They tend to be based on Ghostscript, the almost GPL utility that
converts from postscript to raster, postscript to PDF etc. Very handy
and source code is available. From memory the "first" Windows
implementation also used "redmon", a printer port redirector. The idea
being that you used standard postscript driver and the output stream
normally destined for the printer was fed into the stdin on ghostscript.
The output can be set to all types of file or device types. If you go
this way it is worthwhile downloading Adobe's distiller PPD and using
that instead of a standard Windoze printer driver.

Ghostscript is used extensively in Linux to convert PS printer streams
to specific printer device types.

Pls be careful of the license provisions as it isnt quite open GPL. They
tend to leave older versions for almost unrestricted use but more recent
ones have rules of use. If of course you are a home/provate user it isnt
a problem.

Also keep in mind that the Adobe creator does a lot more than just
"distill" like the free versions do. Depends on your needs of course!

Cheers Bob


John Smith wrote:
Many here seem to be hung up on .pdf files, adobes pdf creator is expensive.