If your favourite Windows application still doesn't output data in PDF format, then you could try emailing the authors to complain, starting a petition of other users, or threatening to take your business elsewhere. But it might be easier to install novaPDF Printer Lite, instead.

This useful tool works by installing a virtual printer driver on your PC. Select Print in any Windows application, point at the novaPDF driver, and in a few seconds your document will be saved as a standard PDF file. Simple, really, although if you want a little more control over the finished results, then novaPDF does make some configuration options available from the Printer Preferences dialog.

On the Page tab, for instance, it's possible to choose a preset page size, or configure a custom page of your own. The document resolution can be set to values from 72 to 2400 dpi, as well as scaling the output to between 1 and 400% of the original document size.

The Document Info tab is where you can set the Title, Subject, Author and Keywords tags of the PDF file. You may also choose various Acrobat viewer options, including the start page, layout (single page, continuous, facing and so on) and mode (show page only, show bookmarks, display full screen, more).

The final Save tab tells novaPDF Printer Lite to either prompt for a file name, or use a default that you specify. This can include the date or time to ensure it's unique, and means your PDF files will be produced without you even needing to see the Save As dialog. It couldn't get any easier.

Note, ignore the 'time limited demo' reference on this page. Get your serial code from www.novapdf.com/free-registration.php?src=15

This download offer will be taken offline on or around 24th of December 2006. 

UPGRADE OFFFER - Save 25% on novaPDF Professional 4

Try the Professional version of novaPDF and you'll find support for 40 and 128-bit encryption, along with security restrictions that limit whether your PDF files can be printed, copied, modified or annotated. PDF bookmarks can be automatically generated based on headings in the source document. There's support for embedding both TrueType and OpenType fonts, while ZIP and JPEG compression will keep your files at their minimum size. novaPDF Professional 4 usually retails at $39.95, but for a limited time you can upgrade for only $29.95 (around £16). Visit www.novapdf.com/free-registration.php?src=15 to order.