Converting PDF files is a useful feature of the document format that makes it easier to view, share and edit PDF files. Users can both convert other file formats to the PDF format or the other way around. The list of possible file types to convert to PDF and vice-versa is long. Users can take other text documents, spreadsheet files, charts, infographics, and even image files and convert them into PDFs. The amount of possible file types to convert is only limited by the type of software or program that a user has to perform this function. Many online tools offer conversions for a limited number of file types. Other premium tools offer a longer list of options.
Lumin PDF
Lumin PDF is a downloadable PDF editor that lets users view, share, and edit their PDF tools with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The software is available for free for an initial trial period but to access the more advanced features in the Lumin suite users need to subscribe to a specific plan.
Among the advanced features locked within the various Lumin subscription plans is the ability to merge, edit, split, compress, and, of course, convert several different PDF files into other file formats. Lumin also offers a set of features unique to its software like the ability to collaborate on a PDF in real-time, as well as the ability to add annotations to PDF files.
The list of available file conversion types include, but are not limited to:
- Word to PDF
- PowerPoint to PDF
- Excel to PDF
- JPG to PDF
The method to convert these file types to a PDF using Lumin software is very similar. Users first need to choose which file they wish to convert. Choosing the file type, users will then be prompted to Drag and Drop their file into the dialog box. Once uploaded the file will become a PDF and be ready for download or saving.
PDFelement
PDFelement is a downloadable software that gives users a full suite of PDF editing, viewing and annotation tools along with the all-important conversion features. Once downloaded, PDFelement gives users an easy-to-use user interface to manage all aspects of their PDF files. Users can open the PDFelement tool to edit, rotate, annotate, merge, split and convert their files through the intuitive control panel.
The tools are so simple that users can complete them in only a few steps. Users can simply select the file they wish to convert by right-clicking the file and choosing “Convert” from the drop-down menu. Once the PDFelement window is open, users can then choose their “Output” format – the file they want their PDF converted to – among the options, which include Word files, Excel, and others.
Users can also convert a batch of different PDF files using the Batch feature of the PDFelement tool. When they upload multiple PDF files, users can browse the Convert tab and select which file they want to enable their conversion. The file types include Word, Excel, PPT, Text, and Images.
Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader is a dual-platform PDF editor and reader that also includes several high-performing features for use with PDF formats. The Foxit software is both available for download and for use through the Foxit browser, although the premium elements of the program are only available when users purchase the software.
Among the program’s more popular features is the ability to create new PDF files, as well as the ability to collaborate with authorized users on a PDF in real-time. The program also lets users take other file formats and convert them into a new PDF easily. There is a special section on the Foxit browser that lets users choose from among images, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint formats to convert their PDF format.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat’s suite of PDF software remains the standard by which all other editing software is judged, as the company created the format back in the early 90s. The reader feature is free to use, but it has no other editing, annotating, or converting features. The premium version of the Adobe software does offer several conversion file types and lets users upload several different files to convert to other formats.
Among those file types are the typical Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and JPG. But Adobe also offers compression capabilities so users can turn larger files into more manageable smaller ones, and share them more easily across different storage platforms. The universality of the Adobe suite of software tools also makes them accessible across different devices, which gives users even more flexibility.
