Re: [MATHEDCC] A question about *.ps files on the 'net

John St.Clair (JSTCLAIR@MSCC.CC.TN.US)
Thu, 08 May 1997 08:17:52 -0500 (CDT)

I agree that postscript files are not the best way to distribute
information to a varied audience. They require either ghostscript
(which is not all that simple to install) or access to a
postsrcipt printer. Adobe Acrobat pdf files are a good way to
make materials available. The Acrobat Reader is available free
at <http://www.adobe.com> and can function as a browser plug-in
or as a stand alone. The problem for a professor wanting
to create pdf files is that the package needed to create the files
is not free. The Adobe Acrobat Pro 3.0 package contains (in addition to
the Reader program) a program called Acrobat Distiller which converts
postscript files (*.ps) into Portable Document Format (*.pdf)
files. Also included is a program called Acrobat Exchange which
allows the user to edit pdf files including changing text, creating
outlines, and creating thumbnails. Also included is the Acrobat
Capture program which can be used with a scanner to create pdf files.

The package is available in an Academic version (fully functional)
at a reduced price. I have seen it advertised for $49. BTW, I
am not affiliated with Adobe but do recommend it. I have used the
package to create the Electronic Proceedings of the Long Beach AMATYC
conference <http://archives.math.utk.edu/AMATYC/22nd/index.html>.

Regards,
John St.Clair

> At 06:58 PM 5/7/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >I have a question about saving/printing files from the 'net when such
> >files were generated for/by PostScript.
>
> First, shame on a professor who puts up files without telling students how
> to read them. Second, he/she's at fault for choosing an unusual format. I
> think I'm quite good at all this stuff, but, like Bev, I recently couldn't
> read a *.ps file. Adobe Acrobat (download for free) handles *.pdf
> (postscript display format), which must be related.
>
> I tried Alan's dos copy suggestion, but it failed for me and my postscript
> printer. Anything that requires going to DOS is bad for many reasons here
> in 1997.
>
> -Sandy
>
>
>
> -Sandy
> _______________________________
> William J. (Sandy) Wagner
> 127 O'Connor St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
> (415)328-8657 (voice) (415)323-1035 (fax)
> sandyw@best.com
>
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