rtf

And now for something completely different

NativeWinds is an interesting software developer based in the mountains of Western Montana; its Tomahawk Gold is an interesting word processor that does a lot in a small, affordable package. It combines many of the essential features found in Microsoft's Word, like quick formatting and advanced editing, with the ability to create and save PDF documents. It handles other documents, too, and includes Mail Merge, network compatibility, and 15 language versions.

Tomahawk Gold's zipped executable is accessible immediately after extraction, with no installation needed. You can download the Help file separately, as well as extras such as a … Read more

Help help

HLP to RTF Converter by Armenian Dictionary Software is an interesting utility that can convert any Windows Help file (HLP) to a printable, high-quality RTF document or generate completely recompilable Help projects. You can use it to print out manuals for employees or for safekeeping, as well as create your own WinHelp project, rescue previously complied files for conversion or re-use, or simplify the generation and handling of HLP-formatted documentation from a standard authoring format.

This program's tabbed, dialog-based interface is practically self explanatory, reflecting its focused mission. Tabs let you select Batch or Single mode; there's the … Read more

Convert to this converter

ABC Amber DBF Converter is a full-featured program that converts DBF files to a variety of other file types. With its intuitive interface and a multitude of useful options, it's a pleasure to use.

ABC Amber DBF Converter is completely commonsense in its operation. The interface is attractively designed and couldn't be easier to use, and the built-in Help file is well done. You open the DBF file you wish to convert, and by default the program selects all columns and rows. Click the Save As button and select the proper file type to star the conversion process. … Read more

Buggy translation program

Cute Translator lets users translate text between 13 different languages. Although the program does translate text quickly, we found the program's other features frustrating and, in some cases, unusable.

We were met right off the bat with two nonsensical error messages when the program opened. We ignored them, and the program opened without issues. The interface is simple enough, with a box for users to input text and another below it where the translation appears. Translations are completed quickly. The program's extra features, however, are annoying to set up. Users can have text read aloud to them by … Read more

Basic file conversion

Atrise ToRTF is a no-frills program that lets users convert various types of text documents to Rich Text Format. The program is very basic and specific in what it does, but it does serve its purpose.

The program's interface is bare-bones, consisting of a small blue window with the text "Drop Files Here." Users can drag and drop files into the program, but they can also right-click on the interface to access a menu. Either way, once you select a file, the program converts it to an RTF, which it saves in the same directory as the … Read more

Convert your PDFs to MS Word

There are several well-regarded, free ways to take advantage of the Print function to transform just about any file to a PDF. PrimoPDF and doPDF sit at the top of the list, but what about reverse engineering that conversion? Converting in the other direction, from a PDF to a Microsoft Word-compatible format like DOC or RTF is trickier.

For one thing, there's a lot of crap out there. Many PDF-to-DOC converters have similar or even identical names, differentiated sometimes by nothing more than a cunning tap of the space bar. Many offer features that are hamstrung in various ways … Read more

Some is better than none

Some PDF to Word Converter is one of the better free PDF-to-Word format converters out there, but like its competition it's far from perfect. Its interface is basic but uncluttered, even with all of the user options handily available in a sidebar on the right. It handles batch conversions, converts outer fonts into text and embedded fonts into images, and supports both All Pages and page-range specific conversions. Some PDF can also remove graphics on demand from the output document, which is always in the RTF format.

Its biggest drawback is that the conversions aren't always the cleanest, … Read more