September 2006
Tidbits
- Create PDF files for your website - FREE
- Inserting page breaks in MS Excel
- Display file extensions for all file types
- Adieu
Create PDF files for your website - FREE
Some types of documents are easier to distribute or post on the web in PDF format. Specific examples include job descriptions, board meeting minutes, and policies. Commercial products used to create PDF files can be big memory hogs for computers and quite expensive to boot. But here's the good news - I've been recommending a FREE product that does just as well if your goal is simply to create PDF files for viewing or distributing on the web or via email.
Visit CutePDF Writer's web site for more details about this great free product. The download links are to the left on their page, and I recommend downloading the Free Converter before you download CutePDF Writer. Once you have the software installed, just follow these simple steps to create your first PDF:
- Open the document you want to convert to PDF (in Word, Excel, etc.).
- Go to FILE > PRINT.
- Select CutePDF Writer as your printer in the drop-down box at the top of your print window.
- Click OK.
- Dictate where you want the PDF file saved on your computer.
That's it! It's simple and fast. There is also a free CutePDF Writer Companion that adds more features such as merging multiple documents into one PDF; insert or delete pages; resize pages to any paper size; though it looks like there is ad-related software attached to it. Take a look and see what you think. Even without the Companion features, CutePDF Writer is well worth the download.
Inserting page breaks in MS Excel
Do you have Excel workbooks with hundreds of rows in them? When you print out workbooks like that, it can be difficult to locate the data you need. Wouldn't it be better to control where your page breaks are landing rather than let Excel or your page setup dictate it for you? The answer is YES! And here's how:
- Open the workbook to which you want to add page breaks.
- Select VIEW > PAGE BREAK PREVIEW from the Menu Bar.
- Select a cell or a column or a row below the line where you want to insert a horizontal break. If you want to dictate a vertical page break, select a cell to the right of a line where you want the break.
- Right-click on your selected cell, row or column and choose INSERT PAGE BREAK from the shortcut menu.
Voila! The ultimate control.
In some versions of Excel, it might be even easier. When you switch to PAGE BREAK PREVIEW, you might see your existing page breaks and be allowed to drag them to where you want them. Either way, it's easy and cool.
Display file extensions for all file types
Every once in a while, when I'm trying to locate a file in Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer - just for clarification's sake), I get irked because I can't see the file extensions for any of my documents. Well, and not a moment too soon, I just happened across a handy tip on XP configuration that helped me solve my problem. Try this one out if you've ever had the same frustration:
- Open MY COMPUTER.
- Select TOOLS from the menu bar, then FOLDER OPTIONS.
- Click on the VIEW tab and find the "Hide Extensions For Known File Types" check box.
- Deselect that option and click OK.
Now your file extensions will show for all of your files. No more guessing, no more being irked - woohoo!
Adieu
Farewell until next time from the library system where all the computers are fast, all the books are worth reading, and all the librarians are above average!
This issue of Tidbits was written by Beth Carpenter, Web Services Manager for the Outagamie Waupaca Library System. Please send any comments or questions about this issue to Beth.
Supporting public libraries in Outagamie and Waupaca counties