Creating and converting PDF files


What is a PDF file?
Creating PDF files using PDF Create! Assistant
Creating PDF files from Windows Explorer
Creating PDF files from Microsoft Word
Converting PDF files

Creating PDFs from files at home

 

What is a PDF file?

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format that captures all the elements of a document as an electronic image. It is the worldwide standard for secure and reliable document distribution via print, the Web or mobile devices. PDF files can be viewed using Acrobat Reader and can't be edited.


Creating PDF files

You can create PDF files using the PDF Create! Assistant which is available as part of the Nuance PDF Professional 5 software package. It allows you to create PDF files from one or more source files. You can:

  1. Create one PDF per file
  2. Combined files into one single PDF
  3. Overlay multiple files into one PDF document

To start the application -

  • Myriad users: Click on Start > All Programs > Nuance PDF Professional 5 and select PDF Create! Assistant from the sub-menu.
  • WTS users: Click on Start > Programs > Software P-R > PDFConverterPro 5 and select PDF Create! Assistant from the sub-menu.

The following window will appear:



  • Click on the Add button to browse for files or drag-and-drop files from Window Explorer into the list area.
  • Click on the Delete button to remove selected files from the list. This removes the file link from the list, it doesn't delete the file itself.
  • Click the Up and/or Down arrow buttons to re-arrange the file sequence in the list. Files will be placed in the PDF in the listed order if you choose to combine the files into one single PDF.
  • Click the Clear button to remove all the files from the list.
  • The Assemble selection drop-down list allows you to choose whether you want to:
    - create a PDF for each input file
    - combine files into a single PDF or
    - overlay files
  • Select a profile from the Profile selection box . You can modify an existing profile or create a new one if necessary by clicking on the Profiles... button:


    Profiles explained
  • Click on this button to start creating PDFs.
  • You will be prompted to save the PDF files.
  • The Print Info dialog box will then appear, listing the input and output files and showing the conversion
    status. You can double-click any PDF name to view the created PDF.

 

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Creating PDF files from Windows Explorer

Please note: This function only works on Myriad not WTS

To create a PDF file straight from Windows Explorer:

  • Right-mouse-click on a single file. You will see the following options:

  • Choose a profile. The current settings for that profile will be used. If you wish to change a profile's settings, select Edit... from the sub menu.
  • If you select a group of files, you will see that there are a different set of options available to you. For example, you can combine the selected files in to one singe PDF file:

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Creating PDF files from Microsoft Word

  • Open your Word document.
  • Click on the Create PDF from this Word document button Create PDF from Word button
  • Select where you would like to save the file.

Once it has been created, the new PDF file will open in a new window.

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Converting PDF files

The PDF Converter Assistant can be used to to convert PDF files into editable documents for Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Word Perfect or in Rich Text Format.

  • Click on Start > All Programs > Nuance PDF Professional 5 and select PDF Converter Assistant from the sub-menu. The following window will appear:

  • Click on the Open icon to open the PDF file(s) to be converted. The names of the file(s) you've chosen will appear on the right panel and the first page of the selected file will appear in the Preview panel.



  • If you've added several files to the list, click the Move Up tool to move a selected file upwards or the Move Down tool to move it downwards in the file list. The file order may be important if you want to save the result into one file.
  • You then need to choose the processing mode. The default processing mode is Standard Document. To select a processing mode use the Options menu or the dropdown list of the Mode tool . There are four modes you can choose from:

    Processing modes Characteristics of the document type
    Standard Document The pages have body text and maybe titles, columns, tables and pictures. E.g. business letters, newspaper articles.
    Legal The pages have single-column text, and might contain pleading numbers in the left margin.
    Spreadsheet The pages contain mainly tables or spreadsheets (with a tabular layout). E.g. financial sheets, inventories.
    Form

    The pages have spaces, edit boxes, comb boxes, checkmarks and similar elements for collecting information. E.g. application forms



  • When you select a particular processing mode, the settings panel for the chosen mode will be displayed. Change the settings as desired.
  • Select the Output format. There are four output formats you can choose from namely Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Microsoft Excel or Rich Text Format. To select an output format, use the Options menu or the drop down list of the Output tool . The default output format is Microsoft Word.

    Output format Suitable for:
    Microsoft Word Standard Document, Legal and Form
    WordPerfect Standard Document and Legal
    Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
    Rich Text Format Standard Document, Legal and Form
  • To convert a particular file, click on the file to highlight it then click Convert Selected or select Selected File from the Convert menu.
  • To convert all the files in the file list, click Convert All or select All Files from the Convert menu.
  • Two progress bars should appear after the conversion process has been started. The first progress bar indicates the progress per file. The second progress bar shows how many pages are already processed compared to all pages to be converted.

  • Once the conversion process has been completed, the result file should be displayed and the file will automatically be saved in your MyWork folder.