Older version that still makes PDFs

[marke84677179]

I was planning on putting out the second edition of a local history book this summer that I had done back in 2001 on PageMaker 6.5. It never dawned on me that it would no longer have the capacity to make PDF files.

It appears I will have to move up to inDesign (which, in itself, is fine since I used ID for several years at work). To further complicate matters, I do all my writing, pagination, etc. on my old desktop with Windows XP (though I no longer connect to the internet with it for safety reasons). I am hoping to be able to do this project without buying new software AND a new computer.

So, 1. what is the oldest/earliest ID version that will still make printable PDF files? 2. Is that version compatible at all with XP? 3. If not, does anyone have any ideas that will not bankrupt me?

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[BobLevine]

Every single version of InDesign has been able to export PDFs. But opening a PM file in InDesign requires CS6 or earlier.

Why not just reinstall PM on XP and be done with it. Why can't you create a PDF?

[marke84677179]

Do you think reinstalling it would allow me to create usable PDFs? Right now when I try to export into PDF, it's just creating a Postscript (PS) file. It looks like I have Acrobat 3.01 on that computer. This is my first attempt to make a PDF from PageMaker in many years; I may not be doing something right, to begin with.

[Laubender]

Hi Mark,

if you can do PostScript files with PageMaker you could distill them to PDF with Acrobat Distiller on the same machine.

Regards,
Uwe

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Mark,

As Bob mentioned, for PM files you need CS6 or earlier version. You can first convert the file to .indd or .idml then Export to PDF. Please check out these help articles for more details:

Convert QuarkXPress and PageMaker documents to InDesign

Can't Open Pagemaker files in InDesign CC solution

Regards,

Srishti

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

IIRC, PM 6.5 has the capability to make PDFs directly.  But my knowledge of PM 6.5 was "archived" decades ago.

Here are some older posts that might have information to help you export a PDF from PM 6.5:

• https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1231494​  See the post that replies with File / Export to PDF.
• https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1003451 ​
• https://forums.adobe.com/thread/344430​

If necessary, there are a couple of workarounds that might help.

• File / Print / and select the Adobe PDF virtual Printer. If you control the settings, you can get a serviceable PDF.
• Use Acrobat Distiller to convert the .PS file to PDF. (Acrobat Distiller is an older utility that converts PS files to PDF. I don't think Distiller is in the current Acrobat Pro DC:2019, only earlier versions but it most likely is on the older XP workstation. Look for its .exe file in XP's Program Files folder, usually under Adobe or Acrobat.)
• If you have a CC subscription, you most likely can install the older InDesign CS6 version, which will open PageMaker files (newer versions of InDesign can't open them).
  • Through your Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app, locate the InDesign section and select Manage / Other Versions.
  • Select CS6 from your options.
  • Launch CS6, open your PM6.5 file in it, and save it as an INDD InDesign file.
  • Then launch the current version of InDesign CC:2019 (or whichever one you have), open the INDD file, and republish the project.
  • You have to go through the incremental step-up from PM to INDD-CS6 to INDD-current. Some things will shift, but at least your layout will be mostly in tact.
  • Note: you can have multiple versions of InDesign installed on one computer as long as they are covered under your license. So you can have CS6 and CC:2019 on your current workstation.

[Laubender]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Bevi+Chagnon+%7C+PubCom  wrote

…I don't think Distiller is in the current Acrobat Pro DC:2019,…

Hi Bevi,

Distiller is still with us 🙂

It's part of an Acrobat Pro DC installation:

Regards,
Uwe

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Ah! There it is!

I know there was talk about retiring it and I didn't see it in the Acrobat Programs folder.

Thanks Uwe.