PDFCreator - good method for stashing Linux info

**Bartender** · 10-16-2006, 08:54 AM

How many folks are prowling forums such as this one for good Linux guides while on their Windows machines?
I have been for months, and find one of the biggest problems is what to do with a good thread. I can save it to the HDD or print it out. Saving means I may never see it again cause I forget what's in my "Linuxtips" folder. Printing and placing in my Linux binder(s) works better. But printing is problematic because I often end up printing out way more than I want if I just hit the "Print" button. And if I copy/paste to Word or OpenOffice all the formatting is gone, making the info harder to read.
I've had PDFCreator for months now but finally used it for a Linux post and it worked great. PDFC is free. It installs as an option in your list of printers when you click File>Print.
O.K., so you've installed PDFC. You find a great thread or guide that you've gotta have. You click on File>Print, choose PDFCreator, then click Print. PDFC does not send the job to the printer immediately. All it does is convert whatever it is you were looking at to .pdf, then opens your default .pdf utility. I'm using Foxit, a great alternative to Adobe.
PDFC pops up a window asking if you want to save the document. Go ahead if you want, save it to your "Linuxtips" folder. If not, skip past that window. you're back in your default .pdf utility, where you can print only what you want out of the entire thread, not all the replies, etc. And you can print even pages first, then odd, to save paper. The formatting is saved so the guide looks like the original one.
Hope that helps someone out with their home-brew Linux documentation.

Skie · 10-17-2006, 09:06 AM

I've just recently heard of PDFCreator, but haven't tried it yet. However, I just wanted to mention that OpenOffice.org also allows you to save in PDF format. This is good if you're working on a document, but may not be good for other formats.

We're also working on adding a number of Articles as well as an updated/expanded Linux FAQ, but time is always an issue.

**Bartender** · 10-17-2006, 11:55 PM

Hi, Skie -
MaximumPC just ran another big article singing the praises of Ubuntu, so expect a flood of new posters...
I'm still pretty much helpless with Linux but not as pathetic as a year ago. There's lots of info out there but it's so scattershot. It'd be great to have some basic guides that start from ground zero. I mean, adding a line to your fstab can be grueling for the newb. I think more experienced hands forget how baffling it all is at first.

Oh, yeah, the neat thing about PDFCreator is it'll save the webpage just like how the original poster built it. Often you'll see that the OP took the time to box in the terminal commands so they're clearly delineated. Once you've copy/pasted an online guide to OpenOffice it loses all the original formatting, which makes the guide harder to follow. I mean, you wouldn't have any problems, but I'm thinking of the neophyte.

Skie · 10-18-2006, 10:10 AM

What issue of MaximumPC is this article in? I generally stick with the Linux only magazines. You might want to take a look at Linux Magazine, Linux Journal from the US and Linux Format (my favorite) and Linux Journal from the UK. The UK mags are a bit more expensive, but I think Linux Format has a good mix of basic, intermediate and advanced tutorials to help everyone get things done.

We're working on a few tutorials ourselves on some basic things. There's just not enough time in the week to get everything done that needs to be done.

I understand what you're getting at. I just wanted to mention the feature of OOo.

**Bartender** · 10-18-2006, 06:43 PM

The Holiday 2006 issue of MaximumPC. We got ours a few days ago. I don't know when the newstand version hits the streets vs. when subscriptions are sent out.
I think it's neat that MaximumPC is promoting Linux, and Ubuntu in particular, but of course they don't have the room for a comprehensive article. Because of that, a LOT of stuff gets glossed over. Last time they ran a big article on Ubuntu, the Ubuntu Forums were flooded with newb questions for weeks. At least that's what it seemed like to me.
I've been thinking I oughta subscribe to some Linux magazines. Will have to sign up for at least one of the US mags you suggest. I always re-read my PC mags over and over again. Sometimes something even sinks in

10-16-2006, 08:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,087 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	PDFCreator - good method for stashing Linux info How many folks are prowling forums such as this one for good Linux guides while on their Windows machines? I have been for months, and find one of the biggest problems is what to do with a good thread. I can save it to the HDD or print it out. Saving means I may never see it again cause I forget what's in my "Linuxtips" folder. Printing and placing in my Linux binder(s) works better. But printing is problematic because I often end up printing out way more than I want if I just hit the "Print" button. And if I copy/paste to Word or OpenOffice all the formatting is gone, making the info harder to read. I've had PDFCreator for months now but finally used it for a Linux post and it worked great. PDFC is free. It installs as an option in your list of printers when you click File>Print. O.K., so you've installed PDFC. You find a great thread or guide that you've gotta have. You click on File>Print, choose PDFCreator, then click Print. PDFC does not send the job to the printer immediately. All it does is convert whatever it is you were looking at to .pdf, then opens your default .pdf utility. I'm using Foxit, a great alternative to Adobe. PDFC pops up a window asking if you want to save the document. Go ahead if you want, save it to your "Linuxtips" folder. If not, skip past that window. you're back in your default .pdf utility, where you can print only what you want out of the entire thread, not all the replies, etc. And you can print even pages first, then odd, to save paper. The formatting is saved so the guide looks like the original one. Hope that helps someone out with their home-brew Linux documentation.

10-17-2006, 09:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	I've just recently heard of PDFCreator, but haven't tried it yet. However, I just wanted to mention that OpenOffice.org also allows you to save in PDF format. This is good if you're working on a document, but may not be good for other formats. We're also working on adding a number of Articles as well as an updated/expanded Linux FAQ, but time is always an issue. __________________

10-18-2006, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	What issue of MaximumPC is this article in? I generally stick with the Linux only magazines. You might want to take a look at Linux Magazine, Linux Journal from the US and Linux Format (my favorite) and Linux Journal from the UK. The UK mags are a bit more expensive, but I think Linux Format has a good mix of basic, intermediate and advanced tutorials to help everyone get things done. We're working on a few tutorials ourselves on some basic things. There's just not enough time in the week to get everything done that needs to be done. I understand what you're getting at. I just wanted to mention the feature of OOo. __________________

10-17-2006, 11:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,087 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Hi, Skie - MaximumPC just ran another big article singing the praises of Ubuntu, so expect a flood of new posters... I'm still pretty much helpless with Linux but not as pathetic as a year ago. There's lots of info out there but it's so scattershot. It'd be great to have some basic guides that start from ground zero. I mean, adding a line to your fstab can be grueling for the newb. I think more experienced hands forget how baffling it all is at first. Oh, yeah, the neat thing about PDFCreator is it'll save the webpage just like how the original poster built it. Often you'll see that the OP took the time to box in the terminal commands so they're clearly delineated. Once you've copy/pasted an online guide to OpenOffice it loses all the original formatting, which makes the guide harder to follow. I mean, you wouldn't have any problems, but I'm thinking of the neophyte.

10-18-2006, 06:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,087 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	The Holiday 2006 issue of MaximumPC. We got ours a few days ago. I don't know when the newstand version hits the streets vs. when subscriptions are sent out. I think it's neat that MaximumPC is promoting Linux, and Ubuntu in particular, but of course they don't have the room for a comprehensive article. Because of that, a LOT of stuff gets glossed over. Last time they ran a big article on Ubuntu, the Ubuntu Forums were flooded with newb questions for weeks. At least that's what it seemed like to me. I've been thinking I oughta subscribe to some Linux magazines. Will have to sign up for at least one of the US mags you suggest. I always re-read my PC mags over and over again. Sometimes something even sinks in