# URGENT - Need Word to PDF Converter software - cheap but good **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554 "2007-09-26T15:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/21 "2007-09-26T22:54:21Z")
[QUOTE=dynamitedave] I use [Cutepdf writer](http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp) It installs as a printer, is free, and works well, with no ads/watermark. You do need to install Ghostscript which is a link on the same page. [/QUOTE] Seconded. It’s stupidly easy to use. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/22 "2007-09-26T22:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mayo Speaks!] [DoPDF](http://www.dopdf.com/) is free. It installs as a printer and “prints” anything to a PDF file. I’ve never had any problems with it. EDIT: But I’ve never used it with Word. It should work, but I have little-to-no experience with Word. [/QUOTE] I went with this because it was first on the list. It seems to do the trick. I guess you can’t adjust the settings to reduce the file size and whatnot unless you buy the upgrade, but THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/23 "2007-09-26T23:07:09Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] I went with this because it was first on the list. It seems to do the trick. I guess you can’t adjust the settings to reduce the file size and whatnot unless you buy the upgrade, but THANKS! [/QUOTE] PrimoPDF allows some choices with this (you get radio buttons to choose whether it’s for screen, ebook, print or pre-press - in ascending order of quality and file size. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/24 "2007-09-26T23:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] PrimoPDF allows some choices with this (you get radio buttons to choose whether it’s for screen, ebook, print or pre-press - in ascending order of quality and file size. [/QUOTE] Ok, thanks. I didn’t have time to shop in this case, but I may try that one in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/25 "2007-09-27T01:28:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] I went with this because it was first on the list. It seems to do the trick. I guess you can’t adjust the settings to reduce the file size and whatnot unless you buy the upgrade, but THANKS! [/QUOTE] I WON!!! What’s my prize? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/26 "2007-09-27T06:49:14Z")
[QUOTE=Mayo Speaks!] I WON!!! What’s my prize? [/QUOTE] 20 PDF legal pleadings ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/27 "2007-09-27T07:22:02Z")
In most modern OSes you can configure the print system to print to a PDF or PS file instead of sending it to the printer. Isn’t that an option here? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/28 "2007-09-27T07:42:19Z")
Windows XP doesn’t do that, as far as I know (without additional drivers). ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554/29 "2007-09-27T13:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] If you have Vista and Office 2007, you can download the capability free from Microsoft. With the add-in all Office products put out PDFs fairly automatically. [/QUOTE] Vista isn’t a requirement, Office 2007 runs on XP too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-need-word-to-pdf-converter-software-cheap-but-good/420554.md?page=1)