Justify Text in a pdf Document 2

[Jasonzz]

Hi Guys can anyone help me here? I am creating pdf documents by using html then converting those to a pdf file. I can justify both sides of the block of text in the html page but when I convert it to a pdf it just shows it as left aligned. Is it possible to justfiy text in a pdf?

Thanks, Jason

 

[Eggles]

No. Well, at least not usually if the document is created from software such as Word, Pagemaker, etc. No idea how it all works when making a PDF from HTML. But generally, PDFs are not editable to any large extent - that's the point of them - to display the layout as it appeared in the original.

 

[Jasonzz]

Thanks for you reply.

The problem is though is that That is how the original document. I have created the page in frontpage and justified the text. On there it is justified but as it converts it switches back to left align.

The only other way that does work that I have seen is to create image of the document in photoshop. The only problem with that is that the text when saved as a image becomes less crisp and clear and when you zoom in the document's text is down right blurry when it's converted to a pdf.

I was suprised when I first saw adobe acrobat professional (free trial). I thought for $450 the program would atleast let you add text and edit the pdf within the program. There isn't much to that program at all.

 

[Eggles]

I have never made a PDF from FrontPage, so I just tried it. I noticed several things - you cannot justify text in my version of FP (2000) anyway, and I couldn't get it make a PDF in colour.

>>I thought for $450 the program would atleast let you add text and edit the pdf within the program. There isn't much to that program at all.<<

As I said, the whole point of a PDF is that it is not editable - at least NOT to any great extent and certainly not to change the layout.

>>There isn't much to that program at all.<<

There's a lot you can do with it - just not edit text.

 

[ChokingMyTrap]

That price just gets you the ability to create PDFs with distiller, with very ^^very^^ minimal editing features. If your intending on doing editing of PDFs you will need addons such as Enfocus PitStop Pro, which cost just as much if not more then Acrobat itself. For the most part its used for pre-press when you don’t have the benefit of having the native files to make your changes/Corrections. You can use it to change and edit just about anything, automate your editing.. ^but^.. its never as simple as having the original file to make edits.

What my suggestion would be, instead of trying to edit PDFs.. just manually enter the html into your source of the webpages. There might not be a Justify in the WYSIWYG of FrontPage, but if you <p align="justify"></p> it should display correctly.

Then make final PDFs as-is.

Hope that helps,
Cheers

 

[Jasonzz]

Yeah I tried <p align="justify"> It works when viewing the html page but when you convert it to a pdf, acrobat just doesn't pick up the justify feature. I will look into the abilities of that other program but I want to make sure that it works better than the programs that I already use (frontpage, word, and photoshop).

I'm suprised acrobat doesn't pick that up. Their probably saving that for a newer version ;-)

 

[ChokingMyTrap]

Hrmm, thats odd, sounds more of an error with the program your making the postscript from. Distiller/Acrobat doesn't have issues using justified text, I make PDFs all the time with justified text from Quark, Indesign and Illustrator.

I wouldn't suggest using PitStop to edit paragraph settings, most likely wont work. Or be more work then its worth.

<cringe> I installed FrontPage </cringe> and tested out what your doing. I made a table and put justified text in each cell of the table. I made a postscript file and distilled it and it worked fine. I tried out a different way, I saved the file as an HTML and then right clicked the file in explorer and picked <Covert to PDF> I would get the same thing you were talking about, nothing is justified. Not sure if this was the way you were making your PDFs?

Try PDFing your files in different ways, preferably postscriping your files and distilling them.

Cheers

 

[Jasonzz]

Thanks for the info. Can I ask what postscripting and distilling means?

I would usually right click on the htm file and click convert to pdf.

Thanks again, Jason

 

[ChokingMyTrap]

Sorry,

To make a postscript in windows, have your page you have made in FrontPage and go to print. Check off "Print to File", save your .prn file where you wish. Acrobat Distiller is what makes your PDFs, should be in your program list.

Doing any of the auto make PDFs, Print to PDF.. your options are limited if none at all, or very watered down for ease of use. Ease of use is not always the best way to go. When you load Distiller you get the full range and control of settings when making your PDFs. Compression, Colour management, font options, ...ect ect.

You can use one of the pre done settings, maybe Web would be best for you. Or you can go in and create your own custom settings if thats your bag.

Once you've set your settings, Drag and drop your .prn file onto the Distiller window and it will create your PDF.

Cheers