Free PDF Writer / Converter

[disinfo]

Hi All,

Can anyone reccomend a good free pdf writer for converting office documents to pdf.

Im looking for one which can be easily deployed over the network preferably.

When i greated the original ghost for the computers in question, i installed PDF995, but I did it really quickly and it doesnt seem to work without allowing full control over its installation directory.

Hope someone can help

Matt

[CyberNerd]

openoffice.org

[Geoff]

OpenOffice can do this. OpenOffice v2.0 comes as an MSI, so you can easily deploy it with AD GPO's. Just run the first stage of the installer to extract everything.

http://download.openoffice.org/2.0.1/index-nojs.html

[disinfo]

Thanks,

I will look at openoffice as a possible solution, i've been wondering about installiing it for a while now mainly for conversion.

Does anyone know off the top of their heads if it opens works docs?

Thanks again

[mark]

Nice

[webman]

PDFCreator @ Sourceforge. Installs it as a printer. Even has a server version so you can share it over the network

[disinfo]

PDFCreator, nice one webman.

Exactly what i needed, something which just installs and works without thinking.

Will still look at openoffice, but as a development thing

thanks again

[ChrisH]

I use PDFCreator as well I didnt realise there was a server version as well though

[webman]

@ChrisH: Neither did I until I upgraded a couple of weeks ago

[MouseAT]

I personally use Cute PDF. It's another print driver job. I've not tried deploying it in a network wide environment - at the moment I've only got it installed on my machine. Students here don't need to create PDFs.

[ChrisH]

Im failing to see the server version :? Can you just share the main package now?

[webman]

Yes, if you get the MSI version, you get the option during setup whether to install it as a server.

[Geoff]

Does anyone know off the top of their heads if it opens works docs?

Yes. But not directly. See here for more info:

http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=21448

[Norphy]

Its not free but the latest Macromedia Studio suite comes with a PDF writer (Print driver jobby again). Useful to know if you're planning to buy or upgrade Studio.

[disinfo]

Well i've got PDF creator installed on one of the IT suits, i didnt do it as a server i just deployed the MSI, its working really well.

Students here need it when creating their DIDA e-portfolios.

One thing to note is that when you deploy the MSI via Active directory, the machine reboots after installation.