Don't use a PDF if the idea of requiring your web audience to use a plug-in is uncomfortable. Don't create a link to a PDF without alerting the user that the link is to a PDF file. This gives the user a chance to opt-out of viewing a PDF if they don't have the time or equipment to do so. Adobe Acrobat software is required. With the release of Adobe Acrobat 4.0 in Spring 1999, Adobe discontinued the name Exchange for this software component.
Some programs already have an option to create PDFs on the file menu.
This might work well for some documents and some applications, but it is still a good idea to buy the Adobe Acrobat software to manipulate PDF files after they are created. Conversions are not always exact, and you will need Acrobat to edit PDF documents or to add advanced features. Print the document to the PDFWriter printer driver instead of the printer. Choose the PDFWriter printer. Open the PostScript file with Acrobat Distiller.