Convert documents to PDF for free
A client recently sent me a series of Microsoft Publisher files, each containing ideas for a logo design, although it turned out that I didn’t have a copy of Publisher on the computer I was using.
I sent an email to some of my friends to ask if they could open the files and print them to PDF. That way I could view the content on any computer to get an idea of what my client wanted.
One kind friend had the files printed to PDF within a few minutes, whilst another directed me to the following website:
PDF Online
This free PDF conversion service supports a range of file types, including .doc, .rtf, .ppt, .pps, .pub, .xls, .mht, .txt, .jpg, .bmp, .gif, .tiff and more.
Simply upload the file from your computer, choose a file name for your PDF, enter your email address, and click the ‘convert to PDF’ button. You should receive your new PDF file within minutes.
Had I known about PDF Online before receiving the Publisher files I would’ve been able to sort to issue out myself.
Have you ever come un-stuck with file type issues?
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20 appreciated comments on “Convert documents to PDF for free”
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Dave,
Thanks so much for this post. You have helped me add to my arsenal of online tools.
I normally use the tool at http://convert.neevia.com
Thanks once again.
Adebola
This one is a nice twist on the same kind of service
http://www.koolwire.com/
Just email the file as an attachment and they will email it back.
Thanks for this David – I have Publisher on one computer and not on the other, and am annoyed when I have to go downstairs just to convert a file!
Nice find David, I hope it can also read office 2007 files, annoyingly, M$ decided not to make office 2007 file compatible with older versions of Office. Except the file is specifically saved as a previous version (Which clients never do).
Adebola, Fraser,
Those are two other nice resources you mention, so thanks for the input.
Randa,
Those stairs can be a pain can’t they? ;)
Tolumi,
I wasn’t aware of that issue with MS Office 2007. Microsoft doing more sterling work. I hope one of the three resources here can help you out.
Now I really feel lazy! I’m usually on my laptop, for which I have no PDF software installed… and I get annoyed just having to go into the next room where my desktop is, let alone up or down stairs! ;)
Good find David, thanks for sharing it. From time to time I’ve used CutePDFWriter, but it only serves to convert something to PDF, and not from (as far as I know).
wow, thanks! this has to be one of the most helpful tools, great find.
The missing feature is the ability to keep clickable links. If the Word doc has a link in it, it looks like a link in the PDF, but it’s not clickable. I did write their supported thought. :)
another great option is primopdf
http://www.primopdf.com/
@Fraser:
Great link man! I’ve been using PDFOnline for a little over 2 years or so now – but this will be so much easier. Just added to contacts, a quick shortcut, and I’ve got my PDF document. :P
Thanks!
There are few more free tools that you can find online. All with different options and features:
http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/03/how-to-create-pdf-without-software.html
Great tool, David. Mac OS has “print to PDF” built in, but, of course, you have to be able to open the file in the first place. I’m surprised to hear that people are still using MS Office for things like Word doc’s–why not Google? It’s free.
To add to the ever growing list of services, I mentioned Zamzar last year. It’s one of the better file conversion systems as it converts many many many formats to many other formats. PDF is in there, but so is doc, rtf, xls, htm and loads of others including, audio, video, and image files.
That’s enough of an advertisement I think :) It’s pretty goo though so worth a quick peek I think.
Great find David. I’ve always felt that PDF was a quirky file format just barely hanging on; however, after hearing of your recent experience and finding out about this particular free service, I’ll have to rethink my view of PDF.
It amazes me how many businesses say we need the Adobe suite because they want to produce a PDF of Word document or a Publisher file. Five minutes later they have CutePDF installed.
Jamie
This was helpful. And the timing was too good where I used to make a pdf to send to one of my client..
I found the concept of PDF files attractive from the start: nice, succinct files that print perfectly and cannot readily be altered (unlike MS Word docs), making them ideal for business correspondence and invoicing. It was just a nuisance to have to spend a fortune to buy the Adobe program to do it (which I did, malgré moi…). I’m delighted to see some free alternatives, like Primo PDF (which I have now adopted). Perhaps having lost the monopoly on PDF creation will have Adobe reconsidering their pricing. Well, I can alway dream!
thanks david, i had no idea about this website
Hello all! I have another option. I learned how to convert Publisher files before sending them. Select “Print” from the File menu. Under printers there should be an option of Adobe PDF. It will convert the file for you and save a draft to your computer instead of printing it out. Worked like a charm first time I used it.
thanks for this help!