Free (as in Beer!) PDF creation

I don't know about most folks, but I know that PDF creation is essential for my line of business. As a consultant you need PDF creation tools to protect your Intellectual property, and to provide a document that looks the same on any machine/os that its viewed on. In order to create PDF's on a windows platform, there has only been Adobe Acrobat. (Until Now!) Acrobat is a pricey application, starting a $200 for the "Standard" edition. I have been using the Acrobat 4 (Standard Edition) on my laptop for years, but now its time to upgrade.

Since I am not "rolling phat", I am always on the lookout for new Open-Source applications that replace any existing "licensed" tools in my toolbox. I have been extremely fond of the Open-Source community, enough so that I have been happy to devote some of my time & skills to further projects along. I have always wanted to do away with all of my non Open-Source software, but in most instances that is impossible. (I got to put food on the table!)

What to do!?!?

Enter PDFCreator, a highly configurable PDF creation suite for windows. The application is maintained by Philip Chinery & Frank Heindorfer over at SourceForge.Net , conversely you can visit there new homepage at PDFForge.Org . The application is built around another fantastic Open-Source tool called GhostScript. GhostScript is a rendering language that takes regular "Post-Script" files, and converts them into a printable output. (ala PDF)

The application front-end is written in Visual Basic, and is completely self-contained from the actual command-line. The application is explicitly configurable, and does exactly what it should. I have not seen a more complete or polished Windows Open-Source application in quite a while.

There is one issue though. PDFCreator was originally build around the GPL'ed version of GNU GhostScript. This version is great as there are no restrictions around the use or distribution of the software by corporations. But now the application has integrated a new version of GhostScript, one licensed by Aladdin Software. This version has been released under a specific Aladdin Free Public license. The AFP License is restrictive in its use for corporations an re-distribution of the application. Not too worry though, PDFCreator is releasing two versions of its popular application. One GPL'ed, and one using the AFPLicense. I have tried both, and there are very minor differences between the two. (As a consultant, I have chosen to stick with the GPL'ed version.)

With all the Licensing issues out of the way; If you are willing to give it a shot... Click here to download.

Installation is fairly straight-forward, but there is a twist! You can use the software in a "standard" mode, (Works for most users!) and you can opt to use it in the "server" mode. Server mode is usefully for Organizations who run a print-server on their networks. You can configure the application as a network printer, and all the users can send their print-jobs to it thru the Network Print Queue. (Outside the scope of this write-up, but if more are interested I might be persuaded!!)


You can pretty much click Next throughout-out the rest of the setup program, unless you want to name the PDF printer something different than the default "PDFCreator".


PDFCreator also installs a toolbar that integrates with Internet Explorer. (Sorry Mozilla Lovers... no Firefox Extension yet!) You can choose not to install it, if you do the custom setup. You can also choose to associate .PS or post-script files with PDFCreator. This works well if you are just a casual office user, but if you work with other graphic applications then I would uncheck this. (I use Illustrator, so I left the .ps association off.)



You might run into a problem during install if you have another application open while installing. I was playing some .OGG files using my favorite Media Player "FooBar2000", and apparently it uses MSCOMCTL.OCX to run visualization. (This is a component for most Visual Basic application.) Would have never figured that, I thought foobar was build completely in "C". You can either cancel the install and retry without other programs open, or just ignore it like I did. It won't hurt, and the software works perfectly using another version of MSCOMCTL.OCX.

Once the installer is complete, you are ready to go! You don't even have to open the program to use it. Just open up any program that allows you to print its output, (ala Word or Excel) and click file -> print. Now you can select the PDFCreator printer from the list of printers and away you go!

For most folks, the default settings will do exactly what they want and there is no need to delve any further.



Check out Part II for a review of the configuration options which makes PDFCreator so darn neat!!

Office Live Beta

I read a pretty decent article of Office Live in this month's Laptop Magazine. I would say it's pretty rough around the edges, but I can see potential. Not to mention Office Live is in Beta.

So far it looks like it takes a little while to activate the site once you've gone through the account setup process. So far as free sites go this seems to at least be professional compared to most of the Mom and Pop web hosting sites.

Here's a review of Office Live from EWeek columnist Anne Chen: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1927102,00.asp

Ceedo: A nifty portable application suite.

I wanted to start our first technology post with something grand and life changing but alas this app may not even register a 1.5 on the richter scale. But it is useful.

The folks at Ceedo have not created the u3 flash disk or created portable applications, but what they have done is put together suite of applications in a convenient installer and interface.

If this is the first time you've ever heard of portable apps they are programs that are not required to be "installed" onto a computer's permanent storage device to be executed, and can be stored on a removable storage such as a USB flash drive and used on multiple computers.

Some applications in Ceedo's portable library are: Firefox, Gaim, Skype, uTorrent, Winamp, and Hydra IRC. The applications are separated within groups so you can find what you are looking for. The good thing is Ceedo will work with most portable applications like Portable Open Office.

The trial is free for 30 days then its $39.95 to register. It's not much to spend when you take into account that you can have a secure browser, your documents, and apps you use on a daily basis and you don't have to lug around your laptop or handheld. Also if you are going to use this app check out PortableApps.com


Working Info:
I've installed Ceedo on an Ipod video 60Gig without a hitch. Since I have autorun disabled on my computer it doesn't run as soon as I plug in my Ipod *In order to install this on your Ipod you have to enable it to be used as a drive. I'd give a disclaimer but I figure if you are using your Ipod as storage you don't need me to tell you to back it up (I will be covering that soon) and that we are not responsible blah blah blah.

On to the screen shots.




When installed it changed the icon for my Ipod.










After I opened my Ipod the Ceedo launch window came up.










The Ceedo task bar can be moved from left to right.








When you go to Add Programs the program directory launches.










Running Internet Explorer in Ceedo.

Welcome To The Blog!

First post on this new endeavor!!! This site is dedicated to technology reviews & tips for the working IT Professional. (Yes, amateurs are welcome!) We take the time to debunk all the myths, solve all the problems (Most of Em' !!!), and get you the news you need.

Anyone is welcome to comment & is encouraged. We don't expect this blogg to revolutionize your world, or change your life!! But we do believe that we can sift thru all the S#!@& and bring you the information you deserve!

Expect to see more over the next few days....