I wanted to explore .pdf readme files to include text and pictures. Ive googled, and there seems to be lots of free pdf creators, but most seem to make reference to a printer.

The house's last printer went to "be with the lord" not long ago, so my question is, can you create a .pdf document if you dont have a printer? My main system actually never had a printer at all so there are no drivers installed for printing except anything the OS installed by default.

Anyone have a suggestion as to a simple freebie program that lets you create a pdf from pics and text documents?

What this means is that to programs the PDF creation software appears to be a printer, so when you print from an application, a PDF file gets created.

download pdf995, a free word doc to pdf converter from www.pdf995.com

it installs a printer driver onto you PC that you "print" to from word, after cliking print, it will bring up a menu to allow you to save a PDF.

it does not actually print.

this program will show an add window each time you save a PDF, this is not spyware or adware, and is clearly marked when installing, the converter itself opens this add page, and not a hidden service or applicaiton. out of all the free ones available, I find this to be the best, as its results are practically the same as owning adobe acrobat pro.

Follow these instructions:

http://kenchiro.tripod.com/howtoPDF.html

All free and with no nags or ads. There are hundreds of sites listing instructions on how to create PDFs for free. Use a search engine.

later,

FlyerX

Great info, thanks for the help, all three of ya!

Openoffice, from openoffice.org, is a full -FREE- office suite that can read and write to MS Office format as well as WP format, and several others. Among its many tricks, it can make PDFs, including ones that contain hyperlinks inside them. I used it to make my 'Mosquito Science Fiction setting' book - a 75 page PDF with internal and external links, images, and so on. If I can make that, you can easily make a small readme. :)

Attached Link: http://www.software602.com/products/pcs/

PDF files are Adobe's universal format, and usually you need Distiller (on the commercial side) as well as reader to make 'real' PDF documents.  Some of HP's (and likely others) scanners, and multifunction devices will convert scans to PDFs on the fly.

More useless information from Pakled..;)

Heres a neat trick.

If you use Adobe Pro 7 and Deep Exploration 3.5, sadly not free :(

It's possible to insert actual 3d models into PDF's,  with some basic site/code interaction using javascript. You need reader 7 (I think 6 will display a static image). So might not work on a Mac.  

We tried using these at VP for promos, but the downside is the final PDF files are huge. So we use wirefusion instead to show interactive models.

Sorry, Pakled, your info is a bit dated. Adobe has opened up the PDF specification under a limited license, so there are now multiple tools that can create "real" PDFs from scratch without the use of Adobe's software. I believe the license limits things like indexing and form completion to Adobe, though, so you still need the genuine Acrobat software for those things.

I use Primo PDF (www.primopdf.com) Works OK and is simple to use.

I think I could mention something... not really what You are looking for, I guess, but anyway... there is the possibility of using... LaTeX :scared:

It has some pros, like: it's free, You can achieve the best (at a professional level), not to mention that there are places where, if You show up with something made in e.g. MSWord instead of LaTeX, You can hope to get just spitted in the eye (so to say... an example? http://www.arxiv.org/), etc., etc. ...

But it has some cons: it's got a "slightly" steep learning curve (unless You are a programmer), it's "a bit" not-intuitive when coming to inserting pictures, is not WYSIWYG (You are going to write down a source file, which is then compiled to produce the final document, exactly as a C programmer writes the source and then compiles it to produce the executabble), etc., etc. ...

OK! OK! I know it is not what You are looking for... but LaTeX just must be mentioned when talking of a way to produce pdf files (but don't go to arxiv with a pdf, go with a ps! )

ah, more good info!

Thanks to the six members for the latest suggestions :)

Looked over at Software602, noticed it wasn't free... Open Office is both free AND open source. When it comes to software, I prefer to know my app of choice was 'geek made, based on geek pride.' :) If 'geeks' are having "I'm cooler than you cause I fixed this bug faster and better" contests in the making of the app, you know it will turn out good... If you (or anyone else reading this) is on a Mac, there is also 'NeoOffice' - a Mac variation on Open Office designed to run smoother on the Mac than Open Office does. NeoOffice is expected to get a big upgrade in just a few days - finally switching to using the Open Office 2.0 core, which will give it the ability to make not just PDFs, but the advanced kind with internal hyperlinking and other features than Open Office does.

I usually Print to PDF when using Word or MS Publisher.  When you go to print options the printer pull down menu has a pdf option.  Print to PDF then it will make your document a PDF file.  Warning, if you have pictures embeded into your file it will compress them into CMYK and you will lose quality.  I haven't found anyway around it... yet. 

I use PrimoPDF for making all my PDF files and eBooks.  It's really easy to use, has some great features, and it's free.  You can get it here:

http://www.primopdf.com/

I usually type up my file and insert any images using Microsoft Works Word Processor.  When I'm done I go to File > Print and then I select PrimoPDF from the drop down menu.  It then allows me to choose between Screen, Print, Ebook or Prepress, along with Document Properties and Security Settings.  Browse to choose where you want to save your file, hit "OK", and voila!  That's it. 

Attached Link: PDFcreator

that's fine; casualty of working in the repair/troubleshooting business..the really neat stuff doesn't trickle down our way for awhile..;) or maybe I'm just showing my age..;)