Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

This is a list of frequently asked questions about the Fast PDF service. If there's a question or more importantly an answer that you'd like us to add - just email us at help+support@fastpdf.com.

General Questions
What is Fast PDF?
How did you build Fast PDF?
Why should I use PDF files?
If I upload a document to Fast PDF, what will happen to my file? Will you respect my privacy?
When I purchase PDF conversions, who has access to my credit card number?
How much does it cost to convert a document?

Conversion Questions
I just submitted my file to be converted, what now?
It's been a day since I submitted my file to be converted, and I haven't received email... What should I do?
How do I save the PDF to my computer?
What fonts are supported?
I want to convert a PDF to a Microsoft Word document or HTML - do you provide this service?
Can I password protect or encrypt the PDF file that's generated?
I have a Microsoft Word document that's very large, can I convert it?
I'd like to insert hyperlinks into my PDF file, can Fast PDF do this?
When I view my PDF on my screen it looks blurry, what's happening?
The page breaks in the PDF file don't match the ones in my Word document. What's wrong?

Other Services
Can I link from my website to Fast PDF?
I run a website, can I have a cobranded solution?
Can I offer Fast PDF to users within my company?
Can I integrate Fast PDF into the back-end of my website?
Can I purchase a license to run Fast PDF on my own server?

General Questions

  What is Fast PDF?

Fast PDF is a web based service that provides an easy solution to create PDF files. Fast PDF does not require you to install any new software or change your system configurations to use the service.

  How did you build Fast PDF?

The team that built Fast PDF has been building fault tolerant, scalable solutions on the web since 1996. We're big fans of open-source software. We've built the Fast PDF conversion service using a combination of open-source software and proprietary technology that we've developed ourselves. This means that converting your document with Fast PDF may produce different results than converting it using other tools. We think this is a good thing - the PDF files we generate tend to be much smaller than when using any other tool we've seen.

  Why should I use PDF files?

PDF (Portable Document Format) is designed to solve the problem of transporting a file from one software application to another. Your PDF document will look the way you want it to - regardless of the type of computer or operating system the person you're sharing it with has installed.

  If I upload a document to Fast PDF, what will happen to my file? Will you respect my privacy?

Your input file is passed through our automated process that converts it to a PDF file. We keep the PDF file on our system for a few days so that you can pick it up at your convenience, but after that, we completely delete your document from our system. We absolutely respect your privacy - we do not even look at your documents unless you give us explicit permission to do so (for example, to debug a problem having to do with your document). Please read our privacy policy for more details.

  When I purchase PDF conversions, who has access to my credit card number?

We currently use a popular and widely-trusted third-party provider (PayPal) to handle our e-commerce processing. We neither obtain nor store a copy of your credit card information. Sometime in the future, we may process credit cards ourselves - should that happen, the Fast PDF service will only keep a copy of your credit card information if you explicitly open an account with us.

  How much does it cost to convert a document?

Converting a Microsoft Word file to a PDF is free if your document is no larger than 24 pages and you don't mind a small watermark on the bottom of each page helping advertise Fast PDF. We also have a la carte pricing for one-time users and bulk accounts for frequent users, for when you need a document without our watermark. Click here to learn more about our pricing plans.

Conversion Questions

  I just submitted my file to be converted, what now?

Hang tight, we're on it! Your file has been put in our "in-bin", and will be converted as soon as the documents ahead of it are done. When we've finished, we'll send you an email telling you how to pick up the result - or what to do if for some reason we couldn't do the conversion.

  It's been a day since I submitted my file to be converted, and I haven't received email... What should i do?

The most common reason for this is that users sometimes mis-type their email addresses, and then our server can't reach them through email. (Normally, the system responds within an hour.) Try re-submitting your document, and double-check that email address!

Another common problem that we see (but that users can't) is that if your email account is full, your email provider will reject the messages we send you. When this happens, the Fast PDF service simply can't reach you to tell you about your document (or about your email problem!). You should clear some space in your email account and re-submit your document.

If none of these suggestions solve your problem, please contact us.

  How do I save the PDF to my computer?

After converting your document to a PDF, the Fast PDF service will send you a link in email where you can go to download your document. Open your web browser to that page and there should be a hyperlink to download your particular PDF document. Click on the link in your web browser and the document should open. Once it has opened - from the "File" menu select "Save As." Navigate to where you would like to store the document on your computer. Then click "Save."

  What fonts are supported?

The Fast PDF converter supports the standard fonts that come shipped with Word 2000 (Arial, Book Antiqua, Bookman Old Style, Century Gothic, Comic Sans MS, Courier, Courier New, Garamond, Impact, Marlett, Monotype Corsiva, Symbol, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Webdings, WingDings). We plan to add many more fonts in the early summer. If you make use of a font the system doesn't yet support, it will either substitute a similar font (if it can), or else will use small rectangles in place of characters as if you'd opened your document in Word on a computer lacking those fonts.

  I want to convert a PDF to a Microsoft Word document or HTML - do you provide this service?

Not yet - but we're working on it! If you'd like to be notified when this feature (and others) is available, send an email to Fast-PDF-Friends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

  Can I password protect or encrypt the PDF file that's generated?

Again, not yet. We hope to get this done this summer.

  I have a Microsoft Word document that's very large, can I convert it?

The Fast PDF service only accepts documents up to about 82MB. If your document is larger than that, you might try splitting it into several smaller documents and submitting them separately. We will be relaxing this restriction, but will not be converting very large documents for free. They can take awhile to convert, and slow down the service for other users.

  I'd like to insert hyperlinks into my PDF file, can Fast PDF do this?

No - this feature will have to await a future release.

  When I view my PDF on my screen it looks blurry, what's happening?

Fast PDF optimizes fonts for printing, and printers have a different resolution than computer screens. Some fonts work well at both resolutions, but some don't. We'll be upgrading the fonts (and the font-handling software...) on our servers to higher quality versions as we can so that conversion results will look good both printed and on the screen.

  The page breaks in the PDF file don't match the ones in my Word document. What's wrong?

A few of our users have this problem. Sometimes it is caused by differing versions of Word being used (we are optimized for documents created by Word2000), but most often is either because the fonts we're using don't match yours in all particulars, or because we don't have a font you're using. In the latter case, we sometimes substitute another font that's similar but not identical to the one you've used. If the substituted font is a smidgie bigger or smaller, the effect can sometimes be enough to cause a page to break a line away from where you thought it would.

If the exact page break locations are important for your document, you might try visiting our workaround page.

Other Services

  Can I link from my website to Fast PDF?

Absolutely! Just add the following link to your website:
<a href="http://www.fastpdf.com">Fast PDF: Microsoft Word to PDF Conversions</a>

  I run a website, can I have a cobranded solution?

Yes! We can enable you to offer PDF conversion services directly to your users and create a revenue stream for your website. Conversions will be priced the same as the main Fast PDF site, and free conversions will not be offered. To activate a cobrand, there is a nominal setup fee and a monthly maintenance fee. In return, you will receive a share of the proceeds from the document conversions that come though your cobrand. Please contact the Fast PDF sales folks at sales@fastpdf.com for more information.

  Can I offer Fast PDF to users within my company?

Yes again! Fast PDF is available as a service that can be integrated into your corporate intranet or even your document management system. Please contact Fast PDF sales at sales@fastpdf.com more information.

  Can I integrate Fast PDF into the back-end of my website?

Yes. Fast PDF is set up to function as a web service. Integrating directly into the back-end of a website is straightforward. Please contact Fast PDF sales at sales@fastpdf.com for more information.

  Can I purchase a license to run Fast PDF on my own server?

No. At this time, Fast PDF is only offered as a service - we do not sell source code licenses. However, your needs can probably be satisfied by integrating Fast PDF as a sub-service into the software that is currently running on your server. This isn't terribly difficult; contact us for details.