Creating PDF Files

Creating your own PDF files

Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) allows users to create files that will print identically across platforms. Unlike PostScript (PS) files, PDF files are easily navigable.

PDF files can be viewed with Adobe's Acrobat Reader which is available for free. You can download it directly from Adobe by clicking on the logo on the right.

PDF files are especially useful if a document contains elements that are not easily communicated on the web like complex formatting (such as a newsletter) or unusual fonts (like the Greek documents on this site's Greek page).

Users can now create their own PDF files without buying expensive software. You can easily create a PostScript file, then use freeware to convert from PostScript to PDF. These instructions should serve for Windows 95 users. A set of Windows 3.1 instructions have been copied from Mark Engelberg

The Necessary Software

We will use GhostScript and GhostViewer to convert our PostScript files. You can visit the GhostScript Home Page, or just download these four files;

Once you have downloaded these files, unzip gsview25.zip and run the Setup program. It will install everything.

Creating PostScript Files

First you must be able to create a postscript file. Install a new printer in Windows.

Click the "Start" button, go to "Settings" and "Printers." A window opens showing all your printers and an icon labeled "Add Printer." Click on "Add Printer." Add any PostScript printer (I know the Apple LaserWriter Pro 810 works). When you are asked which port the printer is on, choose FILE. You probably don't want to make this the default Windows printer. Name this printer something you can remember (be creative - like "PostScript Printing").

Set your PostScript printer to "Optimize for Portability" and to "Always Use TrueType Fonts." (I forgot where these options are, but I will update this quickly.) Now to create your PostScript file, print your document (Word, Photoshop, whatever) to your new printer (select the printer from the Print Setup menu). You will be prompted for a file name, then a PostScript file will be created.

Converting from PostScript to PDF

Open GhostViewer. Open your PostScript file. From the FILE menu, select PRINT. Under DEVICE, scroll way down to "pdfwrite". Select the "Print To File" option and choose 300 resolution. Click OK, give it a file name with a .pdf extension, then wait while your file is created. You can view your new file with Adobe Reader to be sure it came out alright.

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