How to Convert Text File to PDF.

Woman typing on laptop keyboard.

Transform your notes and .TXT to PDF with online tools and conversion software. Most notetaking software, including Windows Notepad, save content as a .TXT file. Whether you’re taking lecture notes, or minutes from a team meeting, quickly jotting ideas down in note form allows for easier analysis later.

Take your simple text notes to the next level with Adobe Acrobat. With our simple-to-use tools, you can amp up your text notes, with features like adding comments or annotations to provide feedback or amends. Learn how to convert TXT to PDF with Adobe to get started.

You might wonder why you’d bother converting TXT notes to a PDF. But whether you want to make the document more engaging with imagery, boost collaboration with colleagues, or give it a slick, client-facing makeover, PDF can help.

What You’ll Learn.

Screenshot of Adobe’s online PDF conversion tool, with an option to select a file to convert.

How to Convert .TXT to PDF.

Convert your .TXT to PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe’s Convert to PDF online tool. Conversion takes just a few simple steps.

Here’s how to do it online:

  1. Launch the PDF tool above.
  2. Sign in with your Adobe account.
  3. Drag and drop your .TXT file into the converter. You can also use the Select a File option to browse your device and find the required file.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompt to start the conversion.
  5. Don’t forget to download and save your new PDF file once you’re done.

You can annotate and edit your PDF using the range of tools featured in both Adobe Acrobat Pro and the online suite.

Convert TXT to PDF Using Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Screenshot of the Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF Convert to PDF Tool. A .TXT document has been uploaded ready to convert.

The steps are just as straightforward if you are using the Adobe Acrobat Pro software:

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Head to File > PDF to File or Create PDF.
  3. In the on-screen box, select the file you want to convert.
  4. Click Open to start the conversion.
  5. Don’t forget to save your PDF once you’re done.

How to Convert Notes to PDF on Mac.

Apple’s native Notes program also saves content as simple text files. You can convert your Notes to PDF using the process outlined above or using the built-in conversion option featured on Apple devices.

Follow these steps on your Mac device:

  1. Open the Notes you want to convert in your Notes app.
  2. Head to File > Export as PDF.
  3. Save the file in your desired location.

Image of the Notes File Menu, showcasing the Export as PDF… function.

TXT vs PDF.

TXT and PDF are both file types that display and hold text. But beyond that, they’re rather different. TXT is a basic, nuts-and-bolts file for taking notes. PDF, on the other hand, is much more sophisticated.

Short for Portable Document Format, a PDF can include text, imagery and infographics. You can even embed video and audio. Or add interactive elements like links and buttons. When Adobe launched PDF in the 1990s, it transformed how people used and shared documents. It even has its own ISO standard.

To look at any TXT file in comparison, they’re much more basic. Windows Notepad, for example, is a simple text editor for plain-text documents. You cannot add images or graphics, or formatting elements like bullet points or hyperlinks. People mostly use it to take notes and make lists.

It’s not the only text file to use the .TXT extension, either. Similar text editors like WordPad (also Windows) or TextEdit (for Mac) also share it.

So, why might you want to convert a text file to PDF?

Why convert TXT to PDF?

There are several reasons to consider converting your TXT file to a PDF. These range from how the document looks to the way people can engage with it:

  1. Smarten it up. By converting a TXT file to PDF, you can add formatting and styling to develop your rough notes into a polished, professional doc.

  2. Collaborate. Transform your meeting notes or late-night pitch idea into a collaborative document with the ability for colleagues to add annotations and comments.

  3. Visualise it. Text alone can be flat. Amp up the engagement by adding imagery and graphics to better tell the story of your words.

Overall, you may want to see converting text to PDF as a logical step in the journey of your document. Text editors like Notepad are for getting the idea down in real-time – whether that’s capturing a fleeting Eureka moment for an upcoming pitch or taking notes on the fly in a fast-paced meeting. The TXT file is your raw material, your slab of stone.

The PDF is all about refining that, sculpting it. Convert your Notepad file to a PDF to make the document more polished and professional. To shape it, line by line. To better tell your story. And then, crucially, to share it – in a way you know is both secure and encourages collaboration.

PDF finishes what your TXT file notes started.

FAQs

What is a .TXT file?

A .TXT file is a simple text-based document that stores data without any formatting or further customisation options. The plain text file is universally compatible with operating systems and software.

Without any formatting or customisation, .TXT documents are small in size and easy to share.

What is a PDF file?
A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a lockable file that can present both text and images in a way that preserves the original formatting chosen by the document’s creator. This means you can easily share PDFs across multiple devices and operating systems without losing any of the presentation and formatting style.
Why would I want to convert a .TXT to PDF?

TXTs are simple documents without any customisation options. If you want to make annotations or formatting changes, you’ll need to convert your file to a different format to do this.

PDFs are a good option thanks to their universality and common usage as an industry standard. They also allow for a variety of additional formatting options and customisation.

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