Until recently, while we could all view PDF files just by downloading the free Adobe Reader software, the only people who could create them were those who could afford to pay hundreds of pounds for Adobe’s PDF-creation software.

Now, several cheaper alternatives have sprung up, of which Expert PDF 4 Pro is one. As well as being able to create PDFs, it can also edit them -­ a facility that most of the cheaper options lack. The creator and editor are two separate programs, although they are both installed by default.

Installation was relatively painless but we were forced to input registration information, such as a name and email address, before being allowed to install it.

The software installs itself as a printer driver, so to create a PDF, you just ‘print’ to the Expert PDF printer. This pops up a window with various options, although most users will just need to click Generate to make the PDF.

The editing program, on the other hand, is powerful but not very easy to get to grips with.

This is a good, powerful pair of tools, but for most home users the cheaper alternatives are easier and just as useful.

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Scansoft PDF Converter 3 Pro
Verdict: Easy to use but a tad more expensive than Expert PDF
Rating: 4/5
Price: £60