Printing PRO-BELT Reports to an Adobe Acrobat PDF File!
Creating Adobe Acrobat PDF Files from PRO-BELT Reports - Converting PRO-BELT 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.
Results:
Example PDF made from a PRO-BELT data file in English units.
The following methods require the purchase of Adobe Acrobat software that is not included with PRO-BELT. 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 PRO-BELT report pages into Adobe Acrobat.
Purchase and install the Adobe Acrobat software. Acrobat is not included with PRO-BELT. 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 printed page of the PRO-BELT report.
Attach the Acrobat file to email for others to open, view and print.
Method No. 2 - Save PRO-BELT report pages to a document file in "Rich Text Format."
Step No. 1
From the PRO-BELT Main Menu go to File. Select either "Fancy Text" or "Plain Text." The "Plain Text" can be converted to a "Rich Text File" on your computer without purchasing any other software or fonts. The "Fancy Text" requires the Courier LD (line draw) font that may not be available on your computer, but you can purchase and download the font online at the following website:
Select the group of pages or single page that you wish to save as a text file.
Type a file name with a maximum of 8 characters. Do not add the extension.
PRO-BELT will add the extension .PRN to each file automatically.
Open Windows WordPad program. Go to Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad.
Right click and select "Send To Desktop" to create a convenient shortcut icon, if desired.
Go to the WordPad command File - Page Setup. Set the left and right margins to 0.75". Set the top margin to 0.5" and bottom margins to 0.2".
Go to File - Open to open the text file. In the "File Type" box select "All Files." Click on the PRO-BELT text file with the PRN extension.
The default font should now be Courier New - Regular - 10 point, which is satisfactory for "Plain Text" files.
To change the font for PRO-BELT "Fancy Text" go to Edit - Select All. This should highlight the entire file.
Go to Format - Fonts. Select "Courier LD - Regular - 10 point." Click on the page to remove the highlight selection.
Go to File - Print Preview to see the page or pages. Advance through the pages to be certain the pagination is correct.
To to File - Print to print the file.
Save the file by first changing the file type to "Rich Text File", change the name if desired and save.
Converting PRO-BELT Reports to a "Rich Text File" or Document.
Method No. 3 - Print the saved PRO-BELT text file to the Adobe Virtual Printer to make a PDF.
Step No. 1
Purchase and install the Adobe Acrobat software as described in Method No. 1 above.
Open the "Rich Text File" in WordPad as described in Method 2 above.
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 installation of Adobe Acrobat software.
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.
Comment: If security of the data is a concern, the Adobe Acrobat software can be used to set security features, thereby, preventing recipients of the PDF from making any changes.
Method No. 4 - Capture and convert PRO-BELT 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 PRO-BELT. Printfil is relatively inexpensive and can be downloaded online. The software captures the PRO-BELT 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 PRO-BELT 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 WordPad program before being sent to Acrobat via the virtual Acrobat PDF printer. The text file becomes 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 PRO-BELT printing signal. LPT1 is suggest because this is the default printer port identified in PRO-BELT. Although, the printing port can be changed in PRO-BELT, 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 PRO-BELT "Fancy Text" mode. The Courier LD font is not required for capturing the PRO-BELT "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 New" font (not line draw) will work for the PRO-BELT "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 PRO-BELT 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 WordPad program. Go to Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad. Right click and select "Send To Desktop" to create a convenient shortcut icon, if desired. Go to the WordPad commands File - Page Setup. Set the left and right margins to 0.75". Set the top margin to 0.5" and bottom margins to 0.2".
Launch PRO-BELT. Select one of the PRO-BELT programs. Check the LPT port and change, if necessary. On the PRO-BELT 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 PRO-BELT program by pressing ALT - ENTER at the same time and clicking the Window Minimize command.
Maximize the WordPad program immediately. Select the file types to open all files. Open the collection text file that was saved by Printfil.
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.
Change the file type to "Rich Text Format." Save the file with your desired name. The file name used in this step will automatically become the Acrobat PDF file name later. The same name as your PRO-BELT data file is a good choice.
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 PRO-BELT data file in English units.
Please call our office for further assistance at 303 - 927 - 6937.
users technical support answers.
Printing PRO-BELT Reports to an Adobe Acrobat PDF File.
Converting PRO-BELT Reports to a "Rich Text File" or Document.
Converting PRO-BELT Graphics Data Page to a Rich Text File or PDF.
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!
Printing on WINDOWS 95 and 98 Network Printers!
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