Converting your Document to PDF

For help with converting your thesis or dissertation into a PDF contact the Academic Resource Center:

Academic Resource Center
103 Olscamp Hall
419‐372‐9277
arc@lists.bgsu.edu 

Here's a tip:  If you used the templates to create your title page, abstract, and table of contents, DO NOT COMBINE THESE DOCUMENTS into one document using your word processing software. Keep the documents separate and convert each one to PDF format. Once each document has been converted to PDF, then combine them into one document using Adobe Acrobat. By doing it this way, you will not lose the pagination for each section. 

After converting your manuscript to PDF, you will be able to specify document properties and set you bookmarks by using a version of Adobe Acrobat Professional. The computer labs on campus have Adobe Acrobat Professional installed on the computers. A 30-day trial version of Adobe Acrobat Professional can be downloaded to your personal computer if you are unable to access the University computer labs.

Once your document has been successfully converted to PDF format, update Document Properties as described. Also, be sure that any hyperlinks are active and work correctly. Adjust electronic page numbers to match your own document. For assistance, consult the tutorial or Adobe Acrobat Help.  Also set your bookmarks.  The bookmarks must include the preliminary pages, the major chapters, the bibliography and appendix.  When setting your bookmarks make sure the pages are set to open with the top of the page.

For your convenience here are some instructions for embedding fonts, converting your files to PDF format, setting bookmarks, and  document properties. 

• Instructions for Word 2007  (PC)
• Instructions for Word 2008  (MAC)
• Instructions for Word 2010  (PC)
• Instructions for Word 2011  (MAC)

 For inserting rich media into PDF documents here is an Adobe Acrobat X Pro Step-by-Step Guide.