Review: Nuance's PDF Converter Professional 5.0

The CMP Channel Test center tested Nuance Communications' latest version of PDF Converter Professional (version 5) and found it to be a worthy contender. It also gives VARs an opportunity to add another layer of functionality to a typical Office deployment.

Designed specifically for business users, PDF Converter Professional 5 delivers everything needed to create, convert, and edit PDF files. It can convert/create PDF files to/from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and XPS or Corel WordPerfect. It even supports Microsoft Office 2007 files on systems with .NET 3.0 or higher installed (.NET 3.0 is native in Vista and not available for W2K).

Installation was smooth with no hiccups. First, the setup installs the Visual C++ distributable (if it's not already on the computer) and then the application. Since we were testing on an XP SP2 machine, we also downloaded and installed the .NET 3.0 Framework (~30Mb) from Microsoft's Website so Office 2007 compatibility could be tested.

After installation, there are three new programs on the system; PDF Converter Assistant, PDF Converter Professional, and PDF Create!. The actual Converter Professional application is a complete PDF solution. Although testers had to refer to the integrated help file for guidance on some settings, the basics are all very intuitive. Additionally, there is an option to install an add-in entitled "Nuance PDF" to the toolbar/ribbon of each Office application. These add-ins allow you to create PDF's from within Office and can be installed either by doing a typical install or a repair of a current, custom installation.

Conversions were extremely fast and, for the most part, spot on. Every once in a while, an image shifted during conversion and was superimposed over the text following it. This did not happen often and is a very minor nit-pick. It is also possible that there was a problem with the way the original was created, so we're not holding it against Nuance. Testers did have a few questions about Office 2007 conversions that were answered after an email to the developers. Specifically, the default Office format is pre-2007. To change that to 2007, we needed to open PDF Converter Assistant and change the setting there (apparently, Professional utilizes the Assistant behind the scenes). With that confusion behind us, conversions proceeded exactly as we expected. It is also worth noting that, although the application for the target format does not need to be installed in order for conversions to take place, the respective program does need to be installed when converting to a PDF, as it is silently called in the background. For example, Word does not need to be on the system to convert from a .pdf file to .doc, but it would be necessary for .doc to .pdf.

Other notable features include document splitting and merging, document comparison, file size optimizers, digital signature capability, watermarks and stamps, automatic pdf-to-email, Thin Client Citrix and Windows terminal services support, and conversions to spreadsheet while retaining accounting, currency and other special formatting. PDF Converter Professional is part of Nuance's ScanSoft Imaging Partner Program which offers NFR copies of new versions, marketing materials, and product training. (And Nuance itself has long had a channel program, considering the long history with its Dragon Naturally Speaking line.) At a single seat retail price of $99 (other license options are available), PDF Converter Professional 5 is a solid, robust alternative to Adobe Acrobat and other, more expensive PDF solutions.