► TITLE & VERSION: PrimoPDF 3.0

► LICENSE: freeware

► HOMEPAGE: http://www.primopdf.com/

► Software Publisher's DESCRIPTION: PrimoPDF is a free tool for high-quality PDF creation. PrimoPDF's user-friendly interface enables 'printing' to PDF from virtually any Windows application. Additionally, PrimoPDF offers users the ability to optimize their PDF output for printing to standard laser printers or for onscreen viewing. The resultant PDF output conforms to the PDF specification and can subsequently be viewed with any PDF viewer software. The product is completely free - not just a trial - eliminating cost barriers for those users requiring basic creation of high-quality PDF files. There are no annoying pop-up ads, no limitations, no watermarking, and no catches.

► RATING & REVIEW (noonereally):  For creating PDF files out of Word documents, this program is excellent. You can also tweak between screen and print settings. Small, easy to use, very good interface. This program installs as a virtual printer and will run only when you use it. To make a PDF file just select print from the program you're using and under printer select PrimoPDF. It's a great little tool with no adware, spyware, limits or watermarks. It will save you the $300 you'd pay Adobe for their full version of Acrobat in order to create PDF files.

► NK's RATING & NOTES:  I have tried several free PDF creators (PdfSuite995, Business PDF Writer, CutePDF Writer, etc.) and in my view PrimoPDF is the best and most stable one.

NK

Yes, PrimoPDF is very good. I've been using it regularly for about 1-2 years.  The only thing to be careful with is that it automatically remembers the folder in which you save your first document, and proposes that as the default directory for saving each time. Also, it creates "Microsoft Word" at the beginning of the file name when saving a PDF file when the original file is MS Word.  The workarounds for these are:

1) change the directory path when you save the file each time

2) remove "Microsoft Word" at the beginning of the file name when saving the file.

But it is very possible to easily survive which such minor issues.

Jeff

Originally written by Margaret Schroeder on May 23, 2007 8:01 PM I have one question, does it preserve hyperlinks (as pdf995 does)? In another thread, you pointed out how awful pdf995 is, and I mentioned that I would be glad to know of a better free pdf creator than pdf995 that also preserves hyperlinks.

Oh, sorry Margaret,

Sometimes it happens: when I've got a lot of work I don't have time to reply and later on I simply forget about that... Thank you for reminding me.

Unfortunately I can't answer your question as I don't remember: I used PrimoPDF before when I didn't have Adobe Acrobat. Now I've got it and thus don't use PrimoPDF anymore. I would recommend you to install and try it yourself (the installation/uninstallation process of this app is smooth and simple).

Margaret, after trying PrimoPDF please don't forget to let us know the results concerning hyperlinks preservation...

NK 

New version PrimoPDF 3.2 has just been released.

What's new:

• Full support for 64-bit machines.
• Double byte character support.
• Support of non-TrueType fonts.
• Enhanced support for Microsoft Windows 98, ME, XP and Vista as well as improved PDF viewing support on non-Windows platforms.
• Ability to merge/append PDF files upon conversion.

NK

Thank you for this, Nikita. I have been using their older version for about a year and like it.

Do any of you know about a free tool that accomplishes the reverse (converts pdf files into Word)? I tried Nitro, but didn't like it much and then it was so difficult to uninstall it...

Kind regards,

Gabrielle

Version 4.0 comprises a new intuitive, more straightforward interface as well as additional productivity enhancements such as the ability to easily email PDF files upon conversion.

And another piece of news:

Free Online Conversion to PDF

Don’t want to download PrimoPDF to your desktop? Only need to convert to PDF from time to time? If so, PrimoOnline is the solution for you. A free online service that enables you to upload files for free, instant conversion to PDF, PrimoOnline is effortless. Simply browse to the file to be converted on your machine and upload it for immediate conversion to PDF. Once converted, the resultant PDF file is made available via a convenient web link.

Print-to-PDF battle: Primo versus Do

Creating your own PDFs used to require purchasing a PDF-creator like Adobe Acrobat. With PrimoPDF and DoPDF, though, all that's required is a program with a print function. Interestingly, while both Do and Primo do the same thing, one is stripped-down and simple, while the other adds an extra step and some extra features to attract users.

DoPDF is the more basic of the two programs. It's utterly bereft of features beyond its main function, to let users create PDF documents from within any program using the native Print option. Along with whatever printer you've got hooked up that shows up in the Print dialog box, doPDF adds an eponymous option. Select it, hit print, and you get the chance to change the name of the PDF you're creating. Hit enter and the PDF gets created, then automatically opens for you to proofread it.

Lacking any customization features and the control panel to manage them, doPDF is definitely meant for fast PDF creation with a minimum of fuss. However, not all PDFs are created equal, and that's where PrimoPDF comes in.

Primo uses the same mechanism to create PDFs as Do does: it lets users create PDFs via the Print function of most--if not all--programs that have a print option. However, the addition of extra features should appeal to more advanced users who need their PDFs to be of higher-than-average quality.

The PrimoPDF output and options menu.

Whereas doPDF just gives a simple output dialog box for altering the name and saving location of the PDF, Primo lets users choose from four preset resolution levels plus a custom-set fifth one. The four others optimize the PDF for screen use, Web use, eBook, or pre-press. The variations between them adjust image quality more than anything else, because that will instantly jack up or shrink the size of the PDF.

Three features within Primo's Options window should make it truly appealing to advanced users. Users can edit the document properties, which include adding meta info like title, author, subject, and keywords. You can also set two security levels, one for opening the document and another for making changes to it. The app comes with the ability to wrap up your PDF in 40-bit or 128-bit encyrption. You can even specify access solely for text-reading programs for the visually impaired. The third feature lets users specify which program opens the PDF, even overriding your system's default PDF reader setting.

However, all these extras come with a cost: PrimoPDF uses about 40 MB of RAM when running. That's not a major concern, except it's about 40 times what doPDF consumes. If none of Primo's features sound useful, doPDF is probably the PDF converter you want to use. But for any project requiring a bit more finesse, there's no reason you shouldn't be using PrimoPDF.

By Seth Rosenblatt