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The PDF Issue, July 2002
To PDF or
not to PDF, that is the question... PDF [Portable Document Format] is rapidly becoming a
favorite image format for exchanging documents. But what risks do you run
when you choose this format for your document productions? In this issue we
will explore the "pros" and "cons" of exchanging
documents in PDF format. We will also look at an inexpensive alternative to
Adobe Acrobat for producing PDFs.
There are
three main flavors of PDFs. 1.) IMAGE ONLY. This format keeps the
image exactly as it appears on paper. There is no searchable text. 2.)
IMAGE WITH HIDDEN TEXT. This format keeps the image EXACTLY as it appears
on paper with the OCR text behind it. 3.) NORMAL [Beware of this
format.] This has an image with text behind it. HOWEVER, in an effort to save
on file size, Acrobat substitutes fonts rendering the image different from
the original piece of paper. Acrobat ships with this setting as the OCR
default.Click below to see a sample of the 3 PDF flavors. Page 1 is an IMAGE
ONLY PDF. Page 2 is an IMAGE WITH HIDDEN TEXT PDF. Page 3 is the 'dreaded'
NORMAL PDF. Notice the font on Page 3 is nothing like the image on Page 1.
Just imagine producing "Normal PDFs" in a document production! The
other side would have a field day with that! To see examples of
the three PDF Types click here...
Let's
start with a cost-effective alternative to Adobe's $249 Acrobat program, the
preferred way to deliver documents in PDF format. Luckily, there are many
low- cost PDF-makers out there. For PDF conversions you may want to consider pdfFactory
from FinePrint Software (www.fineprint.com). PdfFactory offers a preview mode
in which pages can be added or deleted, and you can easily combine the print
output from several different programs into a single PDF file. It works with
any version of Windows, going back to Windows 95. It also features superior
support for fonts. Price: $25 to $50, depending on volume. For
information on pdfFactory, click here...
This One Hour CLE can be held at your firm or at the City Club
901 Main Street; 69th Floor; Dallas, TX 75202 We will be
discussing the collection, evaluation, review and production of Electronic
Documents; tips for success and traps to avoid. To set a date for this FREE One Hour CLE Seminar
click here...
Mr.
Svenson's easy-to-read writing style eliminates "techno-jargon" in
a way that makes sense. He provides real-life examples of the use of PDFs in
a law practice. Click here for Ernest Svenson's article "Adobe
Acrobat for Lawyers"
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