How To Convert a Microsoft Word Document to PDF Format

Being able to share a file in PDF format can be very helpful. It allows people to view the file regardless of what word processor they are using.

Here are four methods of converting Word documents to PDF for free.

Using Google docs and spreadsheets

1. Backup your file
2. Go to docs.google.com
3. Click upload
4. Click browse
5. Select the file you would like to convert
6. Click the upload button
7. Under the file menu; on the far left, under the Google logo select save as PDF

Using an Online Converter

www.printinpdf.com

1. Go to printinpdf.com
2. Click 'browse' and select the file on your computer.
3. You can select upto 3 files.
4. Click 'Convert to PDF' and wait for it to process.
5. When you see 'Your files are Ready for download', click on your .pdf files and they open in a new window.
6. Save your pdf files to your computer.

www.media-convert.com

1. Go to media-convert.com
2. Click 'browse' and find the file you want to change to a PDF.
3. Leave the input as auto detect.
4. Go down to output and select PDF.
5. Click Convert and wait for it to process.
6. Download your freshly created PDF.

Using Open Office

1. Download OpenOffice from openoffice.org
2. Install it to your computer.
3. Open the Word document you want to convert.
4. From the main menu select File > Export as PDF... There is also an export to PDF button right on the main taskbar.
5. Choose a filename for your PDF.
6. Choose the options you want, or just hit save/ok.

Use a Utility like PDF995

1. There are 2 little files to download and install, a printer driver and the converter.
2. Download from pdf995.com/download.html
3. Save to your favorite downloads location, such as c:/downloads
4. Double click on each zip file to uncompress and install
5. To use it, you open any document, and choose PDF995 as the printer.
6. So, in Word, do File... Print... then change the printer to PDF995.
7. This will actually print to a file, so choose the save location.

Tips

• Using the On-line converter is faster, But Sometimes may glitch or the site may go down.
• OpenOffice has said to be better than MS Office and is completely free.
• Always backup first

Warnings

• These methods will work for basic documents. Files with high levels of formatting may see a lose of some formatting.
• If converting sensitive documents, DO NOT USE THE ON-LINE CONVERTER.

Things You'll Need

• Internet connection if downloading OpenOffice, or using on-line Converter