In May 1998, I received my very first .pdf file.
I had been put in charge of relocating a data center from one building in town, to an existing building in town. It matters not the distance. A move is a move is a move.
50 meters or fifty kilometers. It requires proper planning, and a good bit of comprehensive communication.
The bastards in the new building administration department sent me something in .pdf format and I could not figure out how to open it.
I remember that after the third time they emailed me the same gawddamned file in the same blasted format, I cut loose with my reply.
"Can you please tell me what program you are using to encode this fucking file so I can obtain the program to decode it, from my email box?"
I would call and leave voice mail messages. No response was ever elicited. I had utilized vulgarity in my last email, in order to provoke a response. I was professional with my voicemail messages I had left, but I spelled out my need to know and their need to inform.
Google did not exist in 1998. The other search engines were not of any assistance.
One month before the move was to occur, I met the fawking bastards face to face in a 'move meeting' with all principals.
Turns out they were using Adobe, but they did not know what a 'program' was or that Adobe was software which existed on their work computers but did not reside on all of the corporations work computers. I had no idea what they were using, obviously.
They were not really obstinate bastards, out to get me - at all. They were not trying to blow smoke up my fanny nor being belligerent nor passive aggressive.
All this required was a bit of putting my eyeball on their junk.
Like most things in life, I've found.
Show me yours and I'll show you mine. Let's be friends and achieve.
Next pint is on me!
The same GQP demanding we move on from January 6th, 2021 is still doing audits of the November 3rd, 2020 election.
The newer versions of Microsoft Word allow you to export to pdf directly. I believe 2007 onward has this feature.
Also Open Office has built in PDF capabilities. It's free to download if you don't want to fork out the money for a copy of MS Office.
I have used "Bullzip PDF Printer" and I haven't had any problem.
I use Cute PDF Writer, which is available as a free download. Basically, it creates a "virtual printer" - when you have completed your document (in word, excel or anything else that you can print from windows), choose the print option but instead of your usual printer, choose Cute PDF Writer. Within a few seconds, the program will ask where you want to save the file. Choose a location and filename as you would usually do and save. When you then go to the document that you "printed", you will find a PDF version of your original.
Most if the answers refer to Windows or websites, but I use a Mac, so...
On a Mac, from any program I simple go to print, and use "Print as PDF". But if I am not connected with my printer will cause a delay as it searches for a printer.
"TextEdit" included with every mac, includes "Save as PDF", Quick and easy.
Office "Word" 2008 has "Save as PDF" also quick and easy.
