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Creating PDF Files

This tutorial will teach you how to create a PDF file using free software and is only applicable to users running Microsoft Windows systems.

What You Need

1. Windows CD-ROM
2. GSView and Ghostscript
3. Adobe Acrobat Reader

The Principle

1. Create a PostScript file from the document you want to convert.
2. Convert the PostScript file to a PDF file using pdfwrite in Ghostscript.

Preparation

Make sure you have installed GSView, Ghostscript, and Adobe Acrobat Reader (instructions available at their websites).

Install a Postscript Printer Driver

1. Click Start->Settings->Printers
2. Double-click Add Printer
3. Follow the Add Printer Wizard (you may be required to insert you Windows CD-ROM)
   • Select Local Printer
   • Select a PostScript printers (e.g. Tektronix Phaser 300i)
   • Select FILE as printer port
4. In your Printers folder, right-click on the printer you've just installed and select Properties
5. On the PostScript tab, select PostScript(optimize for portability - ADSC) for PostScript output format

Usage

1. Create a PostScript file from any document. For example:
   1. Open a document with Microsoft Word
   2. Click File->Print
      1. Select the printer you have just installed, as the Printer Name (e.g. Tektronix Phaser 300i)
      2. Check the Print to file box
      3. Click OK
   3. You will be prompted to name your PostScript file (make sure that you force the file extension to .ps instead of .prn)
2. Create a PDF file from the PostScript file
   1. Double-click your .ps file. GSView will open the file.
   2. Click File->Convert
      1. Under Device box, select pdfwrite.
      2. Select the Resolution (higher resolutions mean larger files and better quality)
      3. Select the Pages to print
      4. The Shrink to fit Page Size option might be useful
   3. You will be prompted to name your PDF file. Name your file name with a .pdf extension.