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PDF software can be extremely sophisticated -- with a price to match. But sometimes you just want to create a simple PDF document that others can open and view. PDF ReDirect Freeware is a simple PDF creator from EXP Systems. It creates and merges universal PDF documents with no restrictions, watermarks, size limits, ad banners, pop-ups, nags, or similar limitations.
PDF ReDirect opens with its Help file displayed as well as a list comparing its features with its shareware version. Like many PDF creators, PDF ReDirect appears as an option on the Printer menu when you select the Print command from a document. It's a simple setup that keeps tools compact, but PDF ReDirect doesn't offer a mere properties sheet or enhanced print dialog for selecting your output options; it has an actual interface that you can also open (along with Help file, uninstaller, and more) from the program's Start Menu folder. The interface is colorful and a bit busy, and you can't drag the partitions to enlarge the various sections, but you certainly get a lot more choices that we've seen in similar apps. Not only does the main view have quite a few settings, but PDF ReDirect's Preferences offers still more, including General Preferences as well as Properties such as Fonts and Custom Paper Size. We could even choose between Basic and Advanced printer settings. We created a new text document, saved it, and then opened PDF ReDirect by clicking Print. Following its easy steps, we saved our document as a PDF that subsequently opened normally in Adobe Reader. A button to create a new PDF from the program's user interface would be nice but hardly necessary for most jobs.
While PDF ReDirect's user interface isn't the most intuitive we've seen, the mere fact that it has one sets it apart from the competition. Front to back, PDF ReDirect Freeware offers much more in features and options than most free PDF tools based around the Print command. PDF ReDirect Professional is available for users who like the freeware but need more features and options, such as batch processing and encryption.
Publisher's Description
From EXP Systems:
PDF ReDirect is a fast, free, and easy-to-use PDF creator. It has no restrictions, no watermarks, no spyware, no adware, and no pop-up advertisements. Features include encryption, full merging and PDF preview. Available in English, Deutsch, Portugues, Czech, Espanol, Francais, Norwegian, Nederlands, Italiano, Chinese, and Japanese.
What's new in this version: Version 2.5 includes significant improvements including new features (startup page, custom page sizes, recently accessed files shortcut, font conversion settings) and a new and cleaner user interface. Version 2.5.2 includes minor bug fixes.
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All versions:
4.5 starsout of 408 votes
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Current version:
4.5 starsout of 50 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Very functional. Good product."
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Very functional. Good product.
Cons
Don't have any cons.
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"It is a great program"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
It is easy and friendly to use. It does everything for you. I use it for music publication and it gives a great clear result
Cons
For me there are no cons with this software it is just perfect
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"Does what it says it will do!"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Copies everything over to a PDF - even an Internet screen/full-page, in MS-IE9 (which my Win2PDF would not do).
Cons
Occasionally does not copy exact, but seems to be working well lately!
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"Works great!"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Convert to PDF easily
Can merge PDF documents
Easy to useCons
Haven't found any
Summary
If you can't afford Acrobat, like me, this is a great alternative!
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"Tried many - The best by far"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Great for printing maps. I've printed my fair share. I've printed thousands of PDFs.
This program crashes the least (most crashes are due to large PDF size > 100MB)
Preview before you save
There are some handy controls such as controlling detail and rotation
Quick program once it has started.
It's easy to merge pages into one PDF.Cons
no multi-layer support that I know of
I might not reccomend this to someone who rarely ever prints PDFs. If you only print once in a blue moon use something like Cute PDF which is very simple. -
"I can't believe this is free!"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
This is exactly what I was looking for: simple program not only to create PDF's but also to merge them and split them at no cost (well, they ask for a small donation that it's actually fair from my point of view).
Quite fast to merge PDF's.Cons
Nothing so far. Thanks for this excellent software.
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"Excellent product. Very powerful and easy to use"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Takes anything you can print and creates a PDF. You can combine multiple documents into one PDF, encrypt a document, and much, much more.
Cons
Can't think of any.
Summary
An essential utility. Sending documents via PDF is replacing faxing, and PDF Redirect makes it simple. Wouldn't be without it.
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"Easy to use - excellent tool"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Been using it for years. Very good options. Works well with your PDF viewer.
Cons
None - can't think of any.
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"Flexible and powerful for free"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Can work as a printer or can combine existing pdf files.
No watermarks.Cons
On occasion, stops accepting jobs from print queue. Reboot resolves issue.
Summary
Does a lot for a free program.
I have been using it regularly for years and never considered changing. -
"Reliable, Easy, User Intuitive"
Version: PDF ReDirect 2.5.2
Pros
Been using this program for a couple years and won't do without it. I count on PDF ReDirect to document and archive all my business files and it's never let me down. It works like a printer driver. Hit print, choose PDF ReDirect as the "printer" and it saves the file in a wink. Scan a file the same way.
Cons
None that I can find.
