PDF Help for AUETD

1. Why PDF (Portable Document Format)?

PDF is cross platform, navigational, ultra-printable, ultra-viewable and smaller than other conventional document formats. It is as close to a universal standard as we have.

Theses or dissertations often contain images, graphics, equations, and various character sets (e.g., Greek letters). The majority of the graduate students work in each of the following platforms: Windows, Macs, and UNIX.   PDF offers reproducible results and multiplatform support for viewing and printing by reviewers if the original files contain the proper format. No other mature document type permits easy viewing by reviewers and allows authors to retain margins; keep pagination and line breaks; generate files in various word processors on PCs, Macs and UNIX systems; include and display equations; and maintain control of the position and compression of images.

Finally, University Microfilms International/ProQuest, which publishes all theses and dissertations, requires PDF.

 2. How to merge multiple files to a single file?

Option 1: If your computer is equipped with Adobe Acrobat (not just Adobe Acrobat Reader) , it will combine multiple PDF files to a single PDF file.  Open your first PDF file in Adobe Acrobat, go to the end of the file, select "Insert Pages" from the menu, select and open the secondary PDF file that contains the pages you wish to add.  Repeat as necessary.  Adobe Acrobat will retain the page and footnoting of your original documents. This is the optimum solution.

Option 2: Word processors such as MS Word and WordPerfect will combine multiple files to one while maintaining footnote and pagination integrity.

  • MS Word - The key to combining MS Word files while maintaining pagination integrity is understanding Microsofts concept of section breaks. Click Insert and then Break. Select the type of break wanted, which will be inserted at the cursor location. This will allow you to insure continuous page numbering. To locate breaks you have inserted, click View and then Normal. Breaks will appear as a dotted line. To delete breaks, click on the dotted line and press the delete key. Additional information may be found in the Auburn University Graduate School Guide to Preparation and Submission of Theses and Dissertations, available at here . Look for the section on Formatting margins and page numbers with MS Word.

  • WordPerfect - WordPerfect provides substantially greater and easier control over pagination integrity. Click Format, Page, Numbering, and Set Value. WordPerfect allows you to control the style, location, and value of page numbers on each page. You may also turn pagination on or off on any page.

3. How to convert MS Word, WordPerfect, and other native formats to PDF format?

Option 1: If your computer is equipped with Adobe Acrobat, use Adobe Distiller for the conversion.

Option 2: Newer versions of MS Word and WordPerfect have embedded PDF conversion features.

Option 3: Use the free PDF converter available from Adobe.com.

Option 4: Use the  free DocMorph PDF converterconverter from the National Library of Medicine.

For more information:

  • Check FastLane from the National Science Foundation.
  • Check PDFzone.com, the online PDF authority. 
  • Search for "convert Word to PDF" or "convert WordPerfect to PDF" using a web-based search engine such as Google, Yahoo, etc.

4. How to convert Postscript to PDF format?

Option 1: Ghostscript has freeware that converts Postscript files to PDF.

Option 2: Use the Babinszki Distiller to upload and convert Postscript files.

Option 3: PStill has a number of programs for converting Postcript to PDF.

5. How to convert TeX/LaTeX to PDF format?

Option 1: Ghostscript has freeware that converts TeX/LaTeX to PDF.

Option 2: Use Patrick Jöckel site to convert TeX/LaTeX files.

 6. What special options should I use when creating my PDF file?

  • Always embed all fonts used in your thesis or dissertation.  Adobe Readers will use the fonts present on the computer reading your PDF dissertation or thesis unless the fonts are embedded in the PDF file.  Creating your PDF file on the computer you used to compose your thesis or dissertation will insure those fonts are available for embedding.   
  • Do not encrypt your PDF file.  AUETD cannot upload nor index an encrypted file.
  • If using Adobe Acrobat, use the Distiller, not the Writer, to create your PDF file.  Use the highest quality settings.