Convert Word to pdf from ColdFusion

Yes, you would need to convert the .doc to pdf first.  Unfortunately, there is not built in way to convert ms word documents.  You need an external tool.  I believe it can be done with LiveCycle (if you have that).  Otherwise, there are commercial tools available such as:

http://www.pdfonline.com/easypdf/sdk/faqs/using-bcl-easypdf-sdk.htm
pdf documents.  
www.aspose.com/documentation/file-format-components/aspose.pdf-for-.net...java/converting-word-documents-to-pdf.html

There are a bunch of tools out there, so a lot depends on your needs.  If it is a recurring need with a variety of complex word documents, complex, you would be better off with a commercial tool.  They tend to be more stable, but they are not free.

There are some free options like OpenOffice.  But the free options tend to have less documentation, and may not be able to handle everything you throw at them.   So you may want to take that into consideration.

Yes, I was going to suggest that .. but I didn't think cfdocument understood MS Word's version of HTML.

http://livedocs.adobe.com/coldfusion/8/htmldocs/Tags_d-e_05.html#3765835
"The cfdocument tag does not support the Internet Explorer-specific HTML generated by Microsoft Word."

Well, supposedly it doesn't.  But you may as well give it a shot, and if it works great.  If not, nothing lost.

should edit my post... works with word 2000 (pre-mshtml)

Sid, I'm getting
ComObjectInstantiationException: An exception occurred when instantiating a COM object..

It's because it's a shared server I suppose.

<cfobject type="com" action="connect" class="Word.application" name="Application.MyWordobj" context="local">

Select allOpen in new window

wouldn't work on a shared sever at all (unless you could convince them to install an old copy of word 200 ..hehe)