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Step 4: Convert Your ETDR to PDF

The text of your thesis, dissertation, or report must be submitted in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) and must meet the Guidelines for Style, Content, and Formatting. Instructions below are for converting a Microsoft Word document to PDF. If you used a word processor other than Word, contact the IT Help Desk for assistance.

There are several ways to convert a Microsoft Word document to PDF. For best results, K-State students should use computers in the Media Development Center or systems that have both Word and Adobe Acrobat Professional. Note: Acrobat Professional is not the same as Adobe Reader software that’s freely available.

Off-campus students who do not have access to a computer with Word and Acrobat Professional should contact the IT Help Desk for assistance (785-532-7722, 800-865-6142, helpdesk@k-state.edu).

The instructions below are for Word 2007 and Acrobat 8 Professional. Both programs are installed on computers in the Media Development Center. Steps for other software versions may vary slightly. To convert your document:

  1. Copy your file to the desktop.
  2. Open your file in Word.
  3. Click the Acrobat tab at the top of the Word window.
  4. Click Preferences. The Acrobat PDFMaker dialog box will open.
    1. Click Restore defaults in the lower left corner.
    2. Click Yes to confirm restoring defaults.
    3. Click OK to close the Acrobat PDFMaker dialog box.
  5. In the upper left corner of the Word window, click Create PDF.
  6. On the Save Adobe PDF file as: dialog box, go to the directory where you want to save the file. It’s best to save the file to the desktop, then copy it to a USB or other external drive when finished.
  7. Be sure Save as type: is set to PDF files.
  8. In the File name: box, type a file name. Required format for file names is FirstnameLastnameYear (example: SusanMiller2008). Click Save.

The PDF conversion process may take a few minutes. When completed, the PDF document will open in Adobe Acrobat Professional. If your document does not open in Adobe Acrobat Professional, repeat steps 3 through 9 above. Review the PDF version carefully, with particular attention to images, tables, special characters, and page numbers.

If you have questions, ask for assistance at the Media Development Center service desk.

  
         
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