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Conversion Service on Windows Server

Learn how to install and use the Conversion Service on Windows Server to automate document processes.

Request trial or full license​

It's necessary to have a license key to try or fully use the Conversion Service. To get the Conversion Service installer and evaluation or full license key:

  1. Reach out to the sales team through the Contact page and mark the Conversion Service as the product of your interest for a trial license.

Prerequisites​

To install and run the Conversion Service on Windows Server, install the following .NET runtimes from the Download .NET website:

  • .NET Framework 4.7
  • .NET Desktop Runtime 8.0 (x64)
  • ASP.NET Core Runtime 8.0 (x64)
note

The indicated versions are the minimal versions supported. You can use a newer version also.

Install and activate the license key​

To install the Conversion Service and activate the license key, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the My PDF Tools Portal, and then click Licenses & Kits.
  2. Click Conversion Service.
  3. In ACTIVE LICENSES or EVALUATIONS sections, find the Conversion Service MSI, and then click DOWNLOAD. The filename, for example, ConversionService-5.5.1.3971.msi, depends on the version you are installing.
  4. Run the MSI installation package and follow the instructions on the screen.
  5. In the My PDF Tools Portal, go to Licenses & Kits, and then click Conversion Service.
  6. In the License section, click the LICENSE button to reveal the license key, and then click COPY.
  7. Open the Conversion Service Configurator, and then click the License tab.
    License tab in the Configurator.
  8. Paste the license key into the Key field and click Add.
Click to expand for more information. The MSI installs the following components:

The ConversionService-(version-number).msi with the following interfaces:

  • PDF Client for Conversion Service
  • Shell client
  • Conversion Service Configurator
  • Licensing Gateway Service

You can also use another installer called ConversionService-Client-(version-number).msi to install only the:

  • PDF Client for Conversion Service
  • Shell client (CLI)
  • Office add-ons

Find this installer in the My PDF Tools Portal; the MSI is named, for example, ConversionService-Client-(version-number).msi.

If you run the PDF Client for Conversion Service on a different computer where the Conversion Service Configurator is not installed, connect to the computer with the Conversion Service Configurator by following these steps:

  1. In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, click the three vertical dots , and then Settings.
  2. In the Service Host Address field, insert the IP address or name of the computer where the Conversion Service Configurator is installed.
caution

Don't install the ConversionService-Client-(version-number).msi installer on the same machine where you installed the Conversion Service Configurator (ConversionService-(version-number).msi). The conflicting installations may result in improper function of the Conversion Service.

Basics of the Conversion Service​

The following sections guide you through the essentials of the Conversion Service. Follow each of these sections step by step:

  1. Convert a file
  2. Configure a profile
  3. Configure Microsoft Office file conversion
  4. Integrate a watched folder
  5. Convert various files

Convert a file​

Convert a PDF file to PDF/A using the default configuration:

  1. In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, drag a PDF file to the Input box.
    Screenshot of the PDF Client for Conversion Service.
  2. Click Convert.
info

In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, you can select workflows and profiles to specify conversion types and change the output filename.

Alternatively, you can also use a shell client to make the same conversion using the default profile:

  1. In a command prompt, issue the following command:

    pdfclient input.pdf output.pdf

    The input.pdf file is located on your machine, and output.pdf is the name of the generated PDF. The output file is saved in the same directory where you are currently working with the shell client.

Configure a profile​

Configure a custom profile to add a stamp to converted documents:

  1. In the Conversion Service Configurator, go to Workflows & Profiles.

  2. Next to Archive PDF/A-2, click Add.

  3. Create a name for the new profile. For example: awesome-test-profile

    Screenshot of the Conversion Service Configurator Workflows & Profiles tab.

  4. In the Processing Steps section, enable the Stamping toggle.

  5. Scroll down to the Stamping section, and then click Add item.

    Screenshot of the Stamping section in the Conversion Service Configurator Workflows & Profiles tab.

  6. Click Text Stamp, and then click Next.

  7. In the Text field, enter a stamp text. For example: Hello world

  8. Optional: To display the stamp in the upper right corder of the PDF file, scroll down to Layout section, and edit the parameters as follows:

    Screenshot of the Stamping layout configuration.

    If you don't specify any values in the Layout section, the stamp is displayed in the centre of the page.

  9. Click Apply, then click Apply in the Configurator again.

  10. In the Changes detected dialog box, click Save & Restart Service.

  11. In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, drag a PDF file to the Input box.

  12. In the Profile drop-down list, select a created custom profile. For example: awesome-test-profile

  13. Click Convert.

You learned to configure your custom profile for Archive PDF/A-2 workflow, and add a configured stamp on converted documents.

Configure Microsoft Office file conversion​

To convert Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to PDF files with the Conversion Service, you need a valid Office 365 or Microsoft 365 for Business license. For Microsoft Office file conversion, we recommend using the English (en-US) version of the operating system. To enable Microsoft Office file conversion in the Conversion Service, issue the following steps:

  1. In the Conversion Service Configurator, go to Conversion Service tab, and then scroll to the Configuration section.

    Screenshot of the watched folder integration configuration in the Configurator.

  2. Next to the Office Conversion, click Configure, from the displayed window, select Local Office Installation and Automatically Create a User Account, and then click Next.

    Screenshot of the watched folder integration configuration in the Configurator.

    This option creates a user account with pre-configured settings. For detailed information about all available configuration options, review Convert Microsoft Office files.

  3. Click Apply, and then in the Changes detected dialog box, click Save & Restart Service.

  4. In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, click the Profile drop-down list, and then select a profile where Office conversion is used. For example, awesome-test-profile.

  5. Drag a Microsoft Office file to the Input box.

  6. Click Convert.

You learned how to configure Microsoft Office file conversion in the Conversion Service.

note

If you experience any issues during configuration or conversion, refer to the Troubleshooting in the Convert Microsoft Office files documentation.

Integrate a watched folder​

Automatically convert all documents every time a file is included in the specified folder. This type of folder is called a watched folder. Learn how to create a watched folder using the profile configured in the previous section. To integrate a watched folder, follow these steps:

  1. In the Conversion Service Configurator, go to Integration, and then click Add.
  2. Name the integration. For example: my-custom-watched-folder.
  3. Select Archive PDF/A-2 as a workflow, and as a profile select the previously created awesome-test-profile.
    Screenshot of the watched folder integration configuration in the Configurator.
  4. Click Input, and then select the Watched Folder and click Next.
    Screenshot of the watched folder input section in the Configurator.
  5. Select an input folder path, and then click Apply.
    Screenshot of the input configuration.
  6. Click Output, and then select the Output Folder and click Next.
  7. Select the output folder path, and then click Apply.
    Screenshot of the watched folder output folder configuration window.
  8. Click Apply again.
  9. In the Changes detected dialog box, click Save & Restart Service.

When you include PDF files in the watched folder, the Conversion Service automatically converts them using the selected workflow and profile and copies them to the output folder. In this case, the awesome-test-profile example added a stamp and converted PDF files to PDF/A-2.

Convert various files​

The Conversion Service is designed to convert as many file formats as possible into selected output formats. Use it to convert various files:

  1. In the PDF Client for Conversion Service, drop various files to the Drag & drop files and folders here or click to select file(s) section. For example:
    • PNG image
    • JPEG image
    • An EML (email message file)
    • A PDF file
    • An XML file
    PDF Client for Conversion Service with various files used as an input.
  2. Optional: Enable the Merge toggle to merge all converted files into one.
  3. Click Convert.

If you enabled the Merge toggle, the Conversion Service created a PDF/A-2 with all the files nested as the portfolio files.

Next steps​

You learned how to run the Conversion Service in Docker, create and export a custom profile, and convert a file using PDF Client for Conversion Service. Review the following documentation for more details:

There are also several ways how to integrate the Conversion Service into your system: