Many tools are available to create PDF files. Some of them create solid PDFs for professional use; many do not.
Most authors, though, shouldn’t require special software at all.
- For most authors, we recommend using the capabilities within their word processing program itself. For instructions on how to do that with Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Apache Open Office, and Google Docs, please click here (link to https://support.proquest.com/articledetail?id=kA11W000000TjKoSAK&key=pdf&pcat=Dissertations__c&icat=).
- ETD Administrator – If you’d prefer to leave PDF creation to us, you can upload your Word document (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) document as you submit your dissertation to ProQuest. The system will automatically convert it to PDF. Once that process is complete, you will have an opportunity to inspect the document. Please check it to make sure that your formatting has been preserved. You can also download a copy of the PDF for your records.
- Adobe Acrobat – Adobe Acrobat is the standard tool for creating professional PDFs. If you have access to it personally or through your school, please don’t use the settings out of the box. The default settings will not retain the resolution of your images or embed your fonts.
- If you are using Microsoft Word:
- Open your document in Word.
- Click the Acrobat heading in the tool bar.
- Select Preferences. That will open the Acrobat dialogue box.
- For Conversion Settings, choose Press Quality. This will maintain the resolution of your images, as well as embedding the fonts.
- Also, please check the “Enable Accessibility and Reflow with tagged Adobe PDF” box. This will allow the document to be used with various accessibility technology, such as screen readers.
- You may choose other settings, as appropriate. If you choose PDF/A compliance, please choose “PDFA/1-b.”
- Hit OK.
- Select Create PDF.
- Select Print. You will have the opportunity to rename your file if you wish, and select a place on your computer to save the document.
- Hit Save.
- If you are using Microsoft Word:
- If you are using other programs:
- You will need to use the Print function within your application. Select Adobe PDF as your printer, instead of your networked printer.
- Before printing, please hit the Properties button. This will take you to the Adobe dialog box.
- For Default Settings, please choose “Press Quality.” This will maintain the resolution of your images, and embed the fonts.
- Select OK. This will close out the Adobe dialog box.
- Select Print. You will have the opportunity to rename your file if you wish, and select a place on your computer to save the document.
- Hit Save.