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6.5a Converting Word documents into PDF

Guideline

This is the easiest procedure. You can do it with CutePDF or Adobe Acrobat.

CutePDF Writer

This is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer installs itself as a printer subsystem and enables virtually any Windows applications to create PDF documents simply by printing. CutePDF Writer supports Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. CutePDF can convert documents from Word, PowerPoint, Excel and QuarkXPress, but not from Adobe InDesign. It can also convert Arabic and Chinese documents.

Adobe Acrobat

This is the most common commercial software for creating PDF files. It uses Acrobat Distiller and provides a number of advanced options that are not available with CutePDF writer. It is recommended, if you regularly convert documents to PDF. It should not be confused with Acrobat Reader, which is the free PDF reader/viewer provided by Adobe (it cannot create or edit PDF files).

Creating PDF files for the Web

The main requirements when creating a PDF file for the Web are:

  • it should be low resolution: the maximum size for all PDF files should not exceed 500 KB, i.e. 72 DPI or produced using Adobe Distiller's 'minimum file size' setting. A document can be divided into more than one PDF file if necessary;
  • it should be a physical replica of the original files;
  • it should be compatible with the current and penultimate versions of Adobe Reader;
  • it should not contain printer's marks (these are used only for printing purposes);
  • where appropriate bookmarks should be used to facilitate navigation within the PDF file(s); and
  • it should contain appropriate metadata in the properties area of the PDF file, as this data is displayed by the FAO search engine. At least the title and author should be included.