gDoc Creator
gDoc Creator is a free program that can perform a number of document format conversions, including converting PDF to Word (.DOC) format. It can convert PDF, XPS, or any MS Office format (Word, Excel,Powerpoint ) into any of three formats: DOC, PDF, or XPS. It also can optionally install add-ins for MS Office that enable saving directly to PDF or XPS and will install ’virtual printers’ that enable converting any printable document into either PDF or XPS.
This program has a number of notable features, as follows:
- Can convert to multiple formats: DOC, PDF, XPS. You can use it not just to convert PDF to DOC but vice versa, or convert other Office formats (e.g. PowerPoint) to DOC, PDF or XPS. The program installs virtual PDF and XPS printers that can convert any printable document into these two formats.
- Multiple conversion profiles: gDoc creator will give you several options for how a document is to be produced. For PDF for example, it offers the following profiles; Retain Page Layout (which is my favorite), Retain Text Editability, and Retain Text Flow. You can alternate using these depending on your needs.
- Installs MS Office add-ons for saving as PDF or XPS. Although it may be noted that Microsoft has such an add on for office 2007. The gDoc creator add ons are supposed to work on Office 2003 as well.
- Excellent conversion: although you CAN get better conversions (see the ’verdict’ section below), generally speaking the conversions are excellent. Image handling could be much better though; see the test below for more information on quality of conversion.
- Blazing fast conversions: I could not believe just how fast I was able to convert PDFs and other documents containing several dozen pages.
- Download size: is a whopping (and somewhat puzzling) 120 megs.
- Installs browser extensions: that handle PDF files when reading them online. Not bad, but most likely not needed if your browser already opens PDF files; I would recommend unchecking this option when installing the program.
