Printing to PDF is usually easy, just select the "Print to PDF" option from the "Print" dialog. You will, however, need to have a PDF printer before using this option. You can also save PDF files directly from the PDF printer program. The steps to do this, however, vary according to the program you use. Here are some methods to note.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Before starting
Step 1. Download a PDF printer
A PDF printer is a program that allows you to convert other files into PDF files.
- Adobe Acrobat is the most used program and may already be installed on your PC or Mac. Look for it in the programs.
- If you don't have it on your computer yet, download Adobe Acrobat from the Adobe website. Note that you will have to pay for this program.
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If you need a PDF printer, you can choose a free version instead of buying a copy of the Adobe printer. Here are some possibilities:
- CutePDF Writer,
- doPDF,
- Bullzip PDF Printer,
- Nitro PDF's PrimoPDF,
- Typically, you'll need to open your web browser, word processor, or spreadsheet program. The exact program you will need depends on the type of file you need to open.
- Usually, you will open the files by going to File -> Open. From the dialog box that appears, locate the file you want to print to PDF and click the button You open.
- Note that if you are printing an email or web page to PDF, you must open the message or page from your browser as you normally would.
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Note that the text may not exactly say "Print to PDF". Instead, it may list the installed program as a PDF printer.
For example, you may need to select "Adobe PDF" as your printer if you use Adobe Acrobat; or "doPDF", if you use doPDF
- If you are using a Mac computer, instead of changing the printer, you will need to click the button PDF and from the dialog box choose the option "Save as PDF".
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Go to the folder where you want to print the file to PDF.
Print to PDF Step 6Bullet1 -
Type a name for the PDF in the "Save As …" bar.
Print to PDF Step 6Bullet2 - Windows users need to select Start -> Programs -> Adobe Acrobat.
- Windows 8 users must press the "window" button on the keyboard to return to the "Start" screen. From that screen, start typing "Adobe Acrobat" to start an automatic program search. Once it appears, click on its icon to open the program.
- Mac users need to select Go -> Applications -> Adobe Acrobat.
- Once you find the file, double-click on the file name or click the button once You open.
- Note that the file should open as required.
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Before continuing, check that the file is saved in the correct folder or location.
Print to PDF Step 13Bullet1 -
Click the button Save to print the file to PDF.
Print to PDF Step 13Bullet2 - Windows XP, 7 and Vista users need to select Start -> Programs -> doPDF.
- Windows 8 users must press the "window" button on the keyboard to return to the "Start" screen. From that screen, start typing "doPDF" to start an automatic program search. Once it appears, click on its icon to open the program.
- Note that doPDF is not supported on Mac.
- Also note that doPDF is just one of many free PDF printers. The instructions provided for doPDF are not intended to be an official testimonial for doPDF, but are only meant as an example for the basic steps to follow in using a simple PDF printer or converter, lacking any special or additional features.
- Look for a button next to the "File Name" input box.
- From the dialog box Browse, go to the folder that contains the file you want to print to PDF.
- You should be able to select any printable document, including Microsoft Office documents, Open Office documents, TXF files, HTML, and more.
- After finding the file, click it once to select it.
- Note that you can also double-click its name to open the file.
- Selecting the file through the PDF printer program will not open the file. Instead, it enters the file path in the "Convert a file to PDF" section of the Printer Conversion Wizard.
Method 2 of 4: Method 1: Print to PDF from any program
Step 1. Open the file
Open the program you usually use to access the file you want to print to PDF. Open the file from the default program as usual.
Step 2. Enter the "Print" menu
In most programs on Windows and Mac, the Press opens by selecting File -> Print.
In Windows, you can also open the dialog box from any program by pressing hotkeys Ctrl + P.
Step 3. Change printer to PDF printer
In the dialog box Press, where you are asked to specify the printer or destination, change the printer from your default to "Print to PDF".
Step 4. Click the "Print" button
Clicking this button will tell your computer to save the file as a PDF file instead of printing it using the external printer.
Note that if you are using a Mac, you will need to select the button Continues instead of the button Press.
Step 5. Choose a destination and file name
The computer will ask you how to have the file saved.
Step 6. Click the "Save" button
This will complete the process and save or "print" the file as a PDF using the name and location you have entered.
Method 3 of 4: Method 2: Print to PDF from Adobe Acrobat
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
In Windows you can find it in the "Programs" directory; on Mac in the "Applications" directory.
Step 2. Click the "Create" button
Once Adobe Acrobat is open, begin the print to PDF process by clicking the button that says "Create" in Adobe Acrobat.
This button should be on the far left side of the taskbar
Step 3. Select "PDF from File"
This should be one of the few options that will be presented to you once you click the "Create" button.
This selection will open the dialog box Create.
Step 4. Locate the desired file
From the file path drop-down menu, go to the folder that contains the file you want to print to PDF.
Step 5. Click the "Save" button
To open the corresponding dialog box, click on the disk-shaped button Save located on the left side of the Adobe Acrobat taskbar.
You may also be able to open the dialog box Save selecting File -> Save in Adobe Acrobat.
Step 6. Name the file and save the new PDF file
In the "Save as …" field, type the new file name.
Method 4 of 4: Third method: Print to PDF from doPDF
Step 1. Open doPDF
If you are using Windows go to this program from the "Programs" menu.
Step 2. Click the "Browse" button to locate the file
This button should be indicated with "Browse", but often it is simply indicated with "…"
Step 3. Click the "Open" button
With the file selected, click the button You open or Select in the lower right corner of the dialog box.
Step 4. Click the "Create" button
Once the file path is in the "File name" box, click the button Create on the right of the box to print the file to PDF.
More precisely, the button Create is located next to the button Browse.
Step 5. Wait for the process to finish
The process should complete quickly. Once done, close doPDF and navigate to the new PDF file using File Explorer. Open the file with the PDF reader set to verify it is correct.
