch for a challenge to the PDF standard when Microsoft releases the Metro file format within Longhorn next year."

Full Metro article

###
Abbie Drew
DEMC Editor

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