 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Alternatives to Acrobat Major Keary |
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To describe Adobe's current Acrobat package as expensive is an under-statement; it is beyond the means of ordinary users as well as many small business operators who might want to create PDF files. Most Adobe packages include an export-to-PDF facility.
GhostView
There are other, and less expensive, ways to create PDF files. One is GhostScript with
GhostView; both applications can be used freely, but GhostView users should register and pay the A$40.00 fee to the Melbourne developer.
GhostView - which requires GhostScript - is written for Windows, OS/2, and Linux/Unix. Just search the Web for "ghostscript" and you will find the main
site at http://www.ghostscript.com/.
PDF Creator
Hidden away in a corner at ITExpo was a small stand where PDF Software Pty. Ltd.
Adobe Acrobat 4, in its full glory, weighs in at over 72 MB without the Reader; PDF Creator has a much daintier footprint: just under 5 MB. While some of the Acrobat bells and whistles are not there, the essential features are. And it works very well.
When installed, PDF Creator adds a printer file that can be used by any Windows-based application; simply select the Jaws PDF printer and a PDF file is created. Don't opt for 'print to file' because that causes PDF Creator to make a PostScript file. If you already have a PostScript file it is quite a simple task to convert to PDF. If MSWord is present a macro is generated that enables conversion of structured Word files to PDF.
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This is the 'panel' that appears when the application is launched. It may not look much, but for simple PS to PDF conversion it is all you need.
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An important feature is the "settings" item on the toolbar of the opening menu. The initial selection menu enables
dpi settings appropriate to end use. Selecting the Web option results in a 72 dpi PDF
file - small size with all the data required for effective web viewing. Print Ready produces a 600 dpi file suitable for sending to an office printer;
Press Ready produces 2440 dpi files suitable for commercial printing. These default settings can be changed or new, custom configurations created.
The image below shows the tabbed configuration menu that includes font embedding, compression, and encryption options.
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I am impressed by PDF Creator. It is simple to use and is fast. The files I have converted by way of trial (both PostScript and by way of the installed printer driver) have produced excellent results using the default options. For those who prefer to use
Word for layout, PDF Creator places a PDF option in the file menu.
The use of PDF for document distribution - and as a preferred way of sending copy to commercial
printers - is increasing to the point where PDF-enabled software will be an essential part of every office's processing resources.
PDF Creator is a well-priced product designed for productivity.
A further advantage is that the application's small size makes it suitable for use on notebook machines.
Reprinted from the October 2001 issue of PC Update,
the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
