How To Create A Document In Pdf Format

Download Article

Creating a PDF file is a great way to share your ideas and to make sure that they can't be altered without leaving an electronic footprint. There are multiple ways to create a PDF file and all of them are fairly quick and easy. If you want to know how to create PDF files, just follow these steps.

Need help creating, merging, or converting PDF files? Try wikiHow's PDF Toolkit, a free and easy-to-use custom tool to help you be more productive with your documents.

1
Get PDF creation software. There are many free PDF creation programs, including PDFCreator, PDF factory Pro, and PrimoPDF. You can find and download this software online.
- It's also likely that you already have PDF creation software on your computer, such as Adobe Acrobat (for making PDFs) and Adobe Reader (for reading PDFs). Search your computer for PDF creation software before you download anything.
2

Open Microsoft Word.

Advertisement
3

Write the document. Use Microsoft Word to write whatever document you'd eventually convert to a PDF. If you've already completed the document you'd like to convert, just open the document.
4

Click "File."
5

Click "Print."
6

Choose your PDF printer. Set the preferences for the PDF you'd like to create.
7

Click "Print." This won't actually print the document, but it will convert it to a PDF.

Advertisement

1

Get PDF creation software. There are many free PDF creation programs, including PDFCreator, PDF factory Pro, and PrimoPDF. You can find and download this software online. It's also likely that you already have PDF creation software on your computer, such as Adobe Acrobat (for making PDFs) and Adobe Reader (for reading PDFs). Search your computer for PDF creation software before you download anything.
2

Open Microsoft Word.
3

Write the document. Use Microsoft Word to write whatever document you'd eventually convert to a PDF. If you've already completed the document you'd like to convert, just open the document.
4

Click "File." It's the second option from the top left of the document.
5
Click "Print." This is the second option from the bottom of the drop-down menu.
- Alternatively, you can select "Save As".
6
Select "PDF." It's the option on the bottom left of the Print menu. Click on the arrow.
- Alternatively, you can select "PDF" from the "Format" menu.
7

Select "Save as PDF." This will open a new window that will allow you to save the document.
8

Name the document.
9

Select the folder where you'd like it to appear. Select the folder by clicking on the arrows below the file name to open a list of options.
10

Select "Save." This will convert and save the document as a PDF.

Advertisement

1

Find a reliable online converter. Browse the Internet to find a PDF converter that is free and effective. One reliable converter is printinpdf.com
2

Click "Choose file" or "Browse." Any converter will give the option of browsing through your files to choose the ones you'd like to convert.
3

Select as many files as you want or can. Most online converters will limit you to three files at once.
4

Click "Convert to PDF." Wait for the file to convert to a PDF. This can take a few minutes, especially if you have multiple files. When the process is finished, you will be told that your files are ready to be downloaded.
5

Download your converted files. Click on the files and wait for them to download.
6

Save them to your computer. You have finished creating the PDF files.

Advertisement

1

Get the Google Chrome browser.
2

Type "data:text/html, <html contenteditable>" without the quotations marks in the URL bar.
3

Type and paste any text, but images will not work.
4
Format the text using the following commands:
- Ctrl+U=underline
- Ctrl+ I=italics
- Ctrl+ B=bold
- Ctrl+ C=copy
- Ctrl+ V=paste
- Ctrl+ X=cut
- Ctrl+ Z=undo
- Ctrl+ Y=redo
- Ctrl+ A=select all
- Ctrl+ Shift+Z=paste as plain text
- Ctrl+F=find
- Ctrl+P=print
5

Save. Print it. Select the printer as 'save as PDF'.^[1]

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

Can I create a PDF file from pictures?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes. One easy way to do this is to save an image as a PDF file in a graphics editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop. Your scanner software might also allow you to save scanned images as a PDF. If you have Microsoft Word, paste one or more images into a .doc file and export it as a PDF.
Question

What programs can I use to create PDF files?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can export PDF files from Word documents or create them in Adobe Acrobat Pro. There are also a variety of free programs you can use, such as AbleWord or PDFMate.
Question

Can I make a PDF file on my phone?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes. For example, if you have the mobile version of MS Word, you can export a document as a PDF file on your phone or mobile device.
Question

What documents should be made into .pdf files?

Most documents are best in .pdf, especially if you are not sure if the person receiving your work has Microsoft Office or Google Docs.
Question

How do I save a downloaded user manual on my iPad?

It should already be saved in your download folder.
Question

What do I do if the only way I seem to be able to create a PDF file is to go to export and select PDF, but then it always seems to be on the internet and I don't want it to be?

You need to set your default PDF viewer to the app you want it to open with. By default, it opens with your default internet browser. If you want to change it and you're on Windows, just right-click on the PDF and choose "Open With...", choose the app you want, and check the box marked "Always use this app."
Question

Is it safe to use online PDF converters?

Zackery Spry

Community Answer

Always make sure it is something you can trust. Online PDF converters can mislead you into downloading a virus instead of your converted files. To keep it safer, go on ones you know are safe.
Question

How do I create a PDF document?

Johann Hill

Community Answer

Creating a pdf document is simple and easy. If you are editing a Microsoft Word document and you wish to save it in PDF, then simply go to the top left menu and click "save as" or press Ctrl + Shift + S to directly move to "save as" menu. Save the doc into PDF format. If you have an image/png/jpg file you want to convert to PDF then visit a site that creates PDFs, upload your image to the site and click the Convert button and download your PDF document.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Always save the file even if you've saved the PDF file. It's usually easier to edit.
The links in the text will not work in PDF format, so be sure to write the entire URL (http://something.com) instead of linking text (creating hyperlinks).

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To create a PDF file from a Word document on a PC, start by downloading a free PDF creation software if your computer doesn't have a built-in PDF creator. Then, open your Word document and click "File," followed by "Print." This won't actually print your document, so don't worry! Instead, it will allow you to select your PDF printer and set the preferences for the PDF you'd like to create. Once you choose your program, click "Print" again to convert your document to a PDF. To learn more, including how to create a PDF file on a Mac computer, scroll down!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,658,542 times.