Converting to pdf [Archive] - Wizards Community

Converting to pdf [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fuzzypants
08-24-06, 09:44 AM This probably belongs in the digital D&D section, but I thought I might get more responses here. :)

Anyway, I have created what I feel to be a pretty nice-looking buff sheet for my friends to use while my character buffs them up. I'd like to share with you folks to get comments, criticism and whatever else, but the file is an .xls and I don't have the software to convert to .pdf. Does anyone know where I can either acquire that software cheap or even free?
Edymnion
08-24-06, 12:12 PM Google is your friend.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+pdf+creator&btnG=Google+Search
fuzzypants
08-24-06, 12:45 PM I went the Google route before posting. The first link provided looks really great, but then you go to download and get a message that says the site is overwhelmed, blah blah blah. So you don't actually get to download the program. I was hoping someone might have an alternative. :)

I think at this point, I actually wouldn't mind investing in reliable software that allows me to convert because it's something I see myself doing often enough to pay for the service.
Arivia
08-24-06, 02:37 PM http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/ works quite well but only fits everything to either the standard localized page size or 8.5x11.
fuzzypants
08-24-06, 02:41 PM Thanks!
Bartok
08-24-06, 04:42 PM http://www.openoffice.org/

That is a free office suite that does everything Microsoft Office does, can open the same files (.doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.), and comes with a button inside the applications for making pdfs.

Imagine the joy of that ;)

Bartok

Gotta love the open source movement...
allenchan
08-24-06, 04:43 PM Agreed, I was going to suggest open office too, before the new boards ate my post :)
Arivia
08-24-06, 05:29 PM With all due respect, OOo is overkill and not even the right tool for this job --- it's an office suite, not a PDF converter; it has less of a perfect conversion rate than the right tool (due to import/conversion issues) and is far more complex at that.
thaylok
08-24-06, 05:31 PM Does anyone know where I can either acquire that software cheap or even free?

Look on Tucows... There are a few free converters.
mathogre
08-24-06, 05:40 PM This free utility is what you want:

http://www.cutepdf.com/
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

I was looking for something like this a few days ago, specifically for an Excel-based character sheet. CutePDF creates a PDF by first creating a PostScript file of your printer output (the converter) and then by converting it to PDF (the writer).

Download both the CutePDF writer and converter. Install both on your machine, and reboot. If you were successful, you should be able to go into Excel, choose the pages you want to print, and then use the print function from the File menu. When you get the printer window, go to the printer selector dialog. You should see CutePDF as an option. It will begin the print process, and ask you for a filename and location.

Hope this helps!
fuzzypants
08-24-06, 07:45 PM Thanks, mathogre. I was looking to download what Arivia suggested, but I'm braindead from a long day at work and couldn't actually figure out what to download. Meanwhile, CutePDF is downloading right now! Whee!
fuzzypants
08-24-06, 08:08 PM CutePDF worked great! The PDF looks kinda crappy on screen, but prints very nicely. I will post it separately for comments and criticism!
Sulaco
08-25-06, 11:48 AM Click the little PDF icon on your Excel toolbar. Done.
fuzzypants
08-25-06, 11:59 AM Click the little PDF icon on your Excel toolbar. Done.

As far as I can tell, I don't have that option.
Sulaco
08-25-06, 12:32 PM Check around. You might need to activate that toolbar separately. How old is your Excel? The option has been in place in all Office products since 2000 IIRC.
fuzzypants
08-26-06, 12:50 AM I'm not familiar with Excel beyond the basics. I'm on my laptop now, which I got last year before Christmas, so I know the software should be pretty up to date. I think I have the same version on my desktop, but I'm 300 miles away from it right now.

What toolbar is the pdf conversion option in?
FellBlade
08-30-06, 02:45 PM try replacing .xls with .pdf in the filename it works (sometimes) trust me
DarkNick
08-30-06, 03:26 PM Most people have Excel, can't you just leave it as is. (unless there is a reason it has to be PDF?)
Aeromus
08-30-06, 11:07 PM Most people have Excel, can't you just leave it as is. (unless there is a reason it has to be PDF?)

PDF readers are free. Excel isn't, not everyone has a lame Windows XP with excel, some of us do use a Mac or Linux.
DarkNick
08-30-06, 11:24 PM true bro,

yeah, I forgot about those stinking macs out there and the dodgy old Linux operating system... :D *ducks*

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzypants 08-24-06, 09:44 AM	This probably belongs in the digital D&D section, but I thought I might get more responses here. :) Anyway, I have created what I feel to be a pretty nice-looking buff sheet for my friends to use while my character buffs them up. I'd like to share with you folks to get comments, criticism and whatever else, but the file is an .xls and I don't have the software to convert to .pdf. Does anyone know where I can either acquire that software cheap or even free?
Edymnion 08-24-06, 12:12 PM	Google is your friend. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+pdf+creator&btnG=Google+Search
fuzzypants 08-24-06, 12:45 PM	I went the Google route before posting. The first link provided looks really great, but then you go to download and get a message that says the site is overwhelmed, blah blah blah. So you don't actually get to download the program. I was hoping someone might have an alternative. :) I think at this point, I actually wouldn't mind investing in reliable software that allows me to convert because it's something I see myself doing often enough to pay for the service.
Arivia 08-24-06, 02:37 PM	http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/ works quite well but only fits everything to either the standard localized page size or 8.5x11.
fuzzypants 08-24-06, 02:41 PM	Thanks!
Bartok 08-24-06, 04:42 PM	http://www.openoffice.org/ That is a free office suite that does everything Microsoft Office does, can open the same files (.doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.), and comes with a button inside the applications for making pdfs. Imagine the joy of that ;) Bartok Gotta love the open source movement...
allenchan 08-24-06, 04:43 PM	Agreed, I was going to suggest open office too, before the new boards ate my post :)
Arivia 08-24-06, 05:29 PM	With all due respect, OOo is overkill and not even the right tool for this job --- it's an office suite, not a PDF converter; it has less of a perfect conversion rate than the right tool (due to import/conversion issues) and is far more complex at that.
thaylok 08-24-06, 05:31 PM	Does anyone know where I can either acquire that software cheap or even free? Look on Tucows... There are a few free converters.
mathogre 08-24-06, 05:40 PM	This free utility is what you want: http://www.cutepdf.com/ http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp I was looking for something like this a few days ago, specifically for an Excel-based character sheet. CutePDF creates a PDF by first creating a PostScript file of your printer output (the converter) and then by converting it to PDF (the writer). Download both the CutePDF writer and converter. Install both on your machine, and reboot. If you were successful, you should be able to go into Excel, choose the pages you want to print, and then use the print function from the File menu. When you get the printer window, go to the printer selector dialog. You should see CutePDF as an option. It will begin the print process, and ask you for a filename and location. Hope this helps!
fuzzypants 08-24-06, 07:45 PM	Thanks, mathogre. I was looking to download what Arivia suggested, but I'm braindead from a long day at work and couldn't actually figure out what to download. Meanwhile, CutePDF is downloading right now! Whee!
fuzzypants 08-24-06, 08:08 PM	CutePDF worked great! The PDF looks kinda crappy on screen, but prints very nicely. I will post it separately for comments and criticism!
Sulaco 08-25-06, 11:48 AM	Click the little PDF icon on your Excel toolbar. Done.
fuzzypants 08-25-06, 11:59 AM	Click the little PDF icon on your Excel toolbar. Done. As far as I can tell, I don't have that option.
Sulaco 08-25-06, 12:32 PM	Check around. You might need to activate that toolbar separately. How old is your Excel? The option has been in place in all Office products since 2000 IIRC.
fuzzypants 08-26-06, 12:50 AM	I'm not familiar with Excel beyond the basics. I'm on my laptop now, which I got last year before Christmas, so I know the software should be pretty up to date. I think I have the same version on my desktop, but I'm 300 miles away from it right now. What toolbar is the pdf conversion option in?
FellBlade 08-30-06, 02:45 PM	try replacing .xls with .pdf in the filename it works (sometimes) trust me
DarkNick 08-30-06, 03:26 PM	Most people have Excel, can't you just leave it as is. (unless there is a reason it has to be PDF?)
Aeromus 08-30-06, 11:07 PM	Most people have Excel, can't you just leave it as is. (unless there is a reason it has to be PDF?) PDF readers are free. Excel isn't, not everyone has a lame Windows XP with excel, some of us do use a Mac or Linux.
DarkNick 08-30-06, 11:24 PM	true bro, yeah, I forgot about those stinking macs out there and the dodgy old Linux operating system... :D ducks