PDF Files

PDF (Portable Document Format) files are special graphic images of documents. They are easy to create and provide a safe means of delivering complex documents. (The United States Internal Revenue Service uses PDF to make tax forms available from its website, for example.)

Recent word processors like Word 2000 and WordPerfect 9 permit you to create PDF files directly. By using these recent word processors, you don't need any other special software. Rather, you merely select the appropriate icon or item from the menu. (If you are asked by your word processor to select a printer, be sure you select Acrobat Distiller and not Acrobat PDF Writer!)

As a matter of work, produce your thesis or dissertation as you normally would with your word processor and save your files in your word processor's native format (i.e., .DOC or .WPD). Once you have your thesis or dissertation ready, then apend your files together in the appropriate order (see Required Formatting and Elements) and produce the PDF files.

• Check your PDF files for missing pages, poor font translation, and other anomalies.
• If you find it necessary (e.g., in an appendix) to use non-standard fonts (see Required Formatting and Elements), then you will need to use the special Adobe Acrobat software to embed all fonts.
• You may embed hyperlinks into your word processor's document (e.g., from Table of Contents to chapters). These will translate into the PDF document, but check the final PDF copy to make sure.

You may prefer to produce more complex PDF files or to perform operations on PDF files that your word processor does not permit (e.g., combining PDF files together). Or you may prefer to use a word processor that does not support the direct creation of PDF files. In these cases, you will need to use the separate Adobe Acrobat software, available at various locations on UNT's servers or from your software dealer.

Finally, keep in mind that PDF files are graphic images of data. As such, data made available in appendices of your thesis or dissertation (e.g., data files from experiments) will not be directly usable by readers.

This listing presents brief information. If you are writing your thesis or dissertation, you should download and print a copy of the complete Thesis and Dissertation Manual:

If you have other questions about PDF files, e-mail us!