How to Create Easy PDF Documents in Microsoft Office

Did you know that you can create a PDF document in Microsoft Office without Adobe Acrobat? Converting a file to a PDF helps preserve formatting, fonts, and layout, and makes it more difficult to change the document. Although Acrobat offers many additional features, the built-in PDF option in Microsoft Office may be all you need if you’d like to quickly create a PDF document from Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. (This option is available in all recent versions of Microsoft Office including Office 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office 2013.)

To create a PDF from Microsoft Office:

1. Open an existing Word document, Excel workbook, or PowerPoint presentation.
2. Choose the File menu and pick Export (in Office 2010 the option is Save & Send).
3. From this option, click Create PDF/XPS Document, and then from the right pane, click the Create PDF/XPS button.
4. Enter an appropriate name and location and click Publish to convert the document in PDF format.

That’s it! Try these easy steps to create your next PDF document.

Although you may not need Adobe Acrobat for simple documents, when should you consider Acrobat or similar programs?

• Creating fillable forms
• Controlling document security
• Working with commenting and reviewing features
• Creating and managing a PDF from multiple sources
• Applying redaction features

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© Dawn Bjork, MCT, MOSM, The Software Pro® | Microsoft Certified Trainer, Productivity Speaker, Software Consultant

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About Dawn

Dawn Bjork is The Software Pro® and a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) as well as a certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master (MOSM) and certified Microsoft Office expert. Dawn shares smart and easy ways to increase your productivity through her work as a productivity speaker, software trainer, computer consultant, and author of 9 books. Discover more software tips, tricks, and timesavers at www.TheSoftwarePro.com.