It's really quite easy to convert Microsoft Word to a pdf file, or rather, a Microsoft Word document to a pdf file.  Method 1. This is the easiest if you have Adobe Acrobat installed in your hard drive. Take note that you need the full program of Adobe Acrobat and not just the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free to download.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat, you can purchase it from http://www.adobe.com or you can read on to find out where you can convert Microsoft Word to a pdf file.

Assuming you have Adobe Acrobat in your hard drive, we can also assume the conversion program, Acrobat Distiller, has been automatically installed as well. In this case, open the Microsoft Word document you want to convert to a pdf file.

Click on 'File' at the menu on top of the document. Then click 'Print.' A dialogue box will appear. If you have one or more printers connected to your computer, they will be listed there. One of the options will be 'Acrobat Distiller.' Click on that. The conversion will then begin.

After a few moments a dialogue box appears prompting you to save the document. It will have the same file name of the original Word document but with a pdf extension. You can change the file name if you want. Choose the directory where you want to save the file and then click on the 'Save' button.

Once the file is converted and saved, Acrobat automatically opens with the saved file so you can look at how your Word document appears as a

pdf file. You can also do finishing touches such as encrypting the file so it can't be changed by the reader. This is good if you're selling the documnet as an e-book and you don't want it altered by those who buy it.

Method 2. This is what you can do if you don't have Adobe Acrobat installed. You can download a free converter at http://www.primopdf.com. It works the same way as Method 1 above, the difference is you print to PrimoPDF® printer instead of Acrobat Distiller. PrimoPDF will convert Microsoft Word to a pdf file. It can also convert other files such as Excel, PowerPoint, and virtually any other printable file type.

You can also convert Microsoft Word to a pdf file online through the Adobe site at http://createpdf.adobe.com. They have a free trial in which you can convert up to 5 documents to pdf (when I last checked the site).

PDF files are a great way to share documents because they can be read by almost all kinds of operating systems and are easy to read or print out. To convert Microsoft Word to a pdf file is not difficult as you just read.

So write away and share. Better yet, write away and sell!

About the Author

Dean Mapa is a writer, motivational speaker and uses both free and low-cost business software to earn money through the Internet. Now you can learn how to creat hot software even if you haven't touched a line of code. Follow this link: http://www.smoothbytes.com/hotsoftware.html