How can you convert your HW solutions to pdf?

 

You can write your HW reports by using either Word or LaTeX. (Word is easier, LaTeX is better.)

 

If you are using LaTeX, you can directly use the DVI-to-PDF button on the toolbar of WinEdt.

 

If you are using Word, one of the free and legal ways of generating pdf documents is as follows: (I don’t say that it is easy, but at least it works)

  1. You will need the following packages (check internet for their latest versions)
    1. GhostScript and GhostView. (download GPL GhostScript and GSView)
    2. wmf2eps printer driver.
    3. Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  2. Install GhostScript, GhostView and Acrobat Reader by following their instructions. (If their executables are not in your system path (highly unlikely), you are advised to add them to the path.)
  3. Do not install wmf2eps, but do the following:
    1. Unzip the package to a temporary folder.
    2. Go to Start->Setting->Printers and Faxes->Add a printer

                                                              i.      First page, click Next,

                                                            ii.      Second page, choose local printer, uncheck automatically detect,

                                                          iii.      Third page, choose use the following port: File:,

                                                          iv.      Fourth page, click Have Disk... Button,

                                                            v.      On the dialog box browse your temporary folder and goto folder PSPrint->Windows2000->Standard and press OK button the the dialog box

                                                          vi.      Now you should see WMF2EPS Color PS L2 as a printer, press Next button (just ignore the not digitally signed warning).

                                                        vii.      Follow the instructions.

                                                      viii.      Now, you should have WMF2EPS Color PS L2 in your printers list.

  1. If everthing has gone ok, you are ready to generate pdf documents.
    1. When you have your document ready in Word for conversion, choose File->Print menu and select WMF2EPS Color PS L2 as the printer you want to print.
    2. Click Properties. On the first page choose Black&White or Color as you wish. (Black&White will possible generate smaller files).
    3. Click Advanced... button. Find Print Quality option and make it at least 800dpi.
    4. Click OK->OK->OK.
    5. At this point, you are possibly asked to enter a file name. Choose a proper folder and give the filename ELE739-HWx-y, the file extension ‘.prn’ is given automatically by your computer, do not try to change it at this point. In the file name x is the week and y is your surname. For example, for week 5 this would be ELE739-HW5-Toker, if I were to submit the document.
    6. Goto the folder where you keep your HW files. Change the extension of your new file from .prn to .ps.
    7. We are almost done. Open your .ps file with GSview (gsview32c.exe). Choose File->Convert menu. Then select Device:pdfwrite, Resolution:720 and click OK.
    8. You will be asked for a filename again. Goto your HW folder, and enter ELE739-HWx-y.pdf as the filename.
    9. In Windows Explorer double click your ELE739-HWx-y.pdf file to open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Check whether everything is ok.
    10. That is all folks. Try not to exceed 1-2MB as you will submit your HW by email. I would strongly recommend using ‘read-receipt’ in order to make sure that your file is received by me. For the subject part of your email, enter the filename of the file you send.

 

If there is a problem with this document or if you find a better way of converting Word to pdf, please contact me.

As one of your friends indicated, there are several online services on the web. www.pdfonline.com is one of them. However, when using these services make sure that they do not infect your computer or use your email address for spam. As long as you submit your HWs as pdf files, it does not matter for me which way you use.