Computer

Converting a PDF file takes time and money. It also takes some knowledge and a premium software pack. So it is not as easy as it tooks. A PDF editor can be quite expensive.

Ways to edit a PDF file

The main question is “How do I edit PDF files?” There are two ways of achieving this goal:

•    Editing on a PDF directly

•    Converting a PDF to another format

Editing on a PDF directly

PDF editing is not a very difficult process. It can be done by almost anyone, and one does not need specific skills to achieve this goal. You simply open the PDF in Acrobat and edit it. Editing PDf in Acrobat will only work if you have the original authoring password, or if the PDF file is not password protected. While this is mostly easy, some problems might appear. The main problem is the font used. If the PDF file uses a font you do not have, you cannot edit it. There are thousands of fonts available on the internet today, so which one does the PDF file use? Hard question. The answer is “Only the original author knows”. Getting all the fonts and trying them out is not an option. It can take days to find the right one, and you will probably give up long before you find anything. However, most PDF files use standard fonts, like Arial or Times New Roman.

Converting a PDF to another format

The best format to work with is Microsoft Word, and its .DOC documents. In order to convert and edit PDF files, you will need a PDF to Word Converter program. Many PDF files are password protected specifically to prevent actions like PDF editing. The PDF editors basically interpret the snapshot, which is the PDF file, and convert it into a text file recognizable by Microsoft Word. This is achieved by using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or similar technology. Basically, this technology is able to “read” the file and output the text in a Word document. You can also scan a document and run the OCR software to extract the text directly to a Word file. Although it is fast, it has some drawbacks. To make an almost error free transition between PDF and DOC, you need a very good converter, that can cost lots of money. Another drawback is the error number. Although good OCR software will have a typical accuracy rate of more that 99%, errors will still be present. And, if you have a very large PDF file, proofreading the output DOC might take some time and resources.

A quick search of the Internet will turn up dozens of PDF to Word converter programs. Some are free, some are not. Be sure to use premium software; it will get you top quality for its price. One of the best and easy to use tools is Able2Doc 6.0 PDF to Word Converter, from Investintech.Com. It edits PDF files and converts them to Word files in no time, error free!

“Able2Doc 6.0 performs fast and accurate conversions to Word with columns, tables, headers, footers, graphics and layout reproduced just as they were in the original document” –

With Nitro PDF Professional's comprehensive set of tools to edit PDF files, there's less need to switch between different applications to manage and update the contents of your PDF files.

As a PDF editor, Nitro PDF Professional gives you the complete tool set to edit any text, graphics, pages, security, links, bookmarks, and metadata contained in your PDF files, allowing you to prepare PDF files that are ready and optimized for distribution. Best of all, with our PDF editor you can edit documents made from any PDF creation tool, including those originally produced in Adobe^® Acrobat^®.

Fix typos directly on your PDF files instead of going back to the source file in another application (such as Microsoft^® Word, Excel^®, or WordPerfect). You can change the type of font face, size and color of existing text, correct word and character spacings, and insert new text straight into your PDF files. When you need the PDF editor to insert text across more than one page at a time, use the header, footer and Bates number tools to insert permanent text, numbering and dynamic text like date, author, title and more.

For last minute changes to images in PDF files, Nitro PDF Professional's advanced image editing tools enable you to select, move, resize, rotate, copy, paste, and delete. To insert images into one or more pages - with full control over the final appearance, size, opactity and more - Nitro Pro allows you to add images as watermarks or overlays.

Adding bookmarks and links to your PDF files makes them easier to use and navigate. By applying an action to a PDF bookmark or link you can make your document much easier to navigate. Users can quickly jump to other pages in the PDF file, or to web pages. The Nitro Pro PDF editor includes industry-leading tools for automating the process of bookmark and link creation, as well as tools to manually edit the appearance and actions of individual bookmarks and links.

Editing document properties (including metadata) and removing unwanted objects from a PDF will produce a more professional, client-ready PDF file. With Nitro PDF Professional's optimization tool, you can compress images and remove objects such as form fields, annotations, bookmarks, JavaScript and more to produce a smaller size PDF file. For documents that may be indexed for searching, adding information to metadata fields will aid search filtering, and choosing 'initial view' settings (such as the magnification level) will allow you to customize how the PDF file appears when opened.

If you pop open your calculator, put it into Programmer mode, click the Binary button, and then type in 101010, you’ll see that flipping to Decimal mode shows you 42 instead.

And of course, if you actually learn how the Binary numeral system works, you’ll earn some geek points.

In the science fiction novel (and movie) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, there’s a giant computer that’s trying to figure out the ultimate answer to the ultimate questions in the universe—here’s the quote from Wikipedia:

In fact, if you search Google for “answer to life the universe and everything”, it will spit out 42, in a lot less than 7.5 million years, of course.

Of course, this is all quite silly, but it’s fun to learn the background behind some of these things.

And don’t forget, this morning at 10:10 and 10 seconds, it will be 10/10/10 – 10:10:10, the only time that will happen for another 100 years.

Okay, now you want practical advice.  Try these methods and solve your computer's software problem.

A well defined problem really is half the solution.  Something magical happens when you write down precisely what is wrong.  Just collecting the symptoms triggers your brain to start searching for causes.  As a bonus, if you write down the problem it will prepare you for other strategies. (and to email me if you are really stuck.)

 Draw a diagram, sketch out the problem.

Ask: 'Has anyone added a new program recently?  Has any hardware changed?'  If so reverse engines, revert to how it was and check if that cures the problem.  Pattern recognition is a vital troubleshooting skill.  Look for patterns, spot what is out of the ordinary, such as file date that is newer than all the rest, or a spelling misNake in a script.

Two supplementary questions: Did it ever work?  Can I see it working on a nearby machine?

Can you make the fault reoccur?  If so, write down any error messages and type them into Google or TechNet.  Don't give up if at first the search results are disappointing, experiment with different combinations of keywords.  Look for more phrases or ID numbers from the event viewer or message box. 

 Add Microsoft or Windows to your search keywords.

1st Search: Logon Scripts   2nd Search:  Windows Logon Scripts

1st Search: Group Policies   2nd Search:  Microsoft Group Policies

Your first branch in the decision tree should be:  'Is this problem software or is it hardware?'  Investigate the scope of the problem; if it's software, which programs are affected and which still work.  Try to uninstall or re-install the suspected program.

If you suspect a hardware fault be sure that you are dealing with the underlying cause not a symptom. Try swapping the suspect part for a similar component on a working machine.  For example, if the keyboard is dead, swap it with another machine.  From the result you now know if it's the keyboard itself or the computer system unit.

Which programs are affected?  For example, OWA is not working, chick if IIS and the website are running?  PowerPoint's spell checker does not work, is the Word Spell checker operational?

Which programs still work?  No external email is getting through, can you send emails to another internal user at your site?

Log on as administrator.  If a user complains they cannot add a new printer, that could be by design.  If the menu is greyed out, then perhaps you need to logon as a local administrator.

Which components are dead, which components still work?  If the mouse is dead, try the keyboard.

Check lights e.g. Modem, disk, NIC. Check cables e.g. network, power supply. 

Call for the Device Manger (System Icon) investigate yellow question marks or red dots with crosses.

How many computers are affected?  Lots of machines cannot access the internet, it could be a router.  Only one computer, it could be a loose NIC or the cable is out.

Intermittent problems are the toughest to track down.  With Windows Server 2003 the event viewer is your best friend; make it the first place to look for clues.  Set a filter to show just errors (red dots). Remember to include the application log in your search for clues. 

Where do you find the Event Viewer?  Start, Programs, Administrative Tools

Hold down Alt (Key) and Print Screen (Key) then paste into WordPad then you can e-mail the error to any one who you think can help. 

What to do with information?  Trust TechNet to make sense of the event messages.  

TechNet is like an encyclopaedia for Microsoft, believe that someone has researched your problem before.  Copy and paste event viewer messages into TechNet's search command; the secret is to keep trying different word combinations.  

 Use NEAR to narrow down the search. Suppose you get this error message:  Modem Error 600. Go to TechNet search for Modem NEAR 600.  This gets any articles with 600 and Modem up to eight words apart - result 6 articles. If you search for Modem error 600 this gets 200 articles with modem OR Error OR 600.

Where do you find TechNet?  Best to subscribe annually.  For a quick reference, go towww.microsoft.com/technet and enter your queries online.

If you are in the habit of dismissing Windows built-in help, then think again.  I urge you to give help another chance. 

Windows Server 2003 help has 21+ troubleshooters.  Built-in help and the troubleshooters help in situations where you may have a blind spot or have overlooked something obvious.  I once could not make a RAS connection work, the Troubleshooter suggested that silly me had tried to push the modem lead into the NIC port.

This tool has three tabs.  You may have already used the Application Tab to End Tasks that are not responding.  Take the time to become familiar with the other tabs especially the Process tab.  For example, you see multiple instances of programs that you thought were shut down; try end task on the executables and so save a reboot.

Where do you find Task manger?  CTRL + ALT + DELETE (2nd Button on bottom Row)

This is an advanced tool that I use for troubleshooting network connection problems.  The monitor captures all packets sent and received by the server.  The benefit of network monitor is that you can see which connections the server it trying to make.  For example, it helps to spot when ever a server is trying to connect to a non-existent machine.  

I say again, network monitor is a complex tool.  However, if you persevere it will teach about the 4 network layers; this knowledge will help you to isolate a problem at the Network, Transport or Application layer of the protocol stack.

Where do you get Network Monitor?  Control Panel, Add Remove Windows Components, Management Networking Tools.

What could have gone wrong?  Make a list of all possible causes, then ask your self, 'which is most likely cause'.  For example, the machine is running terribly slowly, which is more likely, someone crawled in through a window and stole the RAM chip, or a  virus / maleware program has taken over your machine?

Believe that someone somewhere has experienced your problem before, also have faith they have posted a solution in a blog or forum.  So search for variations of your problem in Google, if you have an error number then that will improve your changes of finding a good reference.

You may need to give your brain a chance to find the solution.  When I have the courage to admit to other people that my best ideas come to me in the bath, when mowing the lawn or daydreaming, I am surprised that people don't laugh, but own up to similar 'eureka' moments when they were relaxing rather than focussing on the problem.

Software: Is it an operating system component or is it program x?  Could it be that new program I added?  What about those files I deleted?

Hardware: If a component is not working is it a symptom of something else, or is it the root of the problem?  Is there a log I can check?  or is there a specialist monitoring tool, for instance would milli-ammeter be useful?

I have had the privilege of watching gifted troubleshooters in action. Their golden rule is test one factor at a time.  I was surprised how they rely on discipline even more than flair. They really do write down all the changes they make.  Learn from the expert, list the causes, list possible solutions, draw diagrams.  Therefore, develop theories for the underlying cause but change only one item at a time. 

Don't be afraid to print out instructions and ring keywords, it really is 40% easier to read on paper than online, moreover, just sitting at another desk may jog the brain to come up with a new in sight.

Beware, amateurs often make matters worse by introducing new problems.  My friend 'Mad' Mick tried to cure a noisy fan by spraying it with oil, the result was a mother covered with a fine layer of oil - that machine never worked again.

I am serious - ask for help.  Think, 'Who is most likely to have seen this problem before?'

Even if you chicken out calling someone, at least ask 'how would my friend xyz approach this problem?'

I have noticed that people approach a problem in two distinct ways.  I'll call the first method the 'techie' approach and the second the Henry Ford method.  At this point I assume that you have been using the 'techie' approach and sadly it has not worked for your problem; if so, then give the Henry Ford method a chance. 

Legend has it Henry Ford knew little about car manufacturing but had a row of buttons, blue for an engine expert, red for electrical etc.  So, now is the time to press your buttons.  Contact the most likely people, explain the problem and appeal to their problem solving skills.