Merry Christmas

The Spin Doctor · 24-12-09, 18:06

Have a great Festive Season, and a happy (and safe) New Year in 2010.

Thanks for everyone's contributions over the last 12 months, and we hope to see you all here again next year!
Meanwhile, here's an Xmas freebie for you all from Survival Skills!

If you're having trouble viewing the above link, try this one instead!

wheelnut · 25-12-09, 00:12

You too Kev and thanks for the input you and others put into here. It is appreciated.

Scootabout · 30-12-09, 22:14

Same to you, Spin. (Freebie file didn't work for me, though...)

The Spin Doctor · 02-01-10, 22:14

Oops... not sure why it didn't download... pop-ups blocked??

I've re-posted the link and it works for me now...

Scootabout · 02-01-10, 23:10

Thanks but still not working for me. I can download the pdf but it's blank

The Spin Doctor · 02-01-10, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scootabout

Thanks but still not working for me. I can download the pdf but it's blank

Works here.

Are you using Adobe Reader? Can you give me a heads up on operating system, processor, memory etc?

Try running it on Foxit - which is a fraction of the size, uses far less resources and is much quicker.

The Spin Doctor · 02-01-10, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanC

And a Happy New year to you, Spin.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten that

Likewise, all

iansoady · 03-01-10, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

Works here.

First time I tried it didn't work (Foxit, XP) but does now. It does open in a strange elongated format but easy enough to resize.

The Spin Doctor · 03-01-10, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by iansoady

First time I tried it didn't work (Foxit, XP) but does now. It does open in a strange elongated format but easy enough to resize.

Basically, it's converted from a webpage which is what the ebooks are built from, so the page extends vertically.

I'm seriously considering reformatting the ebooks using 'page turning' software but it's not a trivial task.

Horse · 04-01-10, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scootabout

Thanks but still not working for me. I can download the pdf but it's blank

Tried here and @home, both XP-based sytems, and just get one looooong blank sheet.

Re reformatting: what would you or readers gain? I like to be able to quickly scroll through individual pages of a 'typical' PDF, and they're printable too for easier reading.

TBH page-turning systems, clever as they are, annoy me - and they often have slow-to-use 'zoom' functions.

The Spin Doctor · 04-01-10, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horse

Tried here and @home, both XP-based sytems, and just get one looooong blank sheet.

Re reformatting: what would you or readers gain? I like to be able to quickly scroll through individual pages of a 'typical' PDF, and they're printable too for easier reading.

TBH page-turning systems, clever as they are, annoy me - and they often have slow-to-use 'zoom' functions.

Hmmm.. what program are you reading it with? It's working fine on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom netbook with a measly 1Gig of RAM and integrated graphics so my guess is that it's less to do with hardware and more to do with the software that's attempting to read it.

The e-books themselves run under Windows, I was trying to produce a low-effort way of making a platform independent presentation, but in my limited experience to day, PDF isn't the way to go for a complex document with graphics.

Trying to export the source HTML via a PDF virtual printer driver produced as many results as I tried virtual printer drivers, with every single one having some problem or another. All bar one had weird page breaks, graphics split over two pages, colour issues. The only one that printed each page correctly with no gaps, overlaps or split graphics crashed on the longer pages!

Memory issues I guess, even tho there's 2Gig on this machine.

I tried importing the HTML into various word processors that can print directly as PDF and that was even worse!

The one bit of software that DID handle the HTML correcly and printed as a single page is the one that some people can't read. Odd.

When I said "page turning", the last thing I wanted to do was go the Flash 'animated book' route, I was thinking more in terms of a fixed size page template so that at the end of each page you move onto a new one, but that has its own problems of reflowing text when you modify a page.

I'm quite keen to get them out on a format that would allow them to be read on something like the Kindle or a mobile phone, but that's a minefield of different incompatible formats too.

The Spin Doctor · 04-01-10, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanC

Worked fine here on my Mac using OSX's Preview.

The content was one long, narrow image embedded in a PDF rather than the "normal" PDF text format, so maybe that's what's causing the problems for some.

That would account for the size of the files!! But would also account for the faithful reproduction where the other PDF creators which are simply virtual printer drivers had problems.

Quote:

And if you ever want to go iPhone / iPod touch then let me know - I'm a registered developer so I can at least advise on what's possible.

OK ta... Popular tho they are, unless it's a via a cross-platform format, I don't think I'll be looking at a specific release... not enough days in the year etc etc

.

Horse · 04-01-10, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

Hmmm.. what program are you reading it with? It's working fine on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom netbook with a measly 1Gig of RAM and integrated graphics so my guess is that it's less to do with hardware and more to do with the software that's attempting to read it.

@Home again.

Clicked the linky, it opened a new window of: 27 Tricks & Tips 1.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Then clicked 'preview' which opens a Scribd window, displaying a long red rectangle.

Right Click, 'Open new tab', on the 'text' line then offers the 'file download' options pop-up. 'file download' pop-up, followed by an 'There was an error opening. The file is damaged and could not be repaired.' Adobe message.

Return to box.net options. Download & save (to desktop).
Open, gives looooong white box.

Bored now. It was bad enough doing software testing for a job

Wossname · 04-01-10, 21:08

Like others have said - couldn't open it on XP using Adobe Reader...downloaded Foxit - hey presto.

Some useful reminders, Spin - many thanks.

Happy New Year!

Horse · 04-01-10, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wossname

couldn't open it on XP using Adobe Reader...downloaded Foxit - hey presto.

Damn good PDF generator if Acrobat can't open it

Remind me what Acrobat is for again, and who invented PDFs?

FWIW, @work we have the latest 'Office' installed, and Word PDF generator doesn't always get page breaks etc correct . . .

(and we're not allowed to install other software without permission and faffing, in fact 'can't' as the system protection won't allow it).

24-12-09, 18:06	#1
The Spin Doctor May contain nuts Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kent, but also train in Oxford Posts: 3,855 Cash: £3203585 Thanks: 61 Thanked: 148/119	Merry Christmas - new download link if you had problems!! Have a great Festive Season, and a happy (and safe) New Year in 2010. Thanks for everyone's contributions over the last 12 months, and we hope to see you all here again next year! Meanwhile, here's an Xmas freebie for you all from Survival Skills! If you're having trouble viewing the above link, try this one instead!
	Sponsor Page Blog Website Courses booking now for 2010 Riding Tips Shop Follow me on Twitter NEW - online e-course The dull copyright bit - feel free to nick it for personal use. If you want to reprint it for your club, I'd like a mention as author. Otherwise hands-off. Full terms "Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC Last edited by The Spin Doctor; 05-01-10 at 17:21.

25-12-09, 00:12	#2
wheelnut Happy Happy Happy Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hanging by a thread Posts: 2,302 Cash: £2516290 Thanks: 74 Thanked: 52/50	Re: Merry Christmas You too Kev and thanks for the input you and others put into here. It is appreciated.

30-12-09, 22:14	#3
Scootabout At Work Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London SW Posts: 1,057 Cash: £1708555 Thanks: 0 Thanked: 6/6	Re: Merry Christmas Same to you, Spin. (Freebie file didn't work for me, though...)
	Seeing how it all Pans out

02-01-10, 22:14	#4
The Spin Doctor May contain nuts Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kent, but also train in Oxford Posts: 3,855 Cash: £3203585 Thanks: 61 Thanked: 148/119	Re: Merry Christmas Oops... not sure why it didn't download... pop-ups blocked?? I've re-posted the link and it works for me now...
	Sponsor Page Blog Website Courses booking now for 2010 Riding Tips Shop Follow me on Twitter NEW - online e-course The dull copyright bit - feel free to nick it for personal use. If you want to reprint it for your club, I'd like a mention as author. Otherwise hands-off. Full terms "Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC

02-01-10, 23:10	#5
Scootabout At Work Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London SW Posts: 1,057 Cash: £1708555 Thanks: 0 Thanked: 6/6	Re: Merry Christmas Thanks but still not working for me. I can download the pdf but it's blank
	Seeing how it all Pans out

The following user says thank you to The Spin Doctor for this useful post:
wheelnut (25-12-09)


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04-01-10, 21:08	#14
Wossname A Bit Bored Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 95 Cash: £1661200 Thanks: 0 Thanked: 5/4	Re: Merry Christmas Like others have said - couldn't open it on XP using Adobe Reader...downloaded Foxit - hey presto. Some useful reminders, Spin - many thanks. Happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas

Have a great Festive Season, and a happy (and safe) New Year in 2010. Thanks for everyone's contributions over the last 12 months, and we ...