There are several well-regarded, free ways to take advantage of the Print function to transform just about any file to a PDF. PrimoPDF and doPDF sit at the top of the list, but what about reverse engineering that conversion? Converting in the other direction, from a PDF to a Microsoft Word-compatible format like DOC or RTF is trickier.
Primo pdf converter free download - PDF Download, Free PDF to Word Converter, Solid Converter PDF, and many more programs. Jul 16, 2012 Version: PrimoPDF 5.1.0.2. It was easy to use and made simple PDFs. MSSE detected it as containing an adware program called OpenCandy. Apparently, the adware only tracks you to give you ads in the application itself that it feels are relevant to your interests. Still, it is intrusive. As soon as I found this out, I uninstalled.
For one thing, there's a lot of crap out there. Many PDF-to-DOC converters have similar or even identical names, differentiated sometimes by nothing more than a cunning tap of the space bar. Many offer features that are hamstrung in various ways unless you pay for an upgrade, and just about all of them offer imperfect conversions. Even with these problems, though, you can get a reasonable conversion from the four programs and three Web-based services listed below.
Some PDF to Word Converter 1.5: A basic but uncluttered interface introduces all of the program's conversion options in a sidebar on the right. Some handles batch conversions, converts outer fonts into text and embedded fonts into images, and supports both All Pages and page-range specific conversions. It can remove graphics on demand from the output document, which is always in the RTF format, and supports encryption.
The program suffers from two big drawbacks: the conversions aren't always the cleanest, with occasional image and text overlaps, and there's noticeable image deterioration. In place of drag-and-drop to add PDFs, you can add an entire folder via the folder icon. Some of the interface's option descriptions could be better phrased, too: 'delete all graphics' with an option of 'false' or 'true' really could be posed better as 'remove all graphics' and 'yes' or 'no.'
Free PDF to Word Doc Converter 1.1 also gets a few things wrong, but eventually lands you the DOC output you want. Impressively, it offers one of the cleanest and most accurate free PDF-to-DOC conversions of the programs tested. You can change the output path and name, convert an entire document or just specific pages, and ditch images in the source PDF if need be. The final output will give you a pitch-perfect conversion.
From there, it goes a bit downhill. The option to open the output DOC in WordPad didn't function when we tested it, nor did the All Pages button. You can work around this by choosing Page Number instead of All Pages (Page Number defaults to the full page count), but it's still irritating. The other big frustration is that while the program is free, after five conversions you're asked to answer a math question a bit harder than the average Captcha. Batch conversion and encryption support are missing, too. If Free PDF to Word Doc Converter's bumpy ride didn't result in such a smooth landing, it wouldn't be worth touching.
Free PDF to Word Converter 1.3 shares many things in common with its competitors besides a similar name: there's an imperfect balance of useful features and a perfect output. What's wrong: there's no drag-and-drop support, and you should be prepared for some minor yet annoying formatting errors, with occasional and minor word and image overlap.
What's right: The program can batch convert PDFs without being restricted to specific folders, can change your output destination, and put out either RTF or DOC. There's support for high levels of security, with space to provide passwords from the PDF owner and the PDF user. You can remove graphics on conversion and micro-manage the spaces between words and text boxes. It's fine for image-free PDFs, but somewhat less than exact with others.
Advanced PDF to Word Converter Free 5.0 nearly crashes and burns on takeoff, but surprisingly leaves you with a nearly-perfect document. It will ask you to reboot on installation, which makes sense for programs that have deep hooks in your operating system but is a clarion warning for such a simple converter. However, as with all these converters, it's the final output that counts the most, and this program's final DOC output looks pretty good.
There's no support for encrypted PDFs, and when you convert or close the program, there's a nag screen to get you upgrade. Batch conversion, RTF and TXT output, and image deletion are restricted to the paid upgrade. The program does offer drag-and-drop additions, adding an entire folder, and user-selected output folders and output renaming. OpenOffice.org users will appreciate that this converter puts out a DOC that OpenOffice Writer can cleanly read images from--unlike many of the others. The biggest problem, of course, is that there is still some image quality degradation and minor text alignment problems.
OpenOffice users should take note that during these tests, I found that the OpenOffice Writer doesn't always play nicely with Rich Text Formatting. There are several free online conversion options as well, and they tend to have better output than the desktop programs.
You can send your PDF as an attachment to Adobe, and within a few minutes they'll send you back either a plain text TXT or HTML file. The service is basic but extremely fast. As long as you don't mind the lack of frills, you can e-mail [email protected] for the plain text conversion and [email protected] for HTML output, although the HTML service wasn't working when I tested it. More details are here.
Nitro PDF, the makers of PrimoPDF, offer a glossy interface for their online PDF to Word format converter. Clearly delineated instructions guide you through uploading your PDF, choosing an output format--either DOC or RTF--and entering your e-mail address. The conversion took a bit longer than Adobe's, but it's worth the wait. The conversion output is a perfect document, precisely the kind of painless process that most of the downloadable options lack. There's no support for encryption, nor for batches, but Nitro's service gets high marks for its precise and fast conversion. Apparently, there are plans to incorporate the PDF-to-Word feature in future editions of Nitro PDF.
There are two other PDF-to-Word services worth mentioning: Koolwire and Zamzar. Koolwire will convert PDFs up to 10MB, but it can also handle DOC, XLS, PPT, VSD, MPP, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and MS Office 2007 formats like DOCX. Unlike the other services, clicking on their Web site opens an e-mail to which you only need to attach your PDF and then hit Send. The PDF comes out as RTF, with very minor image degradation and no formatting problems.
Zamzar will convert PDFs up to 100MB at a time, and in addition to converting your PDF into DOC or RTF, it can output ODT, TXT, PS, and PNG. It can handle batch conversion, as long as you don't mind uploading the files one at a time. When it finishes converting, you receive a link that stays active for 24 hours from which you can download your converted files one at a time or all at once in a ZIP. There was minor image degradation, similar to what Koolwire spit out, and one instance of a formatting error.
Overall, there is no option that can be declared 100 percent perfect. Where one service--whether it's online or desktop--fails, it also tends to offer a better interface, or more conversion options than others. The reverse also seems to hold true, where the best conversions are not always buttressed by the greatest of user experiences. Nitro PDF's PDF-to-Word Web site wins for its output and usability, but if you must go with a desktop client I'd choose Free PDF to Word Doc Converter 1.1 for the resulting document only. If you don't mind minor hiccups, but need a better user experience or more conversion options, Zamzar and Free PDF to Word Converter 1.3 are probably what you need.
Disagree with my picks? Have a better suggestion? Tell me about it in the comments.
[h/t Freeware Genius]
How-To Geek Forums / Geek Stuff(Solved) - Warning !!! - PrimoPDF 5.1.0.2 installs Adware(18 posts)
I just downloaded PrimoPDF 5.1.0.2 from http://www.filehippo.com/download_primopdf/
and tried to install it and MSE flagged it as having Adware.
Jim
'Adware in program'
July 16, 2012 | By SpiritualCramp
Version: PrimoPDF 5.1.0.2
Pros
It was easy to use and made simple PDFs.
Cons
MSSE detected it as containing an adware program called OpenCandy. Apparently, the adware only tracks you to give you ads in the application itself that it feels are relevant to your interests. Still, it is intrusive. As soon as I found this out, I uninstalled. I will find another program.
Summary
Great for easy pdf making if you don't mind adware also being installed on your computer
Read more: PrimoPDF 5.1.0.2 - CNET Download.com http://download.cnet.com/Primo.....z2GVUAiALN
Review from Cnet.
I am surprised at filehippo!
Here is some info on opencandy;
Thanks for adding that info, Joe.
Mike, MSE stopped its installation before any choices to install the spyware was offered.
Whew! God I love MSE.
Jim
Welcome Jim. Thanks to Mike also, I was surprised to see Unlocker listed on the site he posted.
Yeah, MSE flags Unlocker but I can't remember the name of the Virus in flags.
Jim
https://www.howtogeek.com/128680/how-to-delete-move-or-rename-locked-files-in-windows/ This is from Nov/13/2012.
Jim same here, MSE stopped the installation.
The Cnet download is ok BTW.
Thanks, then I'll get it from them (CNET).
BTW: I ended up installing Sumatra PDF 2.2 and almost puked when I ran it and saw the horrible GUI. LOL
Jim
Thanks Mike. Just downloaded it, will try it out tomorrow.
Print Primopdf Free Download
Jim
Mike
I just downloaded PDF Creator to update it and I followed the normal install, except bypassing the toolbar plug (SaveByClick), and was annoyed to find it downloading another 92MB on top of the 16MB for PDFCreator which turned out to be their PDFArchitect which gives you a crippled version...the rest of it you have to buy as modules. I uninstalled it to see what I had missed and it turns out you have to install it in Expert mode to avoid downloading PDFArchitect....it is D/L by default in the normal route without you knowing. I remember they bundled a bit of a tracker with it once that I only found with Belarc Advisor. PDFCreator is as bad as Funmoods and Babylon for the way they try to slide stuff in. They definitely aren't in the Piriform, Softpedia, Filihippo league anyway for transparency.
Hey Tony, I really appreciate the info about PDFCreator. I won't be installing it any time soon.
Jim :)
Jim, Tony. Apologies for that. I installed it myself some 8 months ago without issue.
However I just downloaded it on my other machine and found it came 'bundled' with the Ask toolbar and a game and SAS alerted 2 trojans. A system restore solved the problem.
I have removed the link.
Another once trusted company off my list for bundling rubbish in their downloads.
Mike
That's OK Mike...It WAS OK once but that's life. Anyway, we are covering each other's backs and that's the most important thing isn't it? :D
Sumatra is the way to go for a reader. I'll have to look around for another PDF creator on my cyber travels sometime...no hurry though.
Tony
@ Jim - if you're looking for a better GUI PDF Xchange is the way to go.
Comes with a nice feature to show previews on thumbnails, but it is also available in a portable version for those who like that best ;)
Edit: oh and a nice alternative to PDFcreator is Bullzip PDF.
Second edit: another nice PDF tool is Debenu PDF tools.
Cnet Primopdf Download For Windows 10
I've never had any problems with any of them (though I never really looked either LOL).
Jim, progs like Unlocker may very well get flagged. It's not that they contain any nasties, it's because the coding has to be pretty aggressive for the app to do it's job. Nasties have similar coding, thus the flagging.
Yo all. - I want to thank everyone for all the great info & links you posted.
I finally decided to use Sumatra PDF Reader because it's small and serves the purpose.
@LH - Yes, I remember reading something many moons ago about Unlockers aggressive coding and that a few AV's will flag it.
I really don't have a use for it at present but if I do I'll force MSE to allow it to install.
Again, thanks to all for you input,
Jim
P.S. - @SarahJames - Thank you. I have downloaded everything you posted and will check it out at a later date.
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