PDF and PostScript files
Many web pages contain links to documents in PDF and PostScript
format; most of these are primarily intended for distribution in printed
form. This page contains some notes on viewing and printing these files,
aimed at users of Internet Explorer on public PCs on the UKC
network. Since I don't use PCs regularly myself there may be some errors
or omissions: suggestions for improvement are welcome.
PostScript files
These are the files that are sent direct to the printer to produce
paper copies of the documents, so (within the IMS website, in
particular) they should generally be regarded as the
definitive versions of these documents.
Viewing
The standard previewer for PostScript files on Windows PCs is
gsview. This is installed on UKC public PCs, and selecting
a link to a PostScript file will start up gsview (in a separate
window) to view the file. The startup procedure involves a number of
questions, which you should answer as follows:
-
Select `Open this file from its current location'.
-
Leave `Always ask before opening this type of file' box ticked.
-
Click on `OK'.
-
When gsview asks you to register, click on `OK'.
This procedure may not always work. I hope to be able to provide some
information about common problems soon. Watch this space.
Printing
Printing from gsview is possible.
Printing in reduced formats is possible.
PDF files
PDF (Portable Document Format) files are commonly used for the storage
of documents which are primarily designed for printing. The PDF files
in my pages are produced using a variety of tools (ps2pdf and
pdflatex on UNIX, Acrobat on Windows PCs). The
resulting documents may differ slightly from the PostScript versions:
in some cases special characters and graphics may not appear. For this
reason, amongst others, it is recommended that you use the PostScript
versions for printing on UKC networked printers.
Viewing
The standard previewer for PDF files on Windows PCs is
Acrobat Reader. This is installed on UKC public PCs, so that
selecting a link to a PDF file will start up Acrobat Reader (in the
same window).
You may prefer to have Acrobat Reader start up in a separate
window. If so, you should proceed as follows:
-
Start up Acrobat Reader.
-
Select
File > Preferences > General...
-
Turn
Web Browser Integration off.
-
Click on
OK.
Does anyone know how to set up Word to behave similarly?
Printing
Printing from Acrobat Reader is possible. (In some versions of
Internet Explorer/Acrobat Reader it is important to select
the correct printer icon: selecting the icon in the lower (Acrobat
Reader) toolbar does what you want, while selecting the icon in the
upper (Internet Explorer) toolbar sends a page to the printer
containing the URL of the page and nothing else. This problem does not
seem to occur on the UKC public PCs, and is avoided if you have arranged
for Acrobat Reader to start up in a separate window.)
Printing in reduced formats is not possible.
Not on any of the UKC printers I've tried, anyway. A job is sent to the
printer, but no output appears.
Mike Bremner
1 November 2002