Create Documents in PDF Format

GumbyDamnIt

Perhaps I've missed it, but I'm looking in the repo for a tool that will allow me to (preference 1) print a document directly to the PDF format, or (preference 2) otherwise (command line?) convert an existing document to the PDF format. I don't see cups-pdf, or similar tools.
I obviously must be overlooking it. What is everyone using?

yursan9

I use pandoc and texlive to convert myriad of plaintext formats to PDF. You can also open odt, docx, and rtf in LibreOffice and select exports as PDF.

Oh, and you can already print to PDF when you open Print's Dialog Box

GumbyDamnIt

yursan9
You know, I thought for sure that I could print to PDF via the Printer Dialog Box. I was up to 2AM last night trying to figure out why it wasn't working!!!
I'll have a look at pandoc. I appreciate your suggestion, thanks!

brent

Scribus has advance settings if you like crop marks, bleed marks, etc on your pdf.. Like Yursan said, Libre and print dialogue box are easy too.

Mothman

Pandoc is command line and does not support PDF, for which it needs pdflatex, wkhtml2pdf or other backends. Personally I print PDF via Evince, which - in Solus, AFAIR, comes pre-installed, and I convert to PDF in Abiword; because Ghostwriter, the markdown application I prefer, has some problems calling Pandoc: as I've already pointed out it seems to use deprecated commands... You can of course launch Scribus but this software is mainly for laying out graphic works like leaflets, magazines... I relied on Scribus to make several photo books exported as PDF/X-3 and uploaded to Blurb. It's a pity that the version in the Solus repo was still the 1.4.8 (instead of the much improved 1.5.4).

To split, merge, rotate and extract pages from a PDF you can download PDFSAM.

brent

Mothman In my pre-FOSS era I was a heavy Quark user, which Scribus reminds me of. Used it professionally but I also composed letters in it and did simple stuff out of habit, thus making Scribus an app that does what you need it to do, not necessarily exclusive. You most certainly can get more clever with a cover letter and resume in Scribus than you can in Word/Libre.
The control you have over your pdf is incredible in programs like this.
I will admit it's a lot for a simple letter, where that pinpoint control is not needed.
PS--Ghost is an under-appreciated word processor for sure

edit: fixed sentence

Justin

What type of document are you trying to convert to PDF is the most important bit of information we could be provided. 😀

GumbyDamnIt

I appreciate all of the timely feedback!
For some reason, I can once again "print to PDF" from the printers dialogue box. The reasons why it stopped working and why it is once again working are still not fully understood.
I particularly appreciate the tip that I can easily Export a document to PDF from LibreOffice.

Anywhoo, thanks again everyone!!!