Top Tips for Customizing the Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar

Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar: Quick Guide to Installation and FeaturesThe Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar puts PDF creation and conversion tools directly into applications like Microsoft Office, making it faster to generate high-quality PDFs from documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. This guide covers installation steps, basic features, customization options, troubleshooting, and tips to get the most out of the toolbar.

What is the Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar?

The Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar is an add-in that integrates with desktop applications (most commonly Microsoft Office) and provides one-click access to Foxit PDF creation and conversion functions. Instead of printing to PDF or opening a separate application, you can convert files straight from the ribbon or toolbar, preserving layout, fonts, and links.

System requirements and compatibility

Before installing, confirm your PC meets these basic requirements:

• Operating system: Windows 10 or later (some older Foxit products support Windows ⁄₈; check your version).
• Microsoft Office: Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365 (32-bit or 64-bit depending on the Foxit installer).
• Administrative privileges may be required to install the add-in and register COM components.
• Sufficient disk space for Foxit PDF software installation (typically ~200–500 MB).

Verify whether you have the 32-bit or 64-bit Office build and download the matching Foxit installer to ensure the toolbar registers correctly.

Downloading and installing the toolbar

1. Download the Foxit PDF Creator or Foxit PhantomPDF (now Foxit PDF Editor) installer from the official Foxit website or an approved distributor.
2. Close Microsoft Office applications to avoid conflicts during installation.
3. Run the installer as an administrator (right-click → Run as administrator).
4. During installation, choose the option to install Office integrations or the PDF Creator component if presented.
5. Complete installation and restart any Office applications.

If the toolbar doesn’t appear after restarting Office, try these steps:

• Check COM add-ins in Office (File → Options → Add-Ins → Manage COM Add-ins → Go) and enable “Foxit PDF Creator” or similar entry.
• Repair the Foxit installation via Control Panel → Programs → Foxit → Repair.
• Reinstall using the correct bitness (32-bit vs 64-bit) for Office.

Core features of the Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar

• One-click PDF creation: Convert the current document (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to PDF without leaving the application.
• Create PDF/A and other standards: Options to produce PDF/A (for archiving) or PDF with specific compatibility settings.
• Combine multiple files: Merge selected files into a single PDF directly from the toolbar.
• Secure and sign: Add passwords, set permissions, and apply digital signatures (if Foxit PDF Editor features are installed).
• Preserve links and bookmarks: Retain hyperlinks and create bookmarks during conversion.
• Customize output quality: Select options for image compression, downsampling, and PDF optimization for web or print.
• Convert selected content: Convert selected ranges, slides, or sheets rather than entire documents.
• Batch conversion: Queue multiple files for batch conversion when supported by the installed Foxit product.

How to create a PDF from Word/Excel/PowerPoint

1. Open your document in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
2. Locate the Foxit PDF Creator button on the ribbon (often labeled “Foxit PDF” or “Create PDF”).
3. Click the button and choose conversion settings (standard, PDF/A, password protection, etc.).
4. Choose output location and enter file name.
5. Click Create or OK. The toolbar will convert and either open the resulting PDF in Foxit PDF Editor or save it to the chosen location.

Customizing toolbar options

• Access settings via the Foxit entry on the ribbon or by opening Foxit PDF Editor and navigating to Preferences → Integration or Office Integration.
• Enable/disable specific toolbar buttons, set default output folders, and choose default PDF profiles (e.g., high quality, reduced size, PDF/A).
• Configure automatic behaviors, like opening the output file after creation or embedding fonts.

Security and permissions

When creating PDFs you can:

• Add password protection to open the PDF.
• Set permissions to restrict printing, copying, or editing.
• Apply digital signatures (requires certificate and Foxit Editor features).
• Remove hidden data and metadata prior to creation using redaction or metadata removal tools in Foxit Editor.

Always test security settings to confirm the desired level of protection and compatibility with recipient software.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Toolbar not visible: Check COM add-ins in Office and enable Foxit; reinstall with correct Office bitness.
• Conversion fails or content missing: Update Foxit to latest version, and ensure Office documents use standard fonts or embed fonts in PDF settings.
• Digital signatures not applying: Confirm certificate availability and that Foxit Editor’s signing module is installed.
• Performance slow during large conversions: Increase memory availability, optimize images before conversion, or use reduced-size PDF profile.

Tips to improve workflow

• Create custom PDF profiles (e.g., web-optimized, print-ready) to avoid choosing settings every time.
• Use batch conversion for repetitive tasks—save a lot of clicks when handling many files.
• Combine Foxit toolbar use with Foxit PDF Editor features like OCR (for scanned documents) and form creation for more advanced workflows.
• Train team members on default profiles and folder conventions to maintain consistency.

When to use the Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar vs. other methods

Use the toolbar for quick, integrated conversions from Office apps when you want minimal context switching and consistent output. Use the full Foxit PDF Editor application when you need advanced editing, OCR, forms, redaction, or extensive security features.

Conclusion

The Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar streamlines PDF creation directly from familiar applications, saving time and preserving document fidelity. Proper installation (matching Office bitness), familiarization with toolbar settings, and using profiles will help you get consistent, secure PDFs quickly.

If you want, I can provide step-by-step screenshots for a specific Office version or a short checklist you can print for your team.