Need tool for creating and merging PDF files

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Can anyone recommend a capable, but not particularly expensive, Windows based, PDF creation tool? As an absolute minimum, I need it to be able to create PDFs from:
– Doc and docx
– JPGs
– Other PDFs

I know there are some online tools available, but I would prefer to use a utility installed on my own hardware.

Thanks

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You need to use PDF creator, in which you can convert your documents to PDF, JPG, PNG, TIF and more.

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You need to use PDF creator, in which you can convert your documents to PDF, JPG, PNG, TIF and more.

Note: I do not think that this utility will allow links to still work if a page is printed to this “printer” to print articles from the Internet or elsewhere. A special add-on program MAY be necessary from them. I use PDF Architecture too to re-assemble and combine PDF pages/files. Helpful but there may be something better. Bullzip I’ve used and still allows links to work.

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Thanks, but do you mean the Adobe product? I was rather hoping for something less expensive.

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Thanks, but do you mean the Adobe product? I was rather hoping for something less expensive.

I think he means PDF Creator http://www.pdfforge.org/ which is brilliant and Open Source

RV

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I think he means PDF Creator http://www.pdfforge.org/ which is brilliant and Open Source

RV

This is a GREAT little tool with tons of options including the ability to combine multiple jobs into one PDF (think a combined Word/Excel/Txt/Whatever) job that is converted to a single PDF, watermarking, encryption, the ability to generate different versions of PDF, option to output as other file types (jpg, bmp, etc), and the list just goes on and on. Free and wonderful.

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For doc and docx, use either Word 2010 onwards (which allows creation of PDF’s using File > SaveAs…) or Writer from the (free) LibreOffice suite which, by default, has a handy ‘Create PDF‘ button in the standard toolbar.

Alternatively, for doc and docx plus JPGs, use a ‘PDF pseudo-printer’ like Foxit Reader to ‘Print to PDF‘ from within other apps.

I don’t understand the bit about creating PDFs from other PDFs but for merging PDFs I use a free PDF toolkit. This lets me use something like D:pdf_input as the source folder and D:pdf_output for the target folder. By issuing the command pdftk D:pdf_input*.pdf cat output D:pdf_outputcombined.pdf all the PDFs in the source folder are combined into a single PDF in the target folder. I’ve used it at work to automate converting nearly 1200 PDFs into one mega-PDF on a daily basis. Using Autohotkey, I even put a little GUI front-end on it and compiled it to an executable to make it easier to deploy to other staff. It works great!

If it’s of any use to you, here’s my Autohotkey script:

Code:

Gui, Add, Text, x25 y10 w170 h20 , Select INPUT folder
Gui, Add, Button, x12 y30 w120 h30 , INPUT
Gui, Add, Button, x22 y65 w100 h30 , Cancel
Gui -SysMenu
Gui, Show, w140 h110, PDFMerge
return

ButtonINPUT:
FileSelectFolder, InputVar, , 4 ;Select a source folder

;Count and display the number of files in the source folder for info
count=0
Loop,%InputVar%*.pdf,0,1
   files:=(files ? “`n” : “”) . A_LoopFileFullPath,count:=count+1
MsgBox % “Found ” count ” PDF files`nNow select the OUTPUT folder.”     
    
FileSelectFolder, OutputVar, , 4 ;Select a destination folder

Gui, submit ;Save the selected folders to their associated variables
;MsgBox pdftk %InputVar%*.pdf cat output %OutputVar%combined.pdf ;Use MsgBox to test output to commandline
Run %comspec% /c pdftk %InputVar%*.pdf cat output %OutputVar%combined.pdf, , hide ;Pass the parameters to pdftk and hide the commandline window on completion

Gui, Destroy ;Close the first GUI so it doesn’t muck up the progress bar

;~ ;Create a second GUI showing looping progress bar
;~ ;(‘cos merging 800 to 2000 PDF’s can take several minutes)
;~ ;Credit to polyethene for the progress bar routine
;~ ;http://www.autohotkey.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=13469)
Gui, Add, Progress, vlvl -Smooth 0x8 w350 h18 ; PBS_MARQUEE = 0x8
Gui, Show, , Merging PDF’s…    Please wait…
SetTimer, Merging, 45
Return

Merging:
GuiControl, , lvl, 1
Process, Exist, pdftk.exe, ;Check for pdftk
If Errorlevel 
   Return   
SetTimer, Merging, Off ;turn off process timer
Gui, Destroy ;close the second GUI
MsgBox, 64, PDFMerge, Finished! Your merged file is in %OutputVar% ;Inform user that merge process has finished
Run, %OutputVar% ;Open the destination folder to show file
ExitApp

ButtonCancel:
ExitApp

Esc::ExitApp ;Use the Esc key to exit app

which produces this simple GUI:
38521-pdf1

38526-pdf2

38523-pdf3

38524-pdf4

38525-pdf5

Alternatively, just buy PDFtk Pro for $3.99 for a GUI version of the toolkit.

Hope this helps…

[Update – When I created my utility for work 2 years ago, PDFtk was at v1.41 and the GUI version wasn’t free. I’ve just noticed that a GUI has now been included in PDFtk Free and it’s at v2.02… so this may be all you need!]

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Actually, you can use “File>Save As…” in Office 2007 to create PDF files from Word, Excel, et al files.

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Thanks Rick for your very comprehensive reply.
Dave

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I use the free version of Primo PDF Converter, which has a useful set of tools including one for creating pre press PDFs.

http://www.primopdf.com/

Always check for bundled unwanted extras when downloading and installing any new software and be sure to decline them. Use custom install when it’s available.

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PrimoPDF also features “PrimoPDF-DropFiles” as a desktop icon. Drag any closed file icon over and plop it on the DropFiles icon and a fully executed .pdf file will appear. Couldn’t be easier!

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I use Nitro Pro 9 available for $140 from https://www.gonitro.com/au/
It’s a full-featured alternative to Adobe Acrobat for a fraction of the price. OK, so $140 isn’t particularly cheap but neither is it particularly expensive considering its capabilities.

Geo.

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You can use Bullzip which creates another printer driver which builds your PDF. Free and it works great. http://www.bullzip.com/

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No one has suggested FREE Adobe Acrobat yet? Adobe made version 8 available for free a couple of years ago. That’s what I used when I started using it at work. Here’s one place to download it: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/4683-adobe-acrobat-8.html but you can search for adobe acrobat 8 free if you want to look for other locations.

A big benefit of it is that if you have scanned PDF images it will do OCR.

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Downloaded and started to install but it asked me for a serial number…. Didn’t have one so installation stopped.

No one has suggested FREE Adobe Acrobat yet? Adobe made version 8 available for free a couple of years ago. That’s what I used when I started using it at work. Here’s one place to download it: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/4683-adobe-acrobat-8.html but you can search for adobe acrobat 8 free if you want to look for other locations.

A big benefit of it is that if you have scanned PDF images it will do OCR.

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I use CutePdf, which installs as a windows printer. Then, any windows program that allows you to choose from a list of printer, cutepdf will be one of them. Select it, a dialog box opens, you give it a file name and location and your printing is saved as a pdf. This also works when you open an existing PDF in acrobat reader, then print it. Use the Cutepdf printer and you will create a new pdf file in your preferred location that can use as you wish. I have not tried merging pdf files, it may not be able to do that.

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The serial number is on the download page under Publishers Description.:rolleyes:

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Look to PDFCreator. Download it from http://www.pdfforge.org/, (NOT PDF Architect, which is also available there) and then run the download to install it. It installs as a ‘virtual printer’, such that when you print to it, it will make a pdf file instead of printing to paper.

For example, to print an email, go to your email application and select the message you want to print. Click to Print, and when the ‘Print’ dialogue box comes up select PDFCreator as the printer, and give it the Ok. A ‘Print’ window will open with a ‘fuel gauge’ or progress bar showing the print job being prepared, then a dialogue window will open, and here you can click the Save button. When you do this, a ‘Save as’ box will open. It will have the name of the original email, but you can change that. Then hit Save and it will save it as a pdf.

You also have the option of clicking Wait-Collect, which makes it easy to join two or more documents to one pdf file.

PDFCreator is free and Open Source (make sure to check out the little “What is Open Source explained in LEGO” video on that page).

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Over the years I’ve used many PDF readers and creators, good, bad and indifferent. The only program I now need for my own personal use is the free version of Foxit Reader, which I feel, for normal day to day work, leaves the rest trailing in the dust. Adobe, Nitro and all the rest have been uninstalled from my machines.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

Once installed (watch out to uncheck any ‘added value’ software) all you need to do to convert any document or image file to pdf is: rightclick on it and choose ‘convert to pdf file in Foxit Reader’.
Foxit Reader then opens a pdf version and you can do as you please with it. I’ve yet to see any of the inaccuracies that often creep in with some other PDF tools.

I also agree with Rick Corbett regarding the excellent pdf export feature in the free LibreOffice suite.
I still use Word for most of my ordinary documents (old habits die hard) but frankly LibreOffice is much more controllable and user friendly for anything with a complex layout – I hardly ever bother using a Desktop Publisher these days for simple stuff.

Hope this helps, Cheers, Chris

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I’m coming in a little late here. As noted by various others, many Windows applications now allow for the creation of .pdfs. I used pdf995 for general pdf creation for a number of years, but have switched to pdfill, which I’ve found to perform equally well with no advertising display. I used to use the Foxit Reader instead of Acrobat Reader for opening, reading, and printing .pdfs, but had periodic issues with pages not printing properly. I’ve now installed PDF-Xchange Viewer, which the last time I checked reviews was generally rated equal to or better than Foxit.

Am I correct in understanding that none of the completely free .pdf reading or generating products can edit existing .pdfs?

Thanks.

RF

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Prices are all over the map at this time of year, but Corel has a very good deal on their PDF Fusion (today only, it appears). For that matter, their Office Suite has the capability built in, and it is an exceptionally fine bargain at the price quoted there.

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Prices are all over the map at this time of year, but Corel has a very good deal on their PDF Fusion (today only, it appears). For that matter, their Office Suite has the capability built in, and it is an exceptionally fine bargain at the price quoted there.

Amazon has PDF Fusion available at $22.99 today, at least for Prime members. I just ordered it, with delivery set for Saturday. The download version was a buck more. I can wait two days to save a dollar.:rolleyes:

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Academic version of Adobe Acrobat 11 pro is $110.00

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Referring to POOLWMV’s comment, it is still available at the URL he has quoted. I downloaded it last year and it’s a great bit of free software. It’s a 478MB download. I had several PDF creators but this does it all for me.

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Stay away from the Adobe bloat and security holes, I uninstall it from every PC in our office and personal machines. Other good ones previously mentioned.

We have used PDF X-change from Tracker software every day for years in our office. There are free versions and very reasonably priced feature-rich versions if you need it. They are here: http://www.tracker-software.com/

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I use PDF Split and Merge basic ver. 2.2.2
You find it here: http://www.pdfsam.org

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This product is not expensive:
http://www.wordperfect.com/us/product/pdf-creator/

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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I bought a copy of Adobe 9.0 on ebay for $75. Since it came with a license key, I could upgrade for less than the full acrobat price, but still not cheap.
I upgraded to XI and took it as a business expense. This current version is really powerful, including editing existing compete pdf files (not scanned) without having to go to OCR and taking a set of files and creating one pdf file from them. Great for combining a series of screenshots.

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Thee are a zillion free tools for creating PDFs, a number of which have already mentioned. My list of those I know is:

cuteprinter http://www.cutepdf.com
dopdf http://www.dopdf.com
pdf24 en.pdf24.org
pdfill http://www.pdfill.com
primopdf http://www.primopdf.com
tinypdf http://www.tinypdf.com

along with things like MS Office and Open/Libre Office.

As far as tools for manipulating them (merging, splitting, rearranging, etc.), those I know of that are free are as follows:

PDFTK – http://www.accesspdf.com Gui front end for it at: http://www.paehl.de – – SEEMS a bit complicated having to move files around – http://www.pdflabs.com/docs/install-pdftk/

PDFtools from http://www.Sheelapps.com

PDF tools from http://www.PDfill.com – – NEEDS Requirement 1: Free Adobe Reader Requirement 2: Free GhostScript 8.63 (10MB

Both the first and last ones I know have the ability to remove pages.

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Another pdf “printer” to consider is PDF995, available at http://site4.pdf995.com/. The program is free with ads. You can purchase a code to remove the ads for US$10. There is also a separate edit utility that provides some pdf manipulation features. I’ve used PDF995 for a number of years and have only had problems printing-to-pdf with some complex web pages.

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Am I correct in understanding that none of the completely free .pdf reading or
generating products can edit existing .pdfs?

Pretty much that is so. The people writing the programs aren’t going to give away the money-maker. But it is good for them to give people the ability to read what someone else creates. Historically that was the usual reason given, let companies create various documents then let far-flung offices with no standardized programs install be able to read the same thing but couldn’t change the documents, quite handy for contracts, rules, policies, etc., everyone was on the same page [so to speak].

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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I don’t need any other software, free or not. My full version of Acrobat works fine. I invested in it with a disk and key from a person on EBay. It worked fine and since I have valid software I’ve been able to upgrade at a significantly lower price than the newest version. Acrobat does a bunch of things I’ve never seen on a free version.

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A work around is to use one of the free on line pdf to Word converters, edit in Word and then turn it back into a pdf.:)

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PDF Fusion is no longer available at Amazon for $23. The program is easy to use, although support from Corel is practically non-existent. There’s a useful PDF user guide of 160 pages or so that’s part of the installation but it’s buried in the installation folder. You’ll need to search for it.

Bill

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Can anyone recommend a capable, but not particularly expensive, Windows based, PDF creation tool? As an absolute minimum, I need it to be able to create PDFs from:
– Doc and docx
– JPGs
– Other PDFs

I know there are some online tools available, but I would prefer to use a utility installed on my own hardware.

Thanks

Here’s a link from CNET:

http://download.cnet.com/Nitro-PDF-Reader-32-bit/3000-10743_4-75205901.html

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Adobe Acrobat is a program for creating .pdf files [expensive]. Adobe Reader [formerly called Adobe Acrobat Reader] is a free program made available by Adobe and as such is provided for the purpose of reading and sometimes printing .pdf files. There’s other free readers and other less-expensive .pdf creating programs available.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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It does a heck of a lot more that creating pdf files. It can save pdf files (not scanned files but files created a pdf print program) to Word, Excel, Powerpoint, accessible text (OCR), RTF,HTML, images to jpeg or TIFF, to Postscript files and other file formats. it can move pages around in a PDF file, export pages from one file and insert them in other files.

One of it’s cool features is making a pdf file from a website with links to other pages on the site. You use a “create file from website “feature entering the first page URL and the first page is downloaded and pops up on your screen. All the links on the page are live. You right click on the link in the pdf and chose “append website”. If you select it, Acrobat will download and attach all the pages from that link to behind your first page. You just go through all the links on the “first level” of the website

I find this very helpful when I’m look for a help section online. Often the first page has a series of links to other sections of the site. If you examine the second level pages and see that they have links you can specify that Acrobat drill down to the third level and go through the process. With this feature you can download the entire help site to a hard copy on your computer. Oh, and the links in your pdf file will be live, allowing you to navigate around the document with your mouse. Acrobat creates bookmarks seen on the left side of the screen for each segment downloaded.

If you, let’s say, have a Word file with hyperlinks that go to websites and you have the full version of Acrobat, your Word, Excel and Powerpoint software will have a button for creating a pdf file from your document. “Create pdf” is different because it puts all the structure of the original document into the pdf, so the pdf will have live hyperlinks just like the original

Oh, one other thing. If you have a real valid pdf you can make changes in it without going back to the original.

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