For converting back to Word, you can use
http://www.pdftodocconverterpro.com
It is also a very good program and they have a non-expiring free version as well.

I´ve tested SIMPO on a 25M heavy loaded Word document, 80 pages, many photos and Excel graphics, and, much to my surprise, the program functioned ok, no noticeable bugs. On the other side, transforming a Word document, three colums, landscape format, SIMPO cut he borders, left and right, will test more to see what's happening ..

This program lives up to it's name SIMPLE PDF. It is just that. It won't even merge two pdf's together. Sorry but this freebie was a bust!

Thanks for sharing. I was just looking for a PDF Creator on Google and came across your blog. So great the tools you posted! By the way, I also uses Adreamsoft Converter to create my pdf files and this tool works well. Hope you like it.

The software cuts the ends of the document so it is really not a very big use if you haven't prepared the document especially for it.

My classification on reality is:1.PDF Creator;
2.Bullzip;
3.Primo PDF;
4.HTI PDF Creator

Atleast we still get something free! But I found a bug: You MUST save the destination file as PDF or the file will not open correctly. If you need to correct it, go to properties,and click the name and add ".pdf" without the quotes.

Another free good alternative are:1.Cib pdf brewer-soft who insert in Microsoft Office.Click on icon and you can change everything in pdf.Is free for non comercial usage and with licence for commercial;
2.HTIPDF Writer-is freeware and you can put password on pdf and others.Has a particularity:you can save only on default of soft,if you change(browse)it won't work.But make a good work.

From Pdf x change viewer i make click on :Print and i change on Bullzip and i put password and save it.I have succes.For printing on the paper i must to change on my HP printer and i can print on paper.With Simpo or Bullzip i can't do that,they only save an pdf document on hard but not print.

Another great combination is with Tomahawk free version for insert hyperlink.First i insert hyperlink,the same adress in this 2 cassetes.Next i insert an RTF document or others.Next click on :convert to pdf and say that i'm out with resource(because i put link first),i click ok and save on desktop.My default pdf viewer:pdf x change free viewer open imediat what i convert and it was with visible and functional link.Next i put stamp coment,etc with pdf x change viewer and save as pdf from Simpo.Simpo make my x change viewer to save in pdf format.So i have Adobe acrobat or very similar for free.Maybe Simpo can be replace with:Bulzip to put password if i remember or with Primo Pdf.

Downloaded Simpo yesterday and tried it today. It would not open and froze my computer. I restarted and found all my favourites had disappeared and Microsoft Office corrupted (all my e-mails and contacts have gone from Outlook). I scanned yesterday and found nothing. I did a system restore and Simpo disappeared from the computer but I am left with Downloader.Istabar spyware which was not there yesterday.

Very worrying

Thanks.And it supports output Chinese in the pdf.

- For a PDF Reader, Foxit Reader (free) blows away its competition.

- For a bare bones PDF writer, I've usually been happy with DoPDF.

- For a more sophisticated PDF tool, such as the request in #37, look at ABBYY PDF Transformer, which seems (based on my first few uses) to set a new standard. This is a fully functional free demo. The license cost #39.95 with an online coupon and was worth every cent. It generated flawless PDFs from long Word docs with a hyperlinked TOC and hundreds of other links within the doc file, to other files on the same computer/LAN, and to web sites. Every hyperlink worked as expected. The 200 page Word file with links and some embedded fonts included, print quality, was about 800K. It can make scanned PDFs searchable and can also convert PDFs to other formats, which I haven't yet tested.

- Word 2007 generates decent PDFs using Save As PDF. It's worth trying if you have it anyway. Warning that the print quality doc with working hyperlinks that ABBYY made in 800K was 34 MB when created by word.

Installs on Vista x64 and XP x64 just fine but WILL NOT RUN. Won't install on 7x64 for some reason.

The driver doesn't match the 64-bit signed CRC requirement, as far as I can tell. It shows up under both services (from the management console) and in the non-active device driver list (tools|drivers|options|advanced) but not under the printers console nor in the print options of any installed programs (x32 and x64).

Not that I needed yet another PDF printer driver with Acrobat and BullZip CutePDF and Primo all working great, but then who's to say no to free?

For those who want something that works on x64 try these links, the first 3 are free and work well most of the time for me, the last is the (unrestricted) trial link for Acrobat.
http://www.bullzip.com/
http://www.cutepdf.com/
http://www.primopdf.com/
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html

Digital Signatured PDF - Slick! What software can do that? Let us know!!!

Also,
- CutePDF = 155 KB

Point worth noting here is that, Primo and Cute are based on Ghostscript technology.

To add a digital signature, you'd have to be able to import an image of the signature and position it on the line. I don't know of any that can import an image, but there is a huge demand for this in the business world. Can any free PDF software do this?

As pointed out earlier, size is a big problem with most of these PDF converters. Here is a sample:
- Word doc size = 606 KB
- DoPDF (approx.) = 6.5 MB
- SimpoPDF (approx.) = 7.2 MB
- PrimoPDF = 188 KB (!!!)

Decide yourself.

Just because it converts to a file size much larger than the rest, as the comments had said, why do we need such a size burden?

For digital signature i don't know to be a free or cheapen solutions.Must to have tablet PC,Adobe Acrobat Reader and perhab s.o with licence .A solution is probaly to use trial version if permit that.I don't know.After this period format hard drive and reinstall.I don't know if Revo and a powerfull registry clener can to delete everything to can reinstall soft without format.Another solution is to buy.It must to search.

Hi Folks,

For those defending PDF Creator (especially Mike) please read carefully about the controversy, if you like I have a number of additional links. In fact, many installs received this crapware without a checkbox (automated installs) the crapware is especially nasty, and the wording of the install is deceptive (something Comodo did similarly in their CIS, making it look like the toolbar install is something less invasive and more needed). So we have at least a triple whammy, and that is why PDF Creator is best avoided. You are welcome to use products that sneak in deceptive crapware, messing up hundreds of systems to various degrees (sometimes I see them at work, how messed up they get) .. and I will be happy to warn people.

Now there are toolbar crapwares that are not so bad, an excellent example is CCleaner by Piriform. It is pretty obvious what to uncheck, the wording is clear, and if you blow it it is likely pretty easy to recover to an uninstall state.

Still the best method, if there must be a crapware option, is opt-in rather than opt-out.

Those interested in this topic might want to look for the article by BillP (WinPatrol) about how they tried to get him to put crapware in with his product, and he "just said no" after a bit of research. Online Armor went through a similar period of consideration. Special kudos to such companies.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

Pdf to text:one word up ,one down.Are not one the same line.
Pdf to word:it write:runtime error,probably because i use evaluation option or other problems.Probably if i activate it will work ,if i want that?

#59 Adobe Acrobat Pro does exactly what you're describing. It's expensive, but still the king of .PDF

- Ric

Thank.everything is OK.My combination:XP SP3 32,Microsoft Office 2003,Pdf-XChange Viewer free version(is my default viewer).I put from Control panel-Printings and Fax,Simpo Pdf creator default printer.I open Microsoft Word 2003 and put text and photo and next on Print whith my HP open.I create pdf with Simpo and automatic was open rezult in Pdf x change viewer.Here i put :comment,stamp,etc and click on save like(option Pdf),next click on Print and at Name(of Printer) i changed on HP to start printing.This was one posibility.Another it was to don't click on save,to click only on print and don't change on HP to remain on Simpo and easy make a pdf document.What is interesting is that Simpo change Pdf x change viewer into machine that" make Pdf",in fact use pdf file from office(who was make with Simpo)and i add new possibility and save like new pdf.We can use:Save like.Complicated but interesting.Rezult:one document printed,one or more file changed in pdf files.

#5 If somebody miss this one there is a free ware alternative which is a PDF editor can be downloaded from this web page:

http://www.freepdfeditor.net/
Could be an entire solution instead of
adobe, if somebody don't need too complicated softwares.
anyway this is also a good solution.

PDF Creator is indeed the best open-source solution.. but buyer beware...there are dozens of frauds out there with similar-sounding names which are loaded with spyware. MAKE SURE you're getting the one from SourceForge and not something else.

-Ricardo

#57 & #58

I tried again today to make a g-mail account and again it asked for a cell number.

Further research on my part found that this is only a requirement in the United States at present time. A few spots in the US may not be affected as yet.

The only absolute I have is that it asked me for a cell number.

Google "G-mail and cell phone number" and read for yourself.

I would not have posted this here if I didn't feel it was important to many who assemble here.
I know it is off topic but there are times when others post things here that they think are relevant to the masses.
Apologies to those offended.

#44 Mags, You're right! I converted a 4.24 KB word doc with this and it inflated to 152 KB. I took the same word doc and did it online at www.doc2pdf.net for free and it came back 57.6 KB. The program also must run in memory so it does use some recources even if you're not using it.

Also.. in response to the malware comments...
If you do not take time to read the terms of agreement and unclick for additional and OPTIONAL toolbar that is your own fault. Do not click button after button to get your download to start..
read what you are doing...
it is not malware if you agree to it..

can this program do the reverse? turn pdf's into word/excel/etc? if anyone has microsoft office 2007 you can just save your file as a pdf saving all formats and pictures and what not

Microsoft offers a free plugin that is smaller in size.. and has the same function
the website is the following
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f1fc413c-6d89-4f15-991b-63b07ba5f2e5&displaylang=en<<

#54 & #55
Electronic signature is a way to personally sign a document without using ink. There are ways to do this electronically. I do not know of any tool that electronically signs a pdf document.

Does anyone know of a PDF product that allows you to digitally sign it? That would be slick.

#53 What is your promblem? I created a gmail account just a minute age and didn't have to provide my cell. Besides this forum is supposed to be for GAOTD reviews now google debates!

#53- I just created a gmail account and it didn't require a cell number? Whats the deal? Maybe the article was published by Microsoft as an attempt to injure Google- their biggest competition.

#37
I just discovered and verified that above mentioned Tomahawk PDF is able to insert a working link to the document it creates by saving to PDF format.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/Tomahawk-PDF-Plus.shtml
This possibility is also mentioned near the bottom of the features list:
(Embedded Hyperlinks support).

Funny horizontal lines!

PDF-printing my B&W artwork, created with Serif PagePlus XP, produced faint white horizontal lines 3"oc. Odd, yes? However, with the built-in pdf-print capability of PagePlus, it printed fine at 300dpi.

Odder, still, is the fact that CuteWriter, Creator, Bull, and Primo produced the same lines. Nobody else here has had that problem on graphic images, huh? Serif Support was useless to solve it, so it must be program-specific??

Still, anyone else notice the lines printing to Simpo??

Ohhh...to reduce the generated .pdf's file size, make sure you select the appropriate dpi setting from the Preference window of most such pdf-printers. Emailable-size requires no more than 100 dpi, whereas fine printing requires 300 dpi. The file size difference is substantial. Great day

Hi all,

*** Smooth download, installation and registration on Vista x32 OS.

*** Allows for 40-bit and 128-bit security encryption of converted PDF documents.

*** Very fast (lightning speed) conversion of documents to PDF format.

*** Program is easy to understand, use, and operate.

ACTUAL USAGE:

MS Word 2007 file (2-pages, 741 phrases) and .jpg image were converted smoothly, quickly, and flawlessly to PDF document. Output quality of converted documents was equal to (and even better) than quality of original documents.

PERCEIVED DRAWBACKS: None that I can tell thus far.

SUMMARY: Two-thumbs-up for today's GiveAway. Thanks much, GOTD and Simpo Technologies, for sharing this wonderful program with us.

For those who miss today's GiveAway, a freeware option is Perfect PDF Master, which may be downloaded at: http://3d2f.com/programs/59-904-perfect-pdf-master-download.shtml

FYI there exist a (simple) free word processor with built-in PDF export capability Tomahawk PDF:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/Tomahawk-PDF-Plus.shtml

#36: “Does anybody know of a PDF creator that can take an embedded link (something like “click *here* for more info” where the *here* is a link) and put that in the pdf output?”

Foxonic Professional, featured on GOTD on April, can do this perfectly.

here is the tutorial:
http://www.caisdata.com/faq/how-to-insert-url-linking-on-pdf-pages.htm

Good Basic PDF functionality. #52 Digital Signatures - What is that?

Good software. Installed easily. But does anyone know if this software (or any others) that provide digital signature capability?

This software is just average as these programs go. It does a few things ok but others not so good. I won't elaborate because they have all been mentioned already. Lots of alternatives. research and choose. Good luck.

************************************************************************
A mention if I may about G-mail. I know off topic and I will get hell for it. I thought it was important enough to say it here rather than the forum because more will see it. Thank you for your indulgence.
I don't know if those of you that use G-mail are aware, but Google is now requiring you to provide your cell phone number to them. They say it will be permanently attached to your account. They they will not share it with anyone but trusted clients of theirs.

ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME!!!!!!

Right now they are starting with new sign ups to G-mail. But over time they will incorporate it into all the g-mails in existence. In other words one day you will go to access your G-mail and OOPS. Hey give us your cell phone number now or you can't see your e-mails. Would be a problem for me. I will not be highjacked like that. So my advice is back up what you have on g-mail before you lose it. I liked G-mail but Google is slowly overrunning the internet and soon everything you do will be at the will of Google. You will have no choice.
I am sure I will get many thumbs down. So be it. I thought I would share this info. I actually tried to create a new account yesterday and sure enough it asked for a cell phone number before I could continue.
The rest I can't verify yet as it hasn't happened yet. It is what I read. If I can get the URL where I read it, I will post it.

Do with this information as you will and Good Luck to all.

I need a program that will allow me to enter data into a pre-formatted PDF document and then save the document for further emailing. Nothing fancy, just enter the data into existing fields and save. I can enter the data using Adobe Reader and can print the document out with the data, but can't save it to a pdf file. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Thanks, I'm going to give this one a try and see how it works on my system. So far, OpenOffice has been my favourite.

In the meantime, here is one guy's comparison of several free programs: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-pdf-writer.htm

I was looking for the inverse, a good free PDF to DOC converter awhile ago but it was very hard to get a decent one. Even the commercial trials never worked very well.

Outstanding! It installs easily and it produces PDFs of web pages MUCH BETTER than Acrobat! (which admittedly has become absolutely worthless for this!) It also produced a PDF of a report that Acrobat "lost" horizontal lines on, forcing all sorts of re-work.

Acrobat has gone WAY down hill in the last few years. I'm glad there are good alternatives like this. It's going on everything I have (and PDFWriter is coming OFF!) TODAY!

Thanks GAOTD!

People, please, for the love of all that is holy, get your terms straight!

Adobe Acrobat is a large and expensive piece of software because it's essentially a development tool for PDF files. It can do tonnes of things in terms of layout, forms creation, optimization, etc. That's why it costs a lot of money.

Today's Giveaway, along with the many other alternatives mentioned in this thread, are basically printer drivers that create a PDF file as the output instead of an image on a piece of paper.
If you don't set your page properties/page setup settings properly, OF COURSE you're going to get lousy output! Ever just randomly opened and printed an Excel spreadsheet without checking the page setup/printer settings? You could be very surprised by what comes our of your printer. You have massive amounts of format control WITHIN THE APPLICATION. The printer driver isn't supposed to make those decisions for you, nor should it.

The only thing that today's giveaway seems to have over most freeware drivers, such as CutePDF (my favourite), is the ability to set security/passwords on the output. Some will find that worth $30, many will not.

I like this offer, because it has the feature to include password (to protect pdf file), while other free programs do not.

I have got problem during installation. The error msg reads, "CreatePort1.exe has stopped working." After I managed to get it installed, and registered, it generated conflict with other installed printers (drivers), and stopped the print spooler.
Thank GAOTD, but I have to remove this program. I still have novaPDF from another GAOTD's offer.

#36: "Does anybody know of a PDF creator that can take an embedded link (something like “click *here* for more info” where the *here* is a link) and put that in the pdf output?"

Adolix, featured on GOTD a couple of time, can do this but I've found it just doesn't work on some web pages. PDF Creator will preserve *some* links. I've got an old, covermount version of Visage eXPert PDF that lets you add links, but it's buggy & overall not a great app.

@Fubar "Your apps think this is a paper printer, so of course live links are not output."

Not true. Acrobat honours such links set in Word, for instance. They will still be links in a PDF created with Acrobat.

#28: "PDF Creator has had a major problem in toolbar integrity land. "

I respectfully disagree, both with your statements & the blog you linked to.

As I recall there's an opt in/out checkbox during install -- if you choose to have the toolbar installed, it's also easily removed should you change your mind. If the option bothers you, don't use PDF Creator. Far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as a perfect app, free or otherwise -- if you feel the need to demand one, start coding. ;-)