Rich Text Format is one of the oldest document formats still in daily use. WordPad and TextEdit save it, legal and medical software exports it, and it survives in archives from word processors that no longer exist. RTF to PDF converts those files with LibreOffice, keeping text formatting, tables and embedded images, and produces a PDF that opens everywhere.
How to use RTF to PDF
- Add the RTF file.
- Select Convert to PDF.
- Download the PDF.
- Check tables and page breaks, which older RTF files sometimes define loosely.
What RTF can and can't describe
- What it records: RTF describes text with formatting: fonts, sizes, bold, italic, colors, paragraph alignment, tables and embedded pictures.
- Basic page layout: Its page layout support is basic, so the PDF uses the page size and margins recorded in the file, or LibreOffice defaults when none are set.
- Unusual formatting codes: Files exported by specialized software sometimes contain unusual formatting codes. LibreOffice skips codes it doesn't recognize while keeping the text itself.
Old documents, new life
- Where RTF files come from: Many RTF files come from archives, exported case notes or letters written in software that has since disappeared.
- What converting preserves: Converting them to PDF preserves how they looked, in a format current devices open without special software.
- If the archive must last: If the archive needs to last, PDF to PDF/A turns the result into an archival format, and Merge PDF gathers related letters into one file.
Choosing the right text converter
- For plain text: If the file is plain text with no formatting, TXT to PDF is simpler.
- For Word and OpenDocument: Word documents are best handled by Word to PDF, and OpenDocument text by ODT to PDF.
- Where to read more: The format guide explains how these formats differ and when converting to PDF is worthwhile.
When people use RTF to PDF
WordPad and TextEdit documents
Turn simple formatted documents from built-in editors into PDFs suitable for sending or printing.
Exports from business software
Convert letters and reports that legal, medical or accounting systems export as RTF.
Archived correspondence
Preserve decades-old letters in a format that current phones and computers open without trouble.
Limitations to know
RTF to PDF needs LibreOffice on the server. Page size and margins come from the file or from LibreOffice defaults, unusual formatting codes from specialized software may be skipped, and fonts the server lacks are substituted.
RTF to PDF: common questions
Which programs create RTF files?
WordPad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, most word processors when you choose Rich Text Format, and many business, legal and medical applications that export documents.
Will images in the RTF appear in the PDF?
Yes. Embedded pictures in common formats are converted along with the text.
Why is the page size different from what I expected?
RTF files don't always define a page size. When a file doesn't, LibreOffice applies its default page settings.
Why is this tool unavailable on some servers?
RTF conversion uses LibreOffice. When it's missing on a server, the tool reports that clearly.