Microsoft delivers 'Save as PDF' add-on

Microsoft has released a free download that will enable Office 2007 users to save documents in both Adobe Systems' PDF format and Microsoft's own rival format, XPS.

The add-on works with the different planned versions of Office 2007, which is now in beta testing and expected to be made generally available by the end of the year.

According to the release notes of the download, people can save a document or send an e-mail attachment in PDF or XPS format.

Both formats are designed to keep layout consistent for viewing and printing.

The Save as PDF feature, announced last October, prompted Adobe to threaten to file an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in June.

In response, Microsoft changed its plans and decided to offer the feature as a separate download rather than have it included within Office 2007.

Microsoft executives have said that Save as PDF was one of the features most requested by its Office customers.

[jimanderson689]

No big deal

I've been saving documents to PDF using OpenOffice.org's one-click PDF feature for nearly 3 years now.

[FutureGuy]

haha

No one cares since only like 1% of the users use openoffice. With MS Office its different hence the problem, Adobe can't stand that.

[Mr. Dogers2U]

SFW

OK, I'm an Apple FanBoy but we have been able to do this system
wide through our Print options for YEARS. This just show that MS
wasn't willing to reach an agreement with Adobe and pay for the
option.

[ckorinko]

PrimoPDF

I've been using PrimoPDF since it's free and works across all apps. I've actually installed it on every PC we have and my work laptop. Works great for online receipts, itineraries, and especially for chopping up existing .pdf's into smaller chunks, by just printing page ranges.

[cary1]

just one problem...

I have been using it too, but I recently encountered a problem. It doesn't embed the fonts in the PDF file. (Perhaps there's a setting to turn this feature on) I tried to open a PDF file made using PrimoPDF on a Mac, and I couldn't see any text. the same file opened perfectly on a PC

I don't use macs anyways, so don't really care about this problem

[davidjnelson]

What about Office 2003?

I have an old PC....with Office 2003. It'll be a while before I can buy a new PC to handle Office 2007. Do Microsoft offer one for Office 2003?

[tbuccelli]

MS wants you to upgrade.....

and this is the carrot.

[slaha11]

Use PDF995

Use PDF995, which is a freeware and works with older (even Office 2000) MS-Word.

It will 'print' the word document in PDF format.

http://www.pdf995.com/

[guynamedalex]

Sure... OpenOffice.org

You won't find MS adding any features to Office 2003, but you don't have to spend a dime to get the feature, just download OpenOffice.org and you'll have it. I started off running both just for that feature in OOo, but now at home I just run OpenOffice.

[qwerty75]

More MS innovation

Sure add in a feature available elsewhere for yers and then brag about it! The Microsoft MO.

[pentium4forever]

Alternative

What about PDF reDirect?! It's a free app you can download off download.com, it's sweet, print word files, excel files, etc to pdf form. Works like a charm.

[imacpwr]

pdf still not included..!!

The user will be allowed to install "pdf save" into Office but it's
going to tucked away somewhere on a MS server where most users
wont find it or wont bother to look for since they can save in XPS
anyway.. If MS was really willing to "play fair" they'd INCLUDE it in
Office in the first place..!! Will Microsoft (never) ever change..???

You're joking right?

Please read the entire article before commenting????

Again, Microsoft tried to offer it as part of Office 2007 but were threatened with legal action from Adobe. This move FORCED them to remove it from O2K7 and to offer it as a free add-on.

Go rant on Adobe if you feel the need to.

[robert1275]

Adobe threatened a lawsuit

Adobe told Microsoft it would take them to court. Microsoft had no choice but to make the download separate or risk legal litigation.

[`WarpKat]

PDFCreator Anyone?

We use this where I work all over the place to go paperless - and we still use Office 97 (mostly out of necessity for Access97). It's available over on SourceForge if anyone wants it - and no, you don't have to compile it - it installs as a printer for all applications to use... ^_^

And if things go well, we'll be moving to ODF soon since most of our customers are mandated to convert within the decade... (hint hint)

[Too Old For IT]

This should have been native since Office 97

MS just couldn't see beyond it's own clunky code.

Save as PDF, open PDF, edit PDF. Get onthe stick MS!!!

[gggg sssss]

not msoft at fault

Its the twits at Adobe that threatened msoft. Sort of like when Sun threatened them over Java, and msoft replied by tossing Java out on its ear. Then Sun still cried foul. Serves them right. And much as I don't want another document standard when pdf will do, if adobe wants to flex its muscles, scroo them too

[Macsaresafer]

It IS Microsot's fault.

Microsoft tried to change pdf to be Windows-only, and Adobe
stopped them, just as they should have. All Microsoft had to do
was to follow the standard so that pdf's could remain cross-
platform, but they wanted to abuse their monopoly again. I'm glad
Adobe won.

[tedk7]

Apple 20001

Good work guys, catching up with Apple from half a decade ago.

Nice.