Printing PIPE-PRO Reports to an Adobe Acrobat PDF File!
Results
Example PDF made from a PIPE-PRO data file in English units.
Creating Adobe Acrobat PDF Files from PIPE-PRO Reports - Converting PIPE-PRO reports to Abode Acrobat PDF files provides a convenient format for attachment to email and adding to a CD. The recipient can open and print the files using the Acrobat Reader program that is included on most computers.
The following methods require purchase of the Adobe Acrobat software that is not included with PIPE-PRO. The report pages can be transmitted to others via fax or send via regular mail, if the Adobe Acrobat software is not available. Scanning the report pages into graphic files using the Windows Paint program is possible, but this method is slow and each page becomes a separate file. The method presented here allows all report pages to become one Adobe Acrobat file. Other information can also be added to the file, such as vendor information, sketches, etc.
Method No. 1 - Scan the PIPE-PRO report pages into Adobe Acrobat.
Purchase and install the Adobe Acrobat software. Acrobat is not included with PIPE-PRO. Acrobat is relatively expensive, but online discount software vendors offer deep discounts. The Acrobat software files are too large to download from the Internet. Purchase the software on a CD.
Follow the instruction included with Acrobat to scan each page of the PIPE-PRO report.
Attach the Acrobat file to email for others to open, view and print.
Method No. 2 - Capture and convert PIPE-PRO report pages to an Acrobat PDF file.
Step No. 1
Purchase and install the Adobe Acrobat software as described in Method No. 1 above.
Step No. 2
Purchase the Printfil software. This software is not included with PIPE-PRO. Printfil is relatively inexpensive and can be downloaded online. The software captures the PIPE-PRO report by intercepting the printing signal before it reaches the parallel port. The computer does not need a parallel port. This is important since many new laptop computers do not have parallel ports. The PIPE-PRO printing signal is captured and converted to a text file by the Printfil program. The text file can be reviewed and modified using the Windows Notepad and WordPad programs before being sent to Acrobat via the virtual Acrobat PDF printer. The text file become a multiple page PDF.
Printfil: Print from DOS, Unix, Linux to Windows printer: USB, GDI, PDF, Fax
First, create a folder to collect the Printfil text file and the resulting Acrobat PDF file.
Second, install the Printfil software. The collection folder path and folder name must be identified when the Printfil software is installed.
Select parallel port LPT1, LPT2 or LPT3 when the Printfil software is installed. This parallel port will be used to capture the PIPE-PRO printing signal. LPT1 is suggest because this is the default printer port identified in PIPE-PRO. Although, the printing port can be changed in PIPE-PRO, if desired. The capture will work even when the computer does not have a physical parallel port or a printer connected to the selected port.
Step No. 3
Purchase the "Courier LD" (line draw) font in order capture the PIPE-PRO "fancy text" mode. The Courier LD font is not required for capturing the PIPE-PRO "plain text" mode. The courier LD font may already be installed on your computer. Check for the font by launching a word processing program, and review all of the fonts. The "Courier" font (not line draw) will work for the PIPE-PRO "plain text" mode but will not work for the "fancy text" mode. The courier LD font can be purchased online and downloaded. The file is small. Follow the instruction from the font website to install the font.
Courier Line Draw Regular Font - Fonts.com
Step No. 4
The required software is now ready to use to print PIPE-PRO to an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.
Launch the Printfil program. It will move into memory with an icon in the Windows Task Bar.
Launch the Windows Notepad program. Go to Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad. Right click and select "Send To Desktop" to create a convenient shortcut icon, if desired. Minimize WordPad for use in the following steps. Go to the Notepad commands File - Page Setup. Set the left and right margins to 1". Set the top and bottom margins to 0.3". Go to the Notepad Format command. Select Fonts and select the Courier LD, regular, 10 pt font. The Notepad program will deep these and the open folder as defaults.
Launch the Windows WordPad program. Go to Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad. Right click and select "Send To Desktop" to create a convenient shortcut icon, if desired. Minimize WordPad for use in the following steps. Go to WordPad command, File - Page Setup. Change the left and right margins to 1". Change the top and bottom margins to 0.3"
Note! WordPad will keep the page format as a new default.
Launch PIPE-PRO. Select one of the PIPE-PRO programs. Check the LPT port and change, if necessary. On the PIPE-PRO Main Menu select Commands - Worksheet - Global - Default - Printer - Interface. Select the desired port and press Enter. Then, press ESC several times to return to the Main Menu. Print the desired report pages. The menu will disappear but will return quickly after the printing signal has been sent.
Minimize the PIPE-PRO program by pressing ALT - ENTER at the same time and clicking the Window Minimize command.
Maximize the Notepad program immediately. Select the file types to open all files. Set the "Encoding" to ANSI. Open the collection text file that was saved by Printfil. Do not delete the pagination symbol at the top-left of the second and following pages. Save the file with your desired name. Add a .doc extension. The file name used in this step will automatically become the Acrobat PDF file name later. The same name as your PIPE-PRO data file is a good choice.
Maximize the Windows WordPad program. Select all file types. Open the files saved by Notepad. Go to Edit - Select All to highlight all of the pages. Go to Font. Select Courier LD, regular, 10 pt font. This must be done each time. WordPad does not save folders or fonts as a new default.
Note! The Printfil software with attempt to convert the captured file to an Acrobat PDF without proper formatting. Do not accept this step because the file has not had the required formatting. Click "cancel" when Printfil pops up.
Do not quit WordPad.
Go to File - Print Preview. Click "Next Page" to review each page for proper format and pagination.
Save the file with a doc extension. Do not quit WordPad at this time.
Go to Start - Settings - Control Panel. Right click on the "Printers and Faxes" icon and select "Create Shortcut" to send a convenient shortcut icon to the Desktop, if desired. Open the printer folder. Right click on the virtual Adobe PDF printer and set as the "default printer." Note! the Adobe PDF printer was automatically installed during the steps above.
Return to WordPad. Go to File - Print. The Adobe Acrobat program will launch automatically and the PDF file will be created. Review each page for proper format and pagination. Save the PDF file.
Results
Example PDF made from a PIPE-PRO data file in English units.
Please call our office for further assistance at (303) 927-6937.
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Printing PIPE-PRO Reports to an Adobe Acrobat PDF File!
Printing on a local printer attached to the computer!
Printing on Windows 2000 and XP to a USB or Wireless Printer!
Printing on WINDOWS NT, 2000 and XP Network Printers!
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Professional Designers & Engineers, Inc.
Kent R. Rieske, President
P. O. Box 11380
Boulder, CO 80301 USA
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Tel: 303
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