Using the pdf port with an exsisting printer?

[BRIANGAMER@adobeforums.com]

I have been using the pdf printer furnished with acrobat to create my pdf files from a word doc. Sometimes the format changes. This means I have to go fix the format and print again. I don't like this because this means a less than trust worthy pdf. (You might not catch all that has moved.) What I have found through searching through this forum is to change or add a printer (same as your current the one you are using as the default printer for your word doc) and change the port to the pdf port. Has anyone done this? How well does this work? Any problems. The couple I have tested seem to be okay.

Thanks

[W_T_Allen@adobeforums.com]

I think you may have misunderstood.

To eliminate pagination changes when converting from Word, set Adobe PDF as your default printer. You can also click File/Print, set Adobe PDF as the printer, and then click Close to go back and check tha pagination of your document.

Either way, Word is not a page layout program, it is a word processor, and is apt to change pagination depending on the size and margins of the paper to which it is printing.

[BRIANGAMER@adobeforums.com]

The problem is that I must have the printer as the standard, not Adobe. I will print the files much more than I will make a PDF. My documents are between 30-60 pages and I don't want to have to convert it to pdf just to print. Using the pdf port eliminates the shuffle when creating the pdf.

[W_T_Allen@adobeforums.com]

If you are creating PDFs with anything but the Distiller driver and PPD you are asking for trouble. It may work for some documents, but not for others, it may not embed fonts or handle graphics properly, there are many, many reasons not to do so.

In addition, you can only use the PDF port if the print driver is a PostScript driver, which many are not.

The best solution is to 1) tell Word not to use Printer Metrics for layout and 2) Before you convert to PDF, set the printer to Distiller and then check your pagination.

Again, if you're really concerned about strict layout guidelines, you shouldn't be producing your document from Word.

[Aandi_Inston@adobeforums.com]

Word will ALWAYS reflow when you change printer, or computer. It is
best to avoid Word for layout sensitive work - it's a word processor,
not a layout tool. If layout sensitivity is unavoidable you MUST
check the layout with the Distiller printer selected. Some people
find it convenient to work all the time with the Distiller printer
selected, and if they want to print the Word document, they simply
print to PDF, then print that PDF, which may only take a few seconds
more.

Aandi Inston

[BRIANGAMER@adobeforums.com]

So what would you suggest as a page layout program?

[W_T_Allen@adobeforums.com]

Depending on what type of document you are producing:

Pagemaker
Framemaker
Indesign
Illustrator
MS Publisher
Ventura

[BRIANGAMER@adobeforums.com]

50-60 page operators manuals & 15-35 page parts manuals with columns and graphics and pictures.

[Aandi_Inston@adobeforums.com]

I suppose that leads back to a question, before getting into
alternative software - why do you care if this kind of document
reflows a little? Is the author typing page numbers manually?

For manuals with comparatively simple page layouts, many people would
recommend FrameMaker. I did a 200 page manual once in Word, and knew
for sure I would never do that again. FrameMaker has served me well.
FrameMaker also has useful features like the ability to set link
styles. I use this to make, from the same document, an online version
with underlined blue links, and a printable version which is all
black, not underlined, and adds the text " (see page NNN)" after the
links. The biggest problem with FrameMaker is that a Word user will
start to use it just the same as Word, which is disasterous.
Everything needs to be done the "FrameMaker way".

More complex designs, where designers have tried to do nice layout of
each page, is perhaps more the forte of InDesign.

Aandi Inston