Free PDF creation Tool

[JedClampett]

I have installed LyX Document Processor on Windows Vista, but it is quite complex to do, as it needs a lot of other packages installed first. It not the easiest program to configure or use either. But it does produce excellent DVI, PDF and Postscript output files, with automatic content, index, appendix and Bibliography generation.

"LyX combines the power and flexibility of TeX/LaTeX with the ease of use of a graphical interface. This results in world-class support for creation of mathematical content (via a fully integrated equation editor) and structured documents like academic articles, theses, and books. In addition, staples of scientific authoring such as reference list and index creation come standard. But you can also use LyX to create a letter or a novel or a theatre play or film script. A broad array of ready, well-designed document layouts are built in."

Can anyone please recommend a similar free PDF generator like lyx, that is easy to install and use ?

This is for another user to install and use. It would be nice if it can at least automatically generate the book contents from the eBook sections. PDF editing is a plus as well.

TIA

Jed

[jaclaz]

Can anyone please recommend a similar free PDF generator like lyx, that is easy to install and use ?

This is for another user to install and use. It would be nice if it can at least automatically generate the book contents from the eBook sections. PDF editing is a plus as well.

I find it to be a little reductive to "catalog" lyx as a "pdf creation tool".

You want a Word Processor (or "document processor") with .pdf exporting ( or printing) facility.

Besides the "normal" OpenOffice/LibreOffice Write, you can use *any* Word Processor you like (even if it has no PDF export) in conjunction with a .pdf printer app.

The "difficult part" is normally the "training" of the "other user" on the specific word processor.

jaclaz

[Steven W]

Yeah, as Jaclaz said any word processor and I'd recommend PDFCreator:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

After you install PDFCreator go into the Control Panel -- Printers or Printers and Faxes and make sure it is set up to use the size of paper you want. I alway have to change it to 8.5 X 11, US Letter after installing.

Then when you want a PDF just choose print from your app, and use PDFCreator as the Printer. It will ask you where you want to Save the File, and provide some options.

If you got some money to blow you might look at Atlantis Word Processor. Be warned though it doesn't support tables or wrapping text around graphics:

http://www.atlantiswordprocessor.com/en/

You may want to check this out too:

http://freeocr.net/

Edited October 23, 2011 by Steven W