How to Change a Word Document Into PDF Format
By Margaret Worthington
If you want to change a Microsoft Word document (*.doc format) into an Adobe PDF file, there are a variety of options you have. If you want to go the official route, you can purchase Adobe Acrobat, which will place a button in Microsoft Word to export your documents as PDFs. However, if you want a free solution, there are online and offline solutions you can use to change a Word document into PDF format.
Change Doc to PDF in OpenOffice
Step 1
Download the free, open-source OpenOffice software suite (see Resources). This software package includes "Writer," a word-processing program that has PDF export capabilities. Once downloaded, install OpenOffice on your computer.
Step 2
Start the OpenOffice Writer program. Click "File," select "Open" and open the Word document you want to change into a PDF file.
Step 3
Click the "PDF Creator" button on the menu bar or select the "File" button and then select the "Export as PDF" option.
Step 4
Enter the settings for your PDF file, select a location to save it and click "Save." Your Word document will now be in PDF format.
Use an Online Converter
Step 1
Open a web browser and go to an online .doc to PDF conversion website (see Resources).
Step 2
Click the "Browse" button in the section of the website where you are asked to upload your Word document.
Step 3
Select the document and click "Open."
Step 4
Click the "Convert" button on the online conversion website and wait for the PDF file to be generated. Depending on what type of website you use, a pop-up may appear asking you to download the file to your computer or you may be given a temporary link to visit that contains your PDF file.
References
Writer Bio
Margaret Worthington has been writing and editing since 2001. Her work includes editorials and articles for a college newspaper, toy articles for Hasbro, copy-editing a romance novel and rewriting a publication for "GreenBlue." Worthington holds an Associate of Arts in English and journalism from Piedmont Virginia Community College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Virginia.