Adobe's Portable Document Format is the obvious choice for anyone who ever needs to distribute electronic documents, but deciding how to create them is a little more difficult. Until you come across eXPert PDF 3, that is, which leaves most other PDF builders trailing in its feature-packed dust.

You get full control over decisions like which fonts may be embedded in the document (or not), for instance, and the compression settings for images, ideal when you're tuning a document for size. Security features include support for 128-bit RC4 encryption, password protection, and various other controls (you can disallow printing, for example). And you can configure documents with all the usual tags (Creator, Author, Title and more).

Once you've sent a document to the eXPert PDF virtual printer driver (which allows it to work with almost any Windows application), it can then be freely amended. There are tools to insert and delete pages, for example. You may add text, text notes, links, images and more, as well as creating your own custom document outlines. You really do get a huge amount of control over the final results, making eXPert PDF 3 a must for anyone who ever needs to create PDF files.

Important: you need to get a serial code (password) to use your single-user version of eXpert PDF 3. To obtain a serial code, head to www.avanquest.co.uk/vnu/expertpdf/register

This free commercial download offer will expire on 18th of September 2006. No support can be offered from VNU nor the software supplier. Note, ignore the 'time limited demo' reference above. Obtain your serial code to turn this download in to a full commercial single-user version of eXpert PDF 3, as sold for £40.

UPGRADE OFFER: upgrade to eXPert PDF Professional 4

Move up to the latest eXPert PDF Professional 4 and you'll be able to save your documents as images, instead of PDF (JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, TIF, EMF and BMP formats supported). There's also a more powerful PDF editor, the ability to create and manage hypertext and URL links within a document, and protection options that can limit users rights to print, edit, or copy your finished PDF file.

The list price for all this publishing power is £39.99, but you can order the program for a special, £10 discount: just visit http://shop.avanquest.com/uk/prod.php?pid=1290 &tr1=AQ_UK_AF_VNU and enter EXPDF4 as the promotional code. If you'd like to implement eXpert PDF across multiple workstations (multi-user license) call 0800 028 5575 for volume licensing enquiries.