How to create a PDF file in Publisher

This article explains how to create a Portable Document Format (.pdf) file from PostScript printer output in Microsoft Publisher.

To create a .pdf file, you must first print your publication to a PostScript (.ps) file in Microsoft Publisher, and then use Adobe Acrobat Distiller to open and save the file as a .pdf file. Use one of the following methods to save the publication as a PostScript file.

Method 1: Print to file

1. Start Microsoft Publisher, and then open the publication that you want.
2. On the File menu, click Print.
3. In the Name box, select the PostScript printer that you want to use under Printer. (For example, click Microsoft Publisher Imagesetter).
4. Click to select the Print to File check box, and then click OK.
5. Type a name for the file, using the method appropriate for your operating system. Ensure that you use the .ps extension in the file name. For example, if your publication is named "MyPub.pub," type MyPub.ps.
   
   Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
   
   On a Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)-based computer:
   • In the Print to File dialog box, type a name for the file in the File name box, specify a location at which to save the file, and then click OK.
   On a Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer:
   • In the Print to File dialog box, type the name and path at which to save the file in the Output File name box, and then click OK. For example, type C:\Temp\MyPub.ps if you want to save the MyPub.ps file in the Temp folder on drive C.
6. Start Adobe Acrobat Distiller.
7. On the File menu, click Open.
8. Locate the .ps file that you created in step 5, and then click Open.
9. Type a name and specify a location at which to save your Adobe Acrobat Distiller file (.pdf), and then click Save.

Method 2: Save the publication as a PostScript file

You can save the publication as a PostScript file, open the file in Adobe Acrobat Distiller, and then create a PDF file. Note that you must have a PostScript printer driver installed on the computer to save the document as a PostScript file. If you do not have a PostScript printer driver installed on the computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. In the Printers dialog box, double-click Add Printer.
3. In the Add Printer Wizard dialog box, click Next.
4. Locate and then select a PostScript printer from the list of printers, and then click Next.
   
   Note An Apple Color LW 12/660 PS will work.
   Make sure that LPT1 is selected, and then click Next.
5. When you are prompted with a question that asks if you want Windows-based programs to use this printer as the default printer, make sure that No is selected. Then, click Next.
6. Click No when you are prompted to print a test page.

To save the publication as a PostScript file, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Save.
2. In the Save As dialog box, click PostScript (*.ps) in the Save as type list.
3. Name the file, and then click Save. Make a note of the location of the file.
4. In the Save As PostScript File dialog box, select a PostScript printer from the Name list, and then click Save.
5. In the Publisher dialog box, click OK.
6. Start Adobe Acrobat Distiller.
7. On the File menu, click Open.
8. Locate the PostScript file that you created in step 5, and then click Open.
9. Type a file name and then specify the location where you want to save the Adobe Acrobat Distiller (.pdf) file. Then, click Save.

For more information about how to use Adobe Acrobat Distiller and Adobe Acrobat Reader to print PDF files created from Microsoft Publisher PostScript output, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about Adobe Acrobat Distiller, visit the following Adobe Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.