How to Send a Document in PDF Format

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Send a document in PDF format by attaching it to an email.

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a widely used format for sending electronic documents. PDF preserves a document's appearance across different computing environments, so the format is ideal for sending files to others via email. The quickest and most efficient way to send a PDF document is by attaching it to an email message. If the document you want to send is in another format, convert it to PDF by using a free online conversion tool (see Resources) or the PDF creation software Adobe Acrobat, if you own it. Once the document is in PDF format, you can send it in various email programs, including the popular Gmail, Microsoft Outlook and Windows Live Hotmail.

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Gmail

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Step 1

Log in to your Gmail account.

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Step 2

Click "Compose Mail."

Step 3

Enter the email address of your recipient in the "To" field. Enter a subject and message that you want to include along with the PDF document.

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Step 4

Click "Attach a File" underneath the "Subject" field. Browse your files to select your saved PDF document. Click "Open."

Step 5

Click "Send" to send the message and attached document.

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Microsoft Outlook

Step 1

Open Microsoft Outlook and log in to your email profile.

Step 2

Click the "File" menu. Click "New," then "Mail Message."

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Step 3

Enter the email address of your recipient in the "To" field. Enter a subject and message that you want to include along with the PDF document.

Step 4

Click the "Message" tab. In the "Include" group, click the "Attach File" icon.

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Step 5

Select the PDF file you want to attach and click "Insert." Click "Send" to send the message.

Windows Live Hotmail

Step 1

Sign in to your Hotmail account.

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Step 2

Click your Inbox. Click "New" on the "Actions" bar.

Step 3

Enter the email address of your recipient in the "To" field. Enter a subject and message that you want to include along with the PDF document.

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Step 4

Click "Attach." Select "File." Choose the PDF file that you want to send, and click "Open."

Step 5

Click "Send" to send the document.

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