Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general... [END of Thread]

2010-12-08 Thread Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
This thread and related ones were closed earlier today to prevent list 
overload ;-)

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
Elecraft list moderator
---

> With Adobe Acrobat Professional you can create PDF forms that are
> explicitly meant to be "editable" so the customer can fill in
> appropriate fields.  I will occasionally load a PDF in to this program
> and convert fields to form fields so I do not have to print, write,
> and scan a form.
>
> 73, Byron N6NUL
>
> On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 4:41 PM, John Ragle  wrote:
>> Quoting W5WVO, whose email is blocked from external access...
>>
>> "PDF is not intended to be an editable format. It is intended to be a
>> distribution format. While extremely minor tweaks can be made in a PDF
>> as a last-minute fix, there is no "secret unlock key" that turns Acrobat
>> into a word processor."
>>
>> Re: editing PDF files...what he says is unfortunately not true. It turns
>> out (with a little research) that there are several PDF editors
>> available. They are sufficiently adept to permit annotation.
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

2010-12-08 Thread Byron Servies
With Adobe Acrobat Professional you can create PDF forms that are
explicitly meant to be "editable" so the customer can fill in
appropriate fields.  I will occasionally load a PDF in to this program
and convert fields to form fields so I do not have to print, write,
and scan a form.

73, Byron N6NUL

On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 4:41 PM, John Ragle  wrote:
> Quoting W5WVO, whose email is blocked from external access...
>
> "PDF is not intended to be an editable format. It is intended to be a
> distribution format. While extremely minor tweaks can be made in a PDF
> as a last-minute fix, there is no "secret unlock key" that turns Acrobat
> into a word processor."
>
> Re: editing PDF files...what he says is unfortunately not true. It turns
> out (with a little research) that there are several PDF editors
> available. They are sufficiently adept to permit annotation.
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

2010-12-08 Thread John Ragle
Quoting W5WVO, whose email is blocked from external access...

"PDF is not intended to be an editable format. It is intended to be a 
distribution format. While extremely minor tweaks can be made in a PDF 
as a last-minute fix, there is no "secret unlock key" that turns Acrobat 
into a word processor."

Re: editing PDF files...what he says is unfortunately not true. It turns 
out (with a little research) that there are several PDF editors 
available. They are sufficiently adept to permit annotation.

Furthermore, his "response" has several red herrings in it...First, I 
did not ask to convert Acrobat into a word processor, only to be able to 
annotate the text parts of the PDF file, presumably outside of either 
Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. I found (and tried) two such text editors 
this morning using Google. These annotations are much more satisfactory 
than the "sticky note" format supported by Acrobat.

  Second, re "keys," forms that are prepared in PDF format may either be 
locked or unlocked. I gave an example of an unlocked form; here is an 
example of a locked "form:" the 1040 income tax form for the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The federal form allows one to enter data 
from the keyboard while the MA form does not.

Third, the efficacy of Microsoft Word was not in question. IMO it is an 
awkward medium in which to produce mixed text and illustrations, but 
that has no bearing on the issue I raised.

John Ragle -- W1ZI
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general... [END of Thread]

2010-12-08 Thread Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
Guys -Thanks for all the input on this. We have a lot of good 
suggestions to sort through.

Let's end this thread (and any others that are related to it) for now in 
the interest of reducing list traffic. Ithas certainly hit the limit for 
postings in a short time period. :-)

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
Elecraft List Moderator

>  I agree with you on the use of pdf for distributing files.  The format
> allows one to lock the document so it can look the same across platforms
> and operating systems.  I also intensely dislike MS Word for technical
> writing.  You have to fight it every step of the way.  I use FrameMaker
> and LaTex to craft professional documents which can format every part of
> the finished document in exquisite detail.  MS Word makes it a struggle.
> Once I have the finished LaTex file I can easily transform it as HTML or a
> .doc or as a .pdf file simultaneously.  LaTex is required for IEEE and
> other professional publications.  I learned how to use it while crafting
> papers in grad school.
>  Kevin.  KD5ONS
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

2010-12-08 Thread Kevin Rock
I agree with you on the use of pdf for distributing files.  The format  
allows one to lock the document so it can look the same across platforms  
and operating systems.  I also intensely dislike MS Word for technical  
writing.  You have to fight it every step of the way.  I use FrameMaker  
and LaTex to craft professional documents which can format every part of  
the finished document in exquisite detail.  MS Word makes it a struggle.   
Once I have the finished LaTex file I can easily transform it as HTML or a  
.doc or as a .pdf file simultaneously.  LaTex is required for IEEE and  
other professional publications.  I learned how to use it while crafting  
papers in grad school.
Kevin.  KD5ONS



On Wed, 08 Dec 2010 05:54:32 -0800, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO  
 wrote:

> PDF is not intended to be an editable format. It is intended to be a
> distribution format. While extremely minor tweaks can be made in a PDF  
> as a
> last-minute fix, there is no "secret unlock key" that turns Acrobat into  
> a
> word processor. It just isn't that kind of animal, was never intended to  
> be,
> and never will be.
>
> The K3 manual was apparently written in Microsoft Word (which, as a tech
> writer, I dislike quite intensely, much preferring Adobe FrameMaker). To
> edit the document, you would need the Microsoft Word (and additional
> illustration/photo) source files.
>
> Bill W5WVO
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: John Ragle
> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 02:23
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...
>
> Just a suggestion (and maybe there is an easy way to accomplish this,
> but I don't know it):
>
> Make the *.pdf documentation file directly editable (local version
> only!). (I have the full Acrobat Professional, and it will not allow
> editing if the K3 file.)
>
>
>
> My K3 file is gussied up with "sticky notes," which I hate. I would much
> rather be able to add directly to the text (or incorporate errata
> directly to the file). Some *.pdf files are "unlocked," but others do
> not permit direct editing; the K3 file is one of the latter kind.
>
> I would be glad to learn how to remove the write-protection on my local
> file copy of the user manual. Someone suggested writing comments in the
> margins of a printed copy. This seems a bit old-fashioned and difficult
> to update, but it would accomplish much the same thing.
>
> John Ragle -- W1ZI
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

2010-12-08 Thread Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
PDF is not intended to be an editable format. It is intended to be a 
distribution format. While extremely minor tweaks can be made in a PDF as a 
last-minute fix, there is no "secret unlock key" that turns Acrobat into a 
word processor. It just isn't that kind of animal, was never intended to be, 
and never will be.

The K3 manual was apparently written in Microsoft Word (which, as a tech 
writer, I dislike quite intensely, much preferring Adobe FrameMaker). To 
edit the document, you would need the Microsoft Word (and additional 
illustration/photo) source files.

Bill W5WVO


-Original Message- 
From: John Ragle
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 02:23
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

Just a suggestion (and maybe there is an easy way to accomplish this,
but I don't know it):

Make the *.pdf documentation file directly editable (local version
only!). (I have the full Acrobat Professional, and it will not allow
editing if the K3 file.)



My K3 file is gussied up with "sticky notes," which I hate. I would much
rather be able to add directly to the text (or incorporate errata
directly to the file). Some *.pdf files are "unlocked," but others do
not permit direct editing; the K3 file is one of the latter kind.

I would be glad to learn how to remove the write-protection on my local
file copy of the user manual. Someone suggested writing comments in the
margins of a printed copy. This seems a bit old-fashioned and difficult
to update, but it would accomplish much the same thing.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

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[Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...

2010-12-07 Thread John Ragle
Just a suggestion (and maybe there is an easy way to accomplish this, 
but I don't know it):

Make the *.pdf documentation file directly editable (local version 
only!). (I have the full Acrobat Professional, and it will not allow 
editing if the K3 file.)



My K3 file is gussied up with "sticky notes," which I hate. I would much 
rather be able to add directly to the text (or incorporate errata 
directly to the file). Some *.pdf files are "unlocked," but others do 
not permit direct editing; the K3 file is one of the latter kind.

I would be glad to learn how to remove the write-protection on my local 
file copy of the user manual. Someone suggested writing comments in the 
margins of a printed copy. This seems a bit old-fashioned and difficult 
to update, but it would accomplish much the same thing.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

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