Word to PDF

[MichaelQ]

I have a large number of Word docs that I need to convert to PDF. I have
looked at Automator and cannot get the hang of it so now I am looking for a
software solution.

I would like software recommendations that will batch convert the Word docs
or at least streamline the process.

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

I have a large number of Word docs that I need to convert to PDF. I have
looked at Automator and cannot get the hang of it so now I am looking for a
software solution.

I would like software recommendations that will batch convert the Word docs
or at least streamline the process.

Hi Michael,

Automator is the way to go. Nothing you can buy will be more
streamlined. Automator will not work with the Home and Student edition
of Microsoft Office. If that's what you have you'll need to upgrade Office.

Here's how to do make this work:
1. Create an empty folder (I called mine Make PDF for this example)
2. Open the Automator application
3. In the Automator welcome screen choose Folder Action
4. In Automator, near the top where it says folder Action receives Files
and Folders added to (Other..) click on the (Other...) pop-up and switch
it to Choose. The Choose dialog box opens.
5. Navigate to and select the folder you made (Make PDF) and click the
choose button.
6. In the search box next to the Variables enter Convert Word
7. Drag Convert Format of Word Documents to the right side where it says
Drag actions or files here to build your workflow. When you see the
green plus sign, let go.
8. Click the Format pop-up of the automator action and change it to
Portable Document Format.
9. Use the Automator File menu and choose Save. Give the action a name
(I used Word to PDF).

Now it's time to put your automator folder action to work. Drag a file
to the folder (Make PDF) and let go. Wait a few seconds for Word to do
its thing. Then open the folder and you'll have your PDF file along
with your Word document. There you go! Now drag a bunch of Word docs to
the folder and let Automator and Word make your PDF files for you.

-Jim

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

Hello Jim,

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately I do have Home and student and it
will cost $600 to purchase the Business version. There is no facility to
upgrade from Home & Student.
Once again thank you.

Michael

Hi Michael,

It is still possible to create folder actions without using Automator.
You can do it using AppleScript. You would create a script that
accomplishes the same thing: Opens the document in Word and then saves
the document as PDF.

I don't know AppleScript well enough to give you a step-by-step but I
don't think it would be many more steps than using Automator. This isn't
exactly the wording, but it would go something like:

Tell Application Microsoft Word Open as Document
Save As Format PDF
Close Document

Head to this web site for more details
http://developer.apple.com/applescript

Really, AppleScript is not that hard to use if you just need to do
something quick like this. There are plenty of examples.

-Jim

 

[larry blazek]

jim,

i got to step 6 and hit the wall. have tried this on several machines (10.5 & 10.6). none of them have the "convert format of word documents". clicking in search and typing "convert word" as stated in step six renders zip. what am i missing?
thanks in advance, larry

 

[blake stiff]

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[blake stiff]

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