Tag Archives: pdf

search multiple PDF documents

Computer Aid Posted on by

I needed to search for something amongst many PDF documents.

As usual, Microsofts XP search was totally useless… why have a search facility that deliberately ignores certain files and folders… its just wrong.

Anyway, not wanting to dig up and re-learn a trusty unix “find” and “grep”, I started looking for a pdf search utility.

It turns out I didn’t need to do any searching at all.

Adobe Reader actually has a built-in search utility (press Crtl-Shift-F), and then just select which folder to search in, and it will scan all pdf documents in that folder, looking for the your string.

wrong pdf association within vista and office 2007

Computer Aid Posted on by

Customer (English is not her first language… hence I have some difficulty communicating) has a vista laptop, and needs me to setup her printer and fix a problem with viewing pdf documents.

The printer is simple enough: she had already installed the printer drivers from the CD, installed the toner cartridge, but it kept putting out blank pages.

A closer look at the toner cartridge showed that she hadn’t removed the toner seal (no toner = blank page).

The pdf documents was a bit trickier.

I find I can start adobe reader, and file -> open shows me some pdf documents, and I can load and view a document no problems.

So she explains about double clicking the document… ok… I use explorer to navigate to a pdf document, double click on it, and office 2007 word tries (and fails) to display the document.

I figure: word has somehow decided to become the default application for opening pdf documents.

Simple enough: I just go into adobe reader, and under preferences, I should be able to tell it to take over the pdf association again…

I spend the next 5 minutes scouring the adobe reader menus and preferences, but there is no way to set the default pdf association… hmmm.

I eventually find that using windows explorer is the best bet: folder options -> file types -> Click on the pdf extension, and use the change button to pick the correct application.

I run a few tests, to make sure the association isn’t changed back.

ipaq rx4240 wifi confusion (and no AES support!)

Computer Aid Posted on by

Customer needed his new ipaq rx4240 to display pdf files, and to connect to the internet via his wireless router.

Setting up the adobe software was a bit confusing at first (seems like you need to install the software on the PC… and that will setup the sync software to automatically convert pdf documents to “tagged” pdf documents on the ipaq.

Add to that a corrupted installer, and things took a while to sort out.

While waiting for a download, I was asked to try getting the ipaq to connect to the internet via wireless.

I manage to setup most settings, except you can only setup TKIP encryption (but the router had already need setup for AES)… OK, I’ll take a look later…

I finish the PDF work, I start the cumbersome internet explorer application, and I can (eventually!) navigate my way around the internet… entering urls is a real headache!

At least the wireless internet is working (or so I thought)

As I’m about to leave, the customer disconnects the ipaq usb cable, and then notices that he cannot get any more web pages!

I soon realise that the ipaq must have been accessing the internet via the usb link to the laptop.

In the wifi options section, I can see the customers wireless network, but the ipaq seems to continuously connect and disconnect.

Then it dawns on me: Doh! The ipaq is using TKIP!

So I change the router to TKIP (and the laptop), and then everything works smoothly.

I wish more devices (especially new ones) would support AES encryption! Its more secure than the older TKIP