Anyone good at PDF/formatting?

[Worm of Despite]

Was wondering if anyone's good at graphic and comp stuff. I know Edge is/was/haven't heard from him. But if anyone thinks they could format my novel into something nice and readable on PDF, I'd greatly appreciate. I'll give you my Foul Duck (gasp!).

[wayfriend]

What software did you write your novel in?

(Sorry if you know this already) Normally to produce PDF you just "print" your document to a PDF Writer, and the PDF Writer renders the document as PDF.

So... if you wrote it in (say) Word, the document in PDF format would look just like if you printed out your Word Document. Which is to say, you format your document in the same program you wrote it in. (Use the Print Layout view, not the draft view.)

If you wrote your book in, say, Notepad, or any other type of editor that doesn't include formatting, then you have larger issues.

PDF Writers used to be free, but now you have to scrounge to find a free one that actually works. We finally found one for the home PC; I can send you what one I use if you want to go that way.

Also, if you wrote your book in Word, and properly used Styles, then reformatting the whole document should only be a few clicks.

I can get you through the process. You just have to tell me where we're starting at.

[aliantha]

Also, if you wrote your book in Word, and properly used Styles, then reformatting the whole document should only be a few clicks.

*No*body uses Styles properly. We secretaries have to take classes on Styles -- but the lawyers won't go to class, and they're the ones creating the documents. Guess who has to come behind them and clean up the mess they've left?

Sorry. Sore subject. Carry on.

[wayfriend]

You couldn't be more right. I am a programmer. I set up my styles before I even start writing. But I occassionally have to finish documents started by morons, idiots, or managers ... so I know the pain.

[Worm of Despite]

Well, heh, I wrote it on Microsoft Word, but all the online books I've seen are in PDF, and that's what I'd like to send to Lulu (but have no idea how to even begin making it look reasonably good on a PDF, much less transferring it to that format).

But yeah, send that thing.

Thanks.

[aliantha]

WF's right about how easy it is to convert a Word doc to a .pdf, once you have the utility. Literally, you hit the print button, pick "PDF Creator" or whatever from your list of printers, and poof! done.

So the key is to have your pages formatted in Word the way you want them.

[Vader]

So... if you wrote it in (say) Word, the document in PDF format would look just like if you printed out your Word Document.

I store most of my self developed work sheets for school as pdf as it prevents the hassle it's gonna be when different versions of word mess up the format. I am using a freeware tool called PDFCreator.

Though I can't really put my finger on it I always feel that the same document converted to pdf and then printed looks better (in a way mor elegant and/or professional) then just printing a word doc. Just an observation.

[Akasri]

www.cutepdf.com/

They have a free version that you can use to write PDF files - it installs a PDF print driver that you use instead of a real printer. I used it for years and it works pretty well.

[wayfriend]

Okay, I have to look and see which PDF converter we use.

I tried several different free ones. All but one didn't cut the mustard for my wife's business. Then again, she uses Quark and produces pretty complicated documents with many custom fonts (which need to be embedded in the PDF) and embedded images.

Probably, these converters would be fine for a straight-up Word document consisting of just text and chapter titles and using standard Windows fonts. So I won't say not to try the ones other people are recommending.

Adobe used to have a free one. They yanked it several versions ago, because they figured they should charge money for it. And this created a niche market for freeware ones of varying quality. But I would be using it to this day if it worked on Windows XP.

I believe, if this is a one-shot deal, you can use Adobe's website to convert your document, for a small fee. The updside is, it would be a quality conversion. The downside is, the fee for a one-shot might be exhorbitant, as they probably price to encourage repeat business.

[Avatar]

www.cutepdf.com/

They have a free version that you can use to write PDF files - it installs a PDF print driver that you use instead of a real printer. I used it for years and it works pretty well.

That's the one I use as well.

--A

[StevieG]

If you use Word 2007, there is a "Save As... PDF or XPS" option which works really well.

If you don't have word2007 you could send it to me if you like and I'll create the PDF and send it back to you?

Otherwise what the others have suggested would work too.

[Worm of Despite]

If you use Word 2007, there is a "Save As... PDF or XPS" option which works really well.

If you don't have word2007 you could send it to me if you like and I'll create the PDF and send it back to you?

Will do, Stevie G.

Eh--anyone got the Adobe Garamond font? I don't wanna pay 25$ for a frickin' font here!

[dANdeLION]

PM aTOMiC. I'm sure he can help, and I'm equally sure he hasn't seen this thread.

[wayfriend]

(BTW, I think at home we use Adobe Pro 9 - I guess we broke down and paid for it in the end. I had forgotten.)

If you're using non-standard fonts like Garamond, make sure you generate PDF files that embed the font. Otherwise, you will view the PDF and think it looks okay, send it to someone else, and they will see bleck, because they don't have that font installed, and Adobe will use an alternate font like Times Roman instead.

When viewing in the PDF viewer, you can dig around in the file properties and ultimately discover if your file has embedded the necessary fonts. If not, then you know that they won't view correctly anywhere that they don't have the font.

Unless you have a big need for it, I'd recommend not using Garamond.

As it happens, we have every font in the world (and some from other ones) including Garamond, as well as a good Adobe Pro 9 PDF converter that can embed fonts. Let me know if I can help. It sounds like StevieG is on the case tho.

[Avatar]

Agree with WF. It's better to use a windows/mac standard font that every machine will have. Even when you think it's embedded perfectly, you'll find people whose machine will render Courier instead, and that really sucks.

--A

[Worm of Despite]

FINE. I wanted to use a fancy font but you had to crush my dreams, Avatar.

[High Lord Tolkien]

FINE. I wanted to use a fancy font but you had to crush my dreams, Avatar.

Probably better not to format your work in a stolen font anyway, bad karma and all that.

[Worm of Despite]

FINE. I wanted to use a fancy font but you had to crush my dreams, Avatar.

Probably better not to format your work in a stolen font anyway, bad karma and all that.

I'd print my manuscript on stolen baby skin if it gave it that "special touch".

[Avatar]

--A