NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, February 2004
Recap of January Meeting - Creating You Own PDF files
by John Clark, WebMaster
rcmahq@nwark.com
(click to email author)


The subject of the January meeting concentrated primarily on the system called "PDF995" This system found at http://www.pdf995.com consists of two downloadable files "pdf995" and "pdfEdit995".

"Pdf995 is a writer - comes downloadable as a self extracting zip file. When installed it will set up a directory c:\pdf995.

To create a .pdf file from just about any document that you have created, you simply do the following:

    1. Bring up the document so you can view it on your monitor
    2. Click on and select PDF printer
    3. The writer will ask for the name of the .pdf file

Once this file has been created you can send it as an e-mail attachment.

There are two major reasons for using a .pdf file as an attachment.

    1. It will be readable on almost every computer system, and it is very difficult to modify and be used in another way.
    2. Text and pictures may be interlaced. You may write an HTML file from a web page provided you do not start the writer until the web page is completely loaded.

The pdfEdit995 system was briefly discussed. While the pdf995 involves no learning curve the editor has one that will involve a bit of judicous clicking on the tabs.

There are two things to remember:

    A) if you have the source - edit the source.
    B) the editor will only work on the last file the writer has written. However you may force this by loading any .pdf file and then re-writing it.

Both pdf995 and pdfEdit995 are freeware systems that come with the requirement of watching a commercial each time you use them. For $10 each you may remove this requirement, but it is pointed out you are paying for removal of the requirement of watching the commercial.

In the opinion of the speaker the pdf995 is well worth the price, and the editor would depend on the use requirement.

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