Many who send files via e-mail complain that the recipient cannot open the file - usually because the recipient doesn’t have the same program that was used to create the file. For instance, if you send a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet to someone who doesn’t have Word or Excel they may be unable to view the contents. The best way to ensure that your file can be opened is to send it in a format that anyone can open - a PDF file. PDF stands for Portable Document Format and with the right software you can convert virtually any document to a PDF file. The file can then be opened with the freely downloadable Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing or printing. I use two free programs for generating PDF files. The first one is CutePDF from http://www.cutepdf.com/ and the second is PrimoPDF from http://www.primopdf.com/. You only need one, so if the first one works for you don’t worry about trying the second one. After installing, to convert your document click on the File menu and then click Print - just like you would to print a document. But instead of printing to your printer, select the newly installed ‘virtual’ printer - ‘CutePDF Writer’ or ‘PrimoPDF’ depending on which program you downloaded. Instead of coming out of your printer the document will print to the PDF generator which will ask you where you would like to save your new PDF file. After saving it, attach that file - instead of your original file - to your outgoing e-mail. Your recipient can now use the Acrobat Reader to open and print your document, and it will look exactly the same on their computer as it does on yours - regardless of which program you used to make it. Most computers have the Acrobat Reader software installed to view the PDF files, but if your recipient doesn’t have it let them know they can download it from http://www.adobe.com/ - it’s free!