PDF Conversion Guide

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. This is Adobe's proprietary format of representing documents. PDF files more are versatile and reliable than any other kind of document. A PDF file can be viewed on both the Windows and Macintosh environments. The only requirement is the PDF interpreter i.e. Adobe Acrobat Reader. While creating .pdf files (from Adobe Distiller), we often hear the word post-script. In this excerpt I am going to explain you all about the post-script mania. I will also show the steps, you should follow to create a .pdf file, from Distiller.

A PostScript file contains a page description of the original electronic document that Distiller interprets to create a PDF document. This document description can comprise details regarding Top, Right, Bottom and Left margins, Orientation, Page Setup etc. PostScript files can be created in any of the popular applications like MS Word, Adobe PageMaker etc. PostScript files generated from the MS Word contains the default extension of .prn (Printer File). On the contrary the Distiller only accepts .ps files. Merely changing the extension from .prn to .ps will not suffice, since it won't write those commands in the file, that are used by the Distiller to convert it to the PDF file. So in order to make the MS Word generate .ps files, we will require a post script printer driver. You can download a post script printer driver for Windows 98 from the following link,

. After downloading the driver, click on the exe and follow the on-screen instructions. During the installation, you will be asked to select the PPD (Postscript Printer Description), on screen "Install PostScript Printer from PPD". You need to select the one residing in "C:\TEMP\ADOBE\ADOBEPS 4.2.6 - U.S. ENGLISH". A screen shot of the same is shown below this paragraph, for easier reference.

Installing a PostScript Driver: Windows 95/98

These directions tell you to install the Adobe PostScript printer driver, because other drivers (such as those installed for your default printers) do not produce the standard type of PostScript files needed by Distiller.

Begin by double clicking the downloaded file aps426eng.exe on your screen.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
NOTE: You don't need to own a printer installed on your PC for creating post script files. When you will run the above setup the printer (named "Default PostScript Printer") will automatically be installed on your system.
During the installation you will be asked for the PPD, which I have explained earlier too. Select the one which I have shown you previously (refer to the screen shot image).
Voila step-3 was the last step. You are done. Proceed to .ps creation step.

NOTE: The PostScript printer driver available from this page is compatible with Windows 98 only . If you do not have Windows 98 installed on your system, then you need another compatible PostScript driver. PostScript capable printer drivers for all the versions of Windows are available from Adobe. Search for the one that suits you.

Creating a PostScript File: Windows 95/98 and Windows NT

As you will be submitting the PostScript file and not your word processing document to Distiller, creating one is imperative. Now when you have installed the PostScript printer driver on your PC, you can start generating .ps files.

After you have finished composing your document in the application of your choice, select the Print... command from your File menu, just as you would to print the document normally.
At the top of the window (in the Printer section), select the new printer driver that you recently installed ("Default PostScript Printer" in our case).
Check the "Print to file" checkbox, before proceeding.
Click the Print button.
Now, you will have an opportunity to name the new PostScript file that you are creating. Type whatever name you think is appropriate for it; use the standard file window to save it anywhere on your disk. You will need to find this file later to submit it; it is therefore a good idea to keep it somewhere that you can remember easily. While saving the file change "Save as type:" to "All Files (*.*)". Look at the screen shot,

In the File Name text box type in the file name with extension ps, e.g. "myfile.ps".
Finally click on OK button and you are done.

You can now use this .ps file from the Distiller to create the .pdf file. Open the newly created .pdf file by double clicking it, to test. See the log file generated during the conversion process, if you find any kind of problem.

Now start converting all your documents, you wanna publish on the Net. PDF make the file compact and universal. So happy conversion !!

You can find out the solutions of all your queries directly from Adobe by clicking here.