NOTE: This is a work in progress. If you find typos, have suggestions for improvements, have ideas to clarify directions, or just have general comments to make, please feel free to send me an email at
. Please include something in the subject like "PDF converter" or "ILLiad stuff" so I don't delete it.
Thanks,
mark
Super Condensed Version or Long winded version
You need ...
Do the following ...
- install GhostScript
- if you want the c++ option, dowload source or executable
- If you downloaded source, compile it and
- place place executable in the /bin directory under
the GhostScript install directory then create a shortcut on the desktop to that executable
- if you want the command line script, download it, place on desktop.
Long winded version
Ok, so you want to convert a PDF to a TIFF. We here at Ohio University Libraries in Athens Ohio are
using GhostScript. The homepage for GPL (GNU Public License) GhostScript
is http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/GPL/index.htm.
By using GhostScript and this little program I wrote (source code or compiled - on WindowsXP Pro). We've been able to reduce paper AND reduce training for our student assistants. How? Well, now our students scan everything into pdf, save the files to a networked drive. We are then able to batch convert the files we need to TIFF for delivery through Odyssey or Ariel.
The process is really quite simple ...
this should strickingly familiar
You need ...
- GhostScript The latest GPL version is 8.50 to ensure you get the latest version, check out http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/GPL/index.htm for more information and download instructions. The installer places the program under C:\gs\gs8.50 (this is important, it's needed later).
- If you want to batch process your files, you'll want the c++ interface converter.cpp (source code) or
converter.exe (compiled on Windows XP professional) that I've created. Feel free to use the source code, distribute the source code and modify it as you need. This is about sharing and helping, not licensing.
- OR If you would prefer, you can use this little batch files convert.cmd (command line interface to GhostScript). The major drawback to this method is it doesn't rename the files properly. Say you have 123456.PDF and drag and drop it onto this batch file. What you end up with is 123456.PDF.TIF. Which, for some reason, doesn't play well with Odyssey or Ariel. So, you have to rename each file you convert (here's a shameless plug for my little program) --- UNLESS, of course you use my little program. It removes the PDF extension, adds the TIF extenstion, AND saves it back to the original directory.
Do the following ...
- install GhostScript - we used the default settings (pretty much a click, agree, click process)
- if you want to be able to batch process the files, and don't like the idea of renaming every file you convert, you'll want the c++ option, so, dowload source or executable
- If you downloaded source, compile it using c++ compiler of your choice - see above for what I used
- If you don't want to deal with the source code, download the executable (it should work as long as you're using windows XP
- Place the executable (presumably converter.exe) in the directory C:\gs\gs8.50\bin (see, I told you the directory was important! - as an example, if you happen to use an older version, the directory might be something like C:\gs\gs8.15\bin)
- Create a shortcut to the executable and place it on the desktop (This is optional, but it's nice being able to drag and drop files onto a conveniently placed icon on the desktop)
- if you want the command line script, download it, place on desktop (You will want to double check the script to make sure it's pointing to the appropriate directory).