How to create PDF documents?

I'm facing a problem when I need to convert my documents into PDF format. You can buy Adobe Acrobat if you want, I don't know the original price and the program take lots of space.

Then I try to search the net for a simple and free version of PDF creater. Well, I did found some, but the problem is you need to send the document to the net and they convert it and send it back to you. I can't accept this method cause the net connection is too slow to handle this job.

After some searching, at last I found the solution. The idea behind this solution is pretty simple. First we convert the document into Postscript using Postscript printer then we convert it to PDF using Ghostscript.

Document ---Postscript Printer--> Postscript Document ---Ghostscript--> PDF document

OK, let us start the installation procedure.

Install Postscript printer driver

People ask me, do I need to buy a Postscript printer to do this? :-) No, you do need to buy any hardware. All you have to get are free software and driver.

If you don't have Windows 98 installer, you can still install the printer driver by doing to the manufacturer web site and download the driver that you need.

  1. Click Start -> Settings-> Printers or double click My Computer->Printer. Then your printer folder will show up.
  2. Double click Add Printer and Add Printer Wizard window will pop up. Click Next.
  3. Choose Local printer. Click Next.
  4. Choose a postscript printer driver. How? Choose one with "PS" or "Postscript" attached to its name. It is a good idea to choose a color postscript printer because you might want to make some colorful PDF files. For example, HP PaintJet XL300 Postscript will do the job. Anyway I recommend Tektronix Phaser 300i (it is a Postscript priter although it doesn't have "PS" or "Postscript" attached).
    For those who don't have Windows installer please click Have disk and select the location where the driver is located
  5. Click Next.
  6. Choose File.
  7. Name your printer and decide if you want it to be your default printer. Click Next.
  8. Choose NO for printing a test page because you don't really have one.
  9. Click Next and you will be prompted to insert your Windows 98/95 CD-ROM. You will not be prompt if you're using Have disk method.
  10. So you have a Postscript printer. Right click on your new printer and choose properties.
  11. Click Paper tab and choose A4 unless your standard paper is different.
  12. Click Postscript Tab. In the Postscript output format box, choose Postscript(optimize for portability - ADSC).
    You can also create an EPS file by choosing Encapsulated Postscript (EPS). This file can be used as an image in LaTeX.
  13. Click OK when you're done.

Install GSview And Ghostscript

You can get GSview and Ghostscript FOC by doing to these site.

  1. Download gsvXXw32.exe (for GSview) and gsXXXw32.exe (for Ghostscript) from the site.
  2. Install both of them. (It doesn't matter which one is installed first.)
  3. Open GSview and you will be prompted to choose a version of Ghostscript.

Ok, you're ready to create your very first PDF document. By the way, please install Adobe Acrobat Reader for better viewing. You still can using GSView to view it but I prefer Acrobat Reader.

Create PDF document

Let say, you want to convert you MS Word document into PDF format.

  1. Click File->Print from menu.
  2. In the Printer Name box, choose the printer you have just installed. (e.g. Tektronix Phaser 300i).
  3. Click OK. Then you will be prompted to name your postscript file. Click OK to save your postscript file.
  4. Now you have a postscript file but the file extension is .prn. You might want to change it to .ps if you want to. I just leave it.
  5. Start GSView and click File->Convert from menu.
  6. Select the file you have just created and click Open
  7. Under Device box, choose pdfwrite. Select the Resolution you want. (Normally larger resolution means larger file and better quality.) Select the pages you want to print. The option Shrink to fit Page Size from the drop-down menu might be useful sometimes. If you like, you may experiment with the properties of pdfwrite. Then click OK.
  8. You will be prompted to name your PDF file. Write your file name with .pdf extension. (e.g. mydoc.pdf) Click Save and we're done.

At last we have create a PDF file. I have put a copy of my PDF file created using this method, it's great.

yuna.pdf

There are some limitation using this method, e.g. hyperlink is disabled. Anyway, it's free.

Ok, enjoy the skill you've just learn.


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