Create a PDF file using free software.

Adobe PDF file has become a common type of file used to send a document to someone else. Usually a document that is read-only, meaning that the reader is not able to change the content (unless of course, you give them the option to do that). Why use PDF file anyway in the first place? For a few reasons:

• They can be viewed and printed with freely available software called Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• A PDF document is a "read only" document that cannot be altered without leaving an electronic footprint.
• They are compressed into much smaller size that the original document would be.
• PDF Files can be used across different platforms. Hence makes it convenient to share documents between say Windows PC and a Apple Mac or a Linux computer.

How does one create a PDF document? Well if you have money to burn, you can do it with the software created by its creator, Adobe. Or you can do it with free software. Unless you are a business and have more advanced needs like document level security or creating PDF files that can be modified (such as a PDF form that you can fill in the blanks and print/save), for basic needs a free software would do just fine.

There are a number of such free software. One that I have been using quite happily is the PrimoPDF. It has a user-friendly interface that enables printing to PDF from virtually any Windows application. Additionally, PrimoPDF provides the ability to optimize PDF output for screen, print, ebook, and prepress, secure PDF files with 40- or 128-bit encryption, and add document information (e.g. title, author, subject, keywords) to converted PDF files.
Download the software at http://www.primopdf.com.
The user manual provides instructions on the installation.

Steps to create a PDF document PrimoPDF installs as a PDF printer. That means you treat it as a printer and hence can print from any program application.

To create a PDF:

1. In the program application, select File>Print.
2. Select the PrimoPDF printer from the list of available printers and click OK.
3. The Create PDF window appears. Enter a name and select a location for the PDF file.

Create PDF window
4. Select whether the PDF will be used for Screen, Print, EBook or Prepress .
5. Click Security to access the security settings window.
NOTE: Security settings are optional. See the Security section for details.
6. Click Document Properties to enter a brief description of the PDF.
NOTE: Document Properties are optional. See the Document Properties section for details.
7. Click Ok.
NOTE: By default, the PDF will be opened in your default PDF viewer upon completion. You can change this behavior in the PrimoPDF program options. Refer to PrimoPDF Program Options for additional details.