How do I create a PDF file from a Word document?

Picture of a scanner

Creating PDF documents from Word documents

If you have already created your word document then you don't need to scan the printed document, you can do the following :

Option 1

  • Open your document in Word
  • Save your document as a web page
    • File > Save As, choose Web Page (*.htm; *.html)
  • Exit word
  • Open Adobe Acrobet Reader
    • Start > PWF Programs > Utilities > Adobe Acrobat
  • Open your newly created web page in Acrobat Reader
    •  File > Open
  • Change Files of type: from Adobe PDG Files (*.pdf) to All files (*.*)
  • Select your document from its saved location
  • A window entitled 'Download Status' will open giving you information about the conversion process from Word to PDF, once converted your document will open in Acrobat Reader.
  • Please note that this method will include file details in the header & footer of the PDF document.
  • Save your document

Option 2

This method envolves creating a postscript file which is then converted to PDF format using Acrobat Distiller.

  • Open your document in Word
  • Create a postscript file
    • File > Print, tick the Print to file option in the Print dialogue box and click ok
  • Name your file and choose a location to save. Your document will be saved with a PRN extension
  • Exit Word
  • Open Adobe Acrobat Distiller
    • Start > PWF Programs > Utilities > Adobe Acrobat Distiller
  • Open your saved PRN file
  • Choose a location to save the PDF document

ALWAYS CHECK THE CONTENT OF THE CONVERTED DOCUMENT