A popular post on this blog which you might have seen compares different ways to convert PDF to Word (Doc or RTF) formats for free, with several desktop-based programs and several online services tested.
One of the programs written up is AnyBizSoft’s PDF to Word converter, whose version 2.53 was being provided 100% free. Aside from delivering excellent quality conversions, what I liked about this software is that it installed a “Convert to Word” entry in the Windows explorer context menu which appears whenever you right click a PDF file.
Recently, however, I was notified by Ricky from AnyBizSoft that version 2.53 is no longer on offer, and that the newest version 3.0 of the PDF to Word converter is available as a free giveaway on their Facebook page.
The only caveat? Users are requested to “like” the company on Facebook before they can access the download link and the “request free registration code” button. Note: the giveaway for the Mac version lasts until Aug 8th, while the Windows giveaway will, according to the email I got, be on offer indefinitely.
The new version 3.0 offers the following improvements over 2.53
- It does not require that MS Word is installed on your system
- Will convert tables
- It will preserve hyperlinks as such in the converted PDF
- While ver. 2.53 expressly stated that commercial use is not allowed for the free version, there is nothing in the text of the Facebook giveaway that states as much,
Here’s a re-hashing of my summary of the old version, which should apply to this new version as well.
- Interface: simple, easy, drag-and-drop. Adds a right click “convert PDF to Word” context menu entry, which can potentially be useful.
- Download size: 6.43 megs.
- OCR support: none
- Strengths: excellent handling of images, and formatting, can convert in batch.
- Weaknesses: text handling could have been better.
- Overall: 8/10 see the comparative PDF to Word conversion test to benchmark against other options.
Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac.
Go to the AnyBizSoft Facebook giveaway page to download the latest version (approx 6.43 megs).
