Creating PDF Documents in Windows Using PDFCreator
One essential action that Windows users need is the ability to print PDF documents. Over on the Mac platform is easy to create a PDF document, this feature ships with every copy of OS X. Windows users, are not so lucky but do not fret. A free open-source program called “PDFCreator” is available for download from SourceForge.net. This program creates a new printer on your local system, which will emulate a real printer to all your Windows applications. Although I haven’t played with it in this mode, it has the ability to become a network printer and listen on a local area network for incoming print jobs.
This application is fairly hidden in SourceForge, although it is fantastic and I wish it would have more support.
First, you can get PDFCreator here.
You will need to download the version which includes the GPL Ghostscript extensions. Once you’ve downloaded the application it’s the standard Windows installation-song-and-dance. You start off by selecting a language, (I assume English).
During installation, you are going to have to choose the type of installation. If you’re running this on a standard desktop choose the standard installation. In the standard installation mode the pseudo-printer will convert all printable documents into PDF files, bitmap files or PostScript files. In server mode, the printer will install as a network device driver and allow computers to create PDF files, bitmap files or PostScript files with the network. I should disclose, I have never had a need to use network mode.
Name this printer something fun that will distinguish it from any existing printers on your system. Usually I use something like “My PDF Printer”, or leave it as the stock “PDFCreator”.
Now wake up this part is important!
PDFCreator comes with a built in toolbar to add to Internet Explorer. I don’t know, the direct reason, but I have a hypothesis. I’ve heard that toolbars make money by selling the searchbar text typed into them. As a rule of thumb, since they have a monetary interest in what I am doing, when given the option I’m inclined not to use them. YMMV
Now that you’ve installed the application. You can finally utilize the same as a normal printer. Go to your favorite application, click on the file menu at the top, click print. From the dialog that appears, select from the dialog box the name you chose when you created your PDF printer, and press print. PDFCreator will think for a short period of time. Under the hood PDFCreator is forging your document into various languages such as PostScript, FRF, and a few others for PDF creation. After a short pause, you’ll be given the option to edit various parameters about your PDF document. You may want to insert your author name various tags if you’re so inclined. You’ll also have just insert a suitable filename, and try to use a good one.
PDFCreator is one of the applications for Windows which I view as essential. It’s simple lightweight effective and best of all free.
Go download it, use it, love it, and tell your friends!