Create a PDF from a Word Document

All Microsoft Office products can produce PDF documents. There are advantages to using PDF in your course rather than original files produced in MS 365 products:

  • The document looks the same for every student no matter what operating system or browser
  • The PDF format is ubiquitous. It works on any operating system. 
  • Usually saving as PDF compresses the file size.

See the following instructions for creating PDF from a Microsoft 365 Word file:

Export Your File as a PDF Document 

  1. Open your Word 365 document.
  2. Click on the File menu.
    Image shows File tab.
  3. Choose Export and click the Create PDF/XPS Document option then click the Create PDF/XPS button.
    Image shows the Export option.
  4. Choose a location to save your file and enter a name for your file in the File Name box. Then click Save

Save as a PDF 

  1. Open your Word 365 document.
  2. Click on the File menu.
    Image shows File tab.
  3. Choose Save a Copy or Save as Adobe PDF.
    Image shows the Save As option.
  4. If you choose Save as a Copy, click the Type drop-down arrow to see the various types the file can be saved as and select PDF.
  5. Type a name for the file in the File name field, verify PDF is selected as the file type and click Save.