Acrobatics for the novice user-- YAU-PC
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1999. First
published in Vancouver Computes,
March
1999
David Anderson queried:
Now, how does one create pdf files? Do you
use Adobe Acrobat
in reverse? Is it friendly? I have a bunch of word processed
stuff
that people will want to post on the new site, in Word or Word
Perfect.
Can I "import" it from into Acrobat to create a pdf file, or does this
have to happen at the point of inception?
Also, what is the best way to put documents that
are already printed
out onto a site? Is it the dreaded scanner which creates huge
files?
Alan pontificated:
Adobe pdf files are a popular way to electronically
view a document,
complete with formatting and graphics. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader,
however,
can?t be used to create pdf documents. Adobe wants to sell you the full
Adobe Acrobat creator program, having hooked you with the free reader.
Adobe PageMaker ver 6.0 or later will let you import
Word or Word Perfect
files into a PageMaker document, then save as PDF-- but that's the only
way I know of to create pdf files short of getting the full Acrobat
package.
An alternative is to use Word to save as HTML... it
makes ugly pages,
but then you can edit them in any HTML editor.
Using a scanner to create big graphics and then
posting them on your
web page produces slow-loading, hard to read Web sites. Instead, if you
have access to a scanner, use Optical Character Recognition software...
the software tries its best to read the scanned document, and save into
a word processor format... about 95% accurate... but you need to do
careful
checking-- especially if your original has numbers, web addresses, etc.
Sometimes it's faster just to re-type.
Kevin Anderson asked:
I only just discovered that Service Pack 1 in only
a megabyte in
size, and does not require a re-installation of Win95. Is there
any
reason not to install this service pack?
Alan answered:
Service Pack 1 fixes a couple of (generally minor)
problems w. the original
(7-11-95) versions of Windows 95... if you have a later version, it
shouldn't
be used. (Right-click on the My Computer icon and choose
Properties, to see what version of Win95 is installed. If it says
Windows
95A or later, don't install SP1).
As well, SP1 creates at least one problem-- it breaks
W95's ability
to save passwords, such as your Dial-up-Networking password.
There is a fix for this bug available for download
from MS's web site.
Wayne Young wondered:
If I get a CD writer on my desktop computer, can I
backup my laptop
to this CD writer? If so, how?
Alan responded:
If your laptop is connected to your desktop via a network, you can
map the laptop's drives, giving them drive letters on the desktop.
Then, choose to backup only those drive letters to
your desktop's CD-Writer.
Maxine Mandell mentioned:
I installed Lotus Organizer. I then got a calendar
program more to my
liking. I deleted the Organizer program but not through the add/remove
program. I deleted everything that might pertain to this program but I
still get when I boot up a reference that they can't find Organizer.exe
Alan responded:
The moral is to use the Add/Remove Programs item...
however, for now,
what you should to is check for references to the former Organizer
folder
in the following places:
-- System.ini (open the file in Notepad, then Search
for the folder
name) If you find such references, place a semicolon in front of the
line
or delete the entire line.
-- The system Registry... run Regedit (from the Start
Menu's RUN option),
and again search for the folder name. If you find such references,
click
on the line in the right-hand pane, then choose MODIFY from the EDIT
menu.
Again, add a semicolon in the front of the line to keep it, but disable
it. Or choose DELETE from the EDIT menu to simply remove it.
Alternatively, reinstall Organizer, than use the
Add-Remove Programs
option to remove it fully.
Jwegated Ninja wondered:
I'm thinking of upgrading my comp sometime later
from a Pentium 200
MMX to a Pentium II... what I am wondering is if I have to change
motherboards...
and what is compatible between the two types... are there
PCI and ASA slots on a Pentium 2... and as well,
what's AGP?...
I have seen video cards which are in AGP and PCI... I have a PCI video
card and am wondering if AGP's are for Pentium 2... therefore, would I
have to purchase a new video card for example?... and finally, is it
worth
upgrading to a Pentium 2 if there needs to be major modifications to a
Pentium 200 MMX?
Alan shot back:
Typical P-II motherboards have 3-5 PCI slots, and 2-3
ISA slots, usually
with one space sharing a PCI and ISA slot, so you can use one or the
other,
but not both.
As well, there's one AGP (video) slot.
You can continue using your PCI video card, and leave
the AGP slot empty...
performance is better with AGP, but not amazingly better, if you have a
good PCI video card.
You MAY be able to use your RAM in your new
motherboard...IF:
1) Your present computer uses SDRAM, and not the
cheaper EDO RAM that
was more common in the Pentium generation.
2) You get a P-II running slower than 350 MHz. 350 or
faster machines
typically are running with 100 MHz bus speeds, which requires RAM rated
for that speed... even if you have SDRAM on your current machine, it's
rated for 66 MHz bus speeds.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide. I recently
upgraded from a 166
MHz Pentium to a 400 MHz P-II, and find it a nice, fas