What is a PDF? PDF stands for Portable Document Format. Adobe created this format in 1993 and it is now used widely on the Internet as well as for personal documents.

A PDF file may contain text, fonts and 2D vector graphics. This file represents a two-dimensional document that is not dependent on any particular computer platform, Mac or Windows.

PDFs can be simple one page documents, many pages or complex documents that include a variety of fonts, graphics, colors and images.

To open a PDF document, Adobe provides a free application called Adobe Reader. To download this application go to: www.adobe.com and click on the Get Adobe Reader Button. (See Fig. 1) Next click on Download Adobe Reader.


(Fig. 1)

The Mac OS X operating system already has a Save as PDF feature. Windows XP and older versions do not have this option but third party applications are available to perform this task. PDF Creator is a free application for saving files in the PDF format: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

To save a file in the PDF format:

Mac

• With the document open, under the File Menu choose Print.
• In the lower left corner is a small pull down menu labeled PDF. (See Fig. 2) Click on the menu and select Save as PDF…
• Type a name for the document if necessary then click Save.

(Fig. 2)

Windows/PDF Creator

• With the document open choose Print
• In the upper left of the print window is the field titled Name. The name of your printer should appear here. Click to open the menu and choose PDF Creator. (See Fig. 3) Click OK.
• The PDF Creator window opens, next name your document and fill in any other fields you desire. Click save.
  

(Fig. 3)

Adobe also sells a sophisticated application, Adobe Acrobat, for creating PDF documents. With Adobe Acrobat you can create complex documents which include, text, graphics, drawings or create forms and control access, assign digital rights and maintain document integrity and security.