convert docs to PDFs for free

Even in well-funded nonprofits, not everybody has access to the version of Adobe Acrobat that allows you to make PDF files from Word and Excel documents.  Using a PDF (which stands for Portable Document Format) is often more convenient -- a PDF with images will be smaller in file size than a Word document, and thus easier to send via email.  And even though some folks have the software necessary to edit PDFs, a PDF is less likely to suffer at the hands of overeager editors than is a Word document.  There's just something much more final about it.

Lifehacker, an incredibly popular blog on productivity and "helpful hints" (read more about the editor here) recommends ExpressPDF, a free Web-based service.  If you have experience, good or bad, with ExpressPDF or the similar services popping up (see the responses in Lifehacker's comments section), please share your thoughts here. (Note that ExpressPDF is not totally secure so find another solution for sensitive documents.)

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Comments

[Steve Cubberly @ Foldera]

Celeste,

I have used a free PDF service called PDF995 at www.pdf995.com.
It displays a nag screen each time you create the PDF, but it's not too annoying.

You're doing a great service for non-profits, please keep it up.

Steve

[Emilio Osorio]

Hello,

Probably some of your readers will benefit from Open Office 2.0, an Open Source alternative to Microsoft Office which can read Microsoft Office Files, like Excel, Word and Power Point and make PDF's out of them with a easy push of a button. You can download Open Office for free from http://download.openoffice.org/2.0.2/index.html.

I've using Open Office as my desktop solution for 2 years now and find it quicker and easier to use than MS Office.

Thanks,
Emilio

[Celeste of studio 501c]

Thank you for these ideas, Emilio and Steve.

[John (Uneasy Rhetoric)]

I have access to Acrobat most of the time, but when I don't I use a program called Cute PDF (www.cutepdf.com). It requires that you install Ghostscript first, but that can be downloaded from the Cute PDF website.

So far, I haven't noticed any quality differences, and Cute PDF is faster than Acrobat Distiller.

[Celeste of studio 501c]

Thanks, John.

[chris b]

I've had a really good experience with Primo PDF www.primopdf.com, which is free and easy to use.