| PDF (Portable Document Format) was introduced | | | | First one would be to make it from scratch. You |
| by Adobe a couple of years ago. It spread fast | | | | start with a blank page, and add text and graphics |
| around the world, becoming one of the most | | | | the same way you do when you are working |
| popular file formats available. PDF files can be read | | | | with Microsoft Word. At the end, create your |
| with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, but also | | | | bookmarks, choose security options and save the |
| with other specialized programs, no matter if you | | | | output PDF. Project can be saved and the work |
| are on Windows, UNIX or another operating | | | | continued later if you have something else to add. |
| system. | | | | But, what happens if you already have your |
| PDF files became so popular because of their | | | | documents written in another text editor, like |
| advantages over other file formats. I explained | | | | Microsoft Word. Using copy and paste to transfer |
| that they can be viewed on about any computer. | | | | your work into the PDF editor is an option, but it |
| Then, their file size is considerably smaller than a | | | | could lead to problems. |
| similar Word document. This is happening because | | | | The best solution would be to use a PDF |
| on creation, images can be compressed, or | | | | Conversion tool that will make a PDF file using |
| converted to other format. A big problem for | | | | your existing files as input. This is the second way |
| users is text fonts. If you write your Word | | | | to create PDF files, and maybe the easiest. The |
| documents using a fancy font, another person | | | | main advantage is that you don't have to change |
| might not be able to view that document, | | | | the way you work. The only modification is that |
| because he doesn't have that particular font | | | | at the end, you convert your files into PDF. |
| installed on his computer. With PDF files that | | | | It might look difficult, but it's not. The majority of |
| problem is gone; fonts are embedded into the file, | | | | the PDF conversion tools use a PDF printer. This |
| making it viewable for anyone. | | | | means that they convert to PDF by "printing" |
| Another powerful benefit of the PDF files is | | | | your files. Actually, this brings a lot of new |
| security. How many times you wanted to make | | | | options, because printing is available in wide range |
| sure your work is not modified, or even stolen. | | | | of applications. This means you can print to PDF |
| Now, it’s easy to protect your files with a | | | | from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, and |
| password and 128 bits encryption. | | | | virtually any program that allows it. |
| Creating PDF files is quite easy. There are main 2 | | | | I always prefer the second way. |
| ways: | | | | |