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How to create PDF files with Adobe Acrobat Distiller

Version: 3.x, 4.x, 5.x - Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, & Scientific Notebook

Note:If you have Version 5 of SWP or SW, you can create typeset Portable Document Format (PDF) files directly from your document files, without the need for additional software.

Using Distiller

You can use Adobe Acrobat Distiller to create PDF files from your Version 3.x or later SWP, SW, or SNB documents.

For best results when creating PDF files with the Distiller, you should modify the default settings for Acrobat Distiller. The process varies for each version of Adobe Acrobat. Please make sure you choose the instructions appropriate for the Acrobat version you have installed.

Using Adobe Acrobat Distiller 5.0

These instructions assume you're using Adobe Acrobat 5.0 with Windows 2000 and Version 4.1 of SWP, SW, or SNB. (The instructions should also be useful for different versions of Windows or SW, SWP, and SNB, but the process for creating PDF files with different software may not match exactly with the process below.)

The document used in this example is samplearticle.tex, which is included in the SWSamples directory. If you want to create a PDF file from a different document, substitute the name of your document in the instructions.

  1. In SWP, SW, or SNB, open SWSamples\samplearticle.tex.
  2. If you're typesetting the document:
    1. From the Typeset menu, choose Preview to typeset your document and open the resulting .dvi file in the TrueTeX Previewer.
    2. In the TrueTeX Previewer, choose File and then choose Print, and select Acrobat Distiller as the print device.
      TrueTeX Print dialog with Adobe Distiller selected
  3. If you're not typesetting the document:
    1. From the File menu, choose Preview to open the document in the preview window, and then choose Print.
      or
      From the File menu, choose Print.
    2. In the Print dialog box, select Acrobat Distiller as the print device and then choose Properties.
      Print dialog with Adobe Distiller selected
  4. Select the Adobe PDF Settings tab.
    Adobe PDF Settings tab
  5. Change the predefined Conversion Settings selection to Press and choose OK.
    The Press setting is the best suited for creating PDF files. Selecting Press automatically embeds all fonts, so that people who do not have SWP, SW, or SNB can still view the PDF file created from your document. The Press default settings are shown here:
    Press-Job Options dialog
    If you have difficulty with the resulting PDF file, you can try changing the conversion settings. Try selecting a lower compatibility setting, Acrobat 3.0 (PDF 1.2), instead of the default Acrobat 4.0 (PDF 1.3).
  6. In the Print dialog, choose Print or OK. If you use the default settings shown in the Print dialog above, the Save PDF File As dialog appears:
    Save PDF File As dialog
  7. Navigate to the directory where you want to save your PDF file and choose Save. You can cancel the printing with the Cancel Printing bar at the top of the TrueTeX Previewer window (if you're typesetting) or the Cancel button in the Print status window (if you're not):
    Cancel bar in TrueTeX Previewer window
    or
    Cancel button in Print status window
  8. Review the PDF file, which Acrobat opens automatically using the settings in the Adobe PDF Settings tab (shown in step 5, above).

Using Adobe Acrobat Distiller 4.0

Although other methods are available, the most reliable method for creating PDF files with Adobe Acrobat 4.0 involves printing your document to a PostScript (.ps) file, then creating a PDF file from the .ps file.

These instructions assume you're using Adobe Acrobat 4.0 with Windows NT 40 and Version 3.x or 4.x or SWP, SW, or SNB As in the previous example, the document used here is samplearticle.tex, which is included in the SWSamples directory. If you want to create a PDF file from a different document, substitute the name of your document in the instructions.

These instructions also assume you're using a print driver that can generate .PostScript (.ps) files with output directed to FILE. The best print driver to use is the Adobe PostScript Printer driver configured to use the PostScript Printer Description (.ppd) file for Acrobat Distiller. The printer driver and .ppd files are included on the Adobe Acrobat 4.0 CD in the directory Utilities\DRIVERS. You can also download the driver and .ppd files from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com.

  1. Create a PostScript file from the SWP, SW, or SNB document:
    1. In SWP, SW, or SNB, open SWSamples\samplearticle.tex.
    2. If you're typesetting the document:
      1. From the Typeset menu, choose Preview to typeset your document and open the resulting .dvi file in the TrueTeX Previewer.
      2. In the TrueTeX Previewer, choose File and then choose Print.
    3. If you're not typesetting the document, either
      • From the File menu, choose Preview to open the document in the preview window, and then choose Print.
        or
      • From the File menu, choose Print.
    4. In the Print dialog box, select the Acrobat Distiller .ppd print driver. (When you install the driver, you chose the driver name that appears in the Print dialog box.)
      Acrobat Distiller .ppd print driver selected
    5. Check Print to File and choose OK.
    6. In the Print to File dialog box, enter the complete path and file name, including the .ps extension.
      Print to File dialog
    7. Choose Save.
  2. Create the PDF file:
    1. Run Acrobat Distiller.
    2. In the Job Options box, select the setting you want to use.
    3. From the Settings menu, select Job Options and then choose the Fonts tab.
    4. Check Embed All Fonts and choose OK.
      Press-Job Options dialog
    5. If the settings change, Acrobat opens the Save Job Options As dialog so you can name and save the settings.
    6. In the Job Options dialog, select the new settings.
    7. From the Distiller File menu, choose Open.
    8. Navigate to the PostScript (.ps) file you created in step 5, above, and choose Open.
      Acrobat Distiller Open PostScript File dialog
    9. In the Specify PDF File Name dialog, enter the path and name information for the PDF file, and choose Save. Acrobat creates the PDF file.

Using Adobe Acrobat Distiller 3.x

Creating PDF files with Adobe Acrobat Distiller 3.x involves installing an Adobe PostScript print driver and modifying your Acrobat installation. These instructions assume you're using Adobe Acrobat 3.0 or 3.1 with Windows 95 or Windows NT and Version 3.x or 4.x of SWP, SW, or SNB. The process varies for Windows 95/95 and Windows NT. Please make sure you choose the instructions appropriate for your system.

The document used in this example is samplearticle.tex, which is included in the SWSamples directory. If you want to create a PDF file from a different document, substitute the name of your document in the instructions.

  1. Install the Adobe PostScript driver that comes with Adobe Acrobat. When you are asked for a .ppd description, choose Distiller (the default).
  2. Change the print driver properties:
    1. From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings and then choose Printers.
    2. Select the Distiller printer and choose Properties.
    3. Check the radio button for Always use True Type fonts.
    4. Check the radio button for Send Fonts As.
    5. Change the Send True Type Fonts selection to Type 42.
    6. Check the radio button for Favor system True Type fonts over printer fonts.
    7. Choose OK.
  3. Modify your Acrobat Distiller installation:
    1. If you're using Windows 95:
      1. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, select the Adobe Acrobat group, and then choose Acrobat Distiller.
      2. From the Distiller menu, choose Job Options.
        1. Choose the Fonts tab.
        2. Select Embed all Fonts.
        3. Deselect Font subsetting.
        4. Choose the General tab.
        5. Select Acrobat 3.0 compatibility.
        6. Choose OK.
      3. From the Distiller menu, choose Font Location.
      4. Add the True Type fonts from the tcitex/fonts/truetype subdirectory in your SWP, SW, or SNB program directory.
      5. Choose OK.
    2. If you are using Windows NT:
      1. With your document SWP or SW document open, choose Preview from the Typeset menu., Preview.
      2. From the TrueTeX Previewer File menu, choose Print and then select Distiller Assistant as the print driver.
      3. Click Properties and choose the Advanced tab.
      4. In the Graphic category, select TrueType Font and then select Download as Softfont. This should give the equivalent of the settings available on the Win95 version of the driver.
      5. If your document contains graphics, change to a higher graphic resolution (a higher resolution yields better results but a larger file).
        See additional information about         Type 3 fonts.
    3. You may find you also need to select Download as Soft Font in the Documents Defaults menu for each of the fonts in the Font substitution table:
      1. From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings and then choose Printers.
      2. Right click the Distiller Assistant icon.
      3. Select Properties.
      4. Expand the Font Substitution Table and then adjust each font as necessary to select Download as Soft Font.
      5. Save the settings.

    Alternatives to Acrobat Distiller

    If you do not have Acrobat Distiller, you may be able to create PDF files using the software listed below; many other similar products are available. Note that we haven't tried the products mentioned, but they may work successfully with your files.

    • Ghostscript

      You can find instructions on the Computer Support Page maintained by Philip A. Viton from Ohio State University Department of City and Regional Planning.

    • PDF Writer Pro

      The program installs itself as a Windows printer driver so that Windows applications running on Windows 98/Me/2000 and XP, such as SWP, SW, and SNB, can create PDF files from any document.

    • pdfFactory

      The program creates PDF files without Acrobat.

    • PDFcamp(pdf writer)

      The program operates as a printer driver and converts any type of printable Windows document to a universally accepted PDF file.

    • deskPDF

      The program creates PDF files from any application that supports Windows printing.

    Last revised 11/22/05

    The information in this frame was created with Scientific WorkPlace.