How to convert a document to .pdf
If you are writing your scripts with professional screenwriting software, chances are you can easily
save it as a .pdf (Portable Document Format)
file from your software.
If not – for example because you're writing in MS Word – here are instructions how you can convert it to .pdf.
Software to convert to PDF
The instructions below how to convert to PDF using FREE software require a little bit of tech expertise.
You can do it in a more convenient way if you use one of the following software programs:
- Acrobat 6.0 by Adobe One of the best (and most expensive) is Acrobat 6.0.
It is sold by Adobe,
the company that created the PDF file format. They offer a number of separate products
aimed at different markets and users: Professional, Standard and Elements. Each has a wealth of features.
Check the
comparison chart. Adobe Acrobat is for the professional user who often transmits documents over the internet.
- BCL easyPDF 3.1
BCL easyPDF 3.1 is shareware
that you can buy for $49.
It offers a lot of features:
- Bookmarks
When converting Word documents to PDF,
BCL easyPDF 3.1 uses the documents'
paragraph
styles to generate PDF bookmarks.
- Hyperlinks
BCL easyPDF 3.1 recognizes hyperlinks
in MSWord documents and converts them
into PDF hyperlinks.
- Compress
Images
Use this option to dramatically reduce
the size of your PDF files.
- PDF
Security
BCL easyPDF 3.1 supports standard PDF
security features, including password
protection to prevent unauthorized changes.
- Watermarks
Quickly and easily add watermarks to PDF
documents.
- Choose
any output directory
BCL easyPDF 3.1 allows you to choose
where you want to save your PDF file.
Save it on your Desktop, or to any folder
- even across the
network.
Converting your MS Word (or other) document to .pdf using freeware (no investment needed)
Now to the instructions, how to create a .pdf document yourself, without paying a penny.
You need nothing more than two freeware applications (Ghostscript and GSView)
and a PostScript (PS) Printer driver. (The driver is probably already on your system. For Windows 98, you
might need your Windows installation CD-ROM.)
You find the programs you need to download
here.
If you are running Windows, you may use these direct links:
gs800w32.exe, AFPL Ghostscript 8.00 for Win32
5766144 bytes
and
gsv44w32.exe, GSview 4.4 for Win32
1570816 bytes
Once you have installed Ghostscript and GSView, make sure you install a PostScript printer.
Don't worry you don't need to own an actual PostScript printer to make it work! Just install the driver and
we'll "print to file," using its device driver.
Chose new printer with PostScript®
capabilities, e.g.
"Apple LaserWriter II NT"
Make sure that it is set to print to FILE, not LPT1.
Now open your script in your Windows Application. This could be any application you use
to write your script! (In this example, we assume MS Word.) Print your document to
a file using the newly installed PostScript printer driver. It'll prompt you to enter
a filename.
Now open the Ghost View application you installed earlier. (You find it under "Start" / "Programs".) Select "File" / "Open" and
open the .prn file you just created.
You'll see your MS Word (or whatever) file, displayed in PostScript glory! Now, select
"File" / "Convert". Choose "PDFconvert", 600 dpi. GhostView will prompt you to
enter a filename. Enter a filename, and don't forget to include the .pdf suffix (e.g. "Myscript.pdf")
Finished! You
now have a PDF file. If you have forgotten to add the .pdf suffix
you may rename the file now to include it.
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