Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...
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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...
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 w5...@cybermesa.net 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general... [END of Thread]
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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...
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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general...
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 tpcj1...@crocker.com 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. -- - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Docs in general... [END of Thread]
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 Ragletpcj1...@crocker.com 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. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
