General Computing Randomness

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:10 pm

What does everyone else use for editing .pdf documents? There are dozens of good, free readers, some better than others, but every editor I've looked at costs $100+. The only free ones I've found run only through a web browser while online, which won't work, either.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:32 pm

As a free 'reader' I have used Foxit for many many many years. But as you say you pay a premium for their editor.

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:47 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:10 pm What does everyone else use for editing .pdf documents? There are dozens of good, free readers, some better than others, but every editor I've looked at costs $100+. The only free ones I've found run only through a web browser while online, which won't work, either.

The PDF Import Extension for Apache OpenOffice provides a great free option for easily creating and editing PDFs with OpenOffice Writer. With the Oracle PDF Import Extension installed on top of OpenOffice, you can create a hybrid PDF/ODF file, which essentially means the PDF contains an embedded ODF source file. The advantage being that not only can it be viewed with a normal PDF viewer, but also opened for full text editing with OpenOffice Writer with 100% layout accuracy. That said, it's less than ideal if you're more interested in editing preexisting PDFs.

If you're looking to edit existing PDFs, you'll likely need to pay for PDF-XChange Editor or the like.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:16 pm

I'm editing existing documents and creating new ones.

I use LibreOffice, not OpenOffice. They are comparable, but LO tends to do a better job of keeping up to date. I'll check out PDF X-Change, but I'm leery of the fact that the unlicensed version has certain features that, if you use them, will watermark your documents.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:28 pm

Nope. Editing anything other than text isn't covered under the license. Editing images or outlines, or adding new text will put a watermark on every single page of the document.

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:31 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:16 pm I'll check out PDF X-Change, but I'm leery of the fact that the unlicensed version has certain features that, if you use them, will watermark your documents.

Yeah, I was addressing the paid version of the PDF-XChange Editor. The licensed versions are still a good deal cheaper than the $100+ software you originally mentioned. The unlicensed version seems so feature-limited, it's likely not even worth bothering with.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:38 pm

I don't have the option of buying expensive software right now. Looks like I'm out of luck. I wish there was an Open/LibreOffice PDF reader.

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:06 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:38 pm I don't have the option of buying expensive software right now. Looks like I'm out of luck. I wish there was an Open/LibreOffice PDF reader.

Well, as I said, you can use the PDF Import Extension with LibreOffice/OpenOffice to create fully editable PDFs, which ain't too shabby given the price. If memory serves, I think you can also open some existing PDFs and do some very minor editing (e.g. perhaps edit small portions of text, add or remove images, and so on). But reliably editing existing PDFs largely requires licensed software, alas.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 10:17 pm

Random rant: I need a new PC ASAP.

My old Dell and the hardware around is just flaking to the point of being ridiculous.

I FINALLY got the webcam working... Turns out it was my USB HUB (2.0 USB hub with individual switches on ports bought last year) that's flaking out. Had it plugged into a USB3 hub. Swapping it to a USB2 port worked for a while, then it is experiencing random plug/unplug (the hub was not jostled or moved in any way). Both my mouse and keyboard (on the same hub) gets disconnected and reinstalled in the middle of doing something. It's an 8-port, and I had to scramble to find my old USB 4-port hubs to get it working properly. Plugging my keyboard into a USB3 port causes it to miss keystrokes. I have no idea why.

Then the webcam itself started to flake out. I was trying to record a 1 minute video, but the logitech software won't engage.

Tried to record audio with my podcast mike (yes, I bought one, for fun) and that seems to work, but when I clicked on Audacity to record, it recorded total silence. WTF...

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:07 pm

Turns out you can make your own power banks.

You can buy 10 x 3500 mAh 18650 batteries for about 15. You can buy 2 "5x 18650" power bank kits. like $4 each. Total $23. The result is two power bank rated for well over 10000 mAh and can be bought for $11 each on Amazon.

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:15 am

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:07 pm Turns out you can make your own power banks.

You can buy 10 x 3500 mAh 18650 batteries for about 15. You can buy 2 "5x 18650" power bank kits. like $4 each. Total $23. The result is two power bank rated for well over 10000 mAh and can be bought for $11 each on Amazon.

They make great fire starters too!

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:15 am

Z-Corn wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:15 am
Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:07 pm Turns out you can make your own power banks.

You can buy 10 x 3500 mAh 18650 batteries for about 15. You can buy 2 "5x 18650" power bank kits. like $4 each. Total $23. The result is two power bank rated for well over 10000 mAh and can be bought for $11 each on Amazon.
They make great fire starters too!

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 3:05 pm

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:20 am

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:38 pm I don't have the option of buying expensive software right now. Looks like I'm out of luck. I wish there was an Open/LibreOffice PDF reader.

I know I'm a little late to this, but I like to use NitroPDF. If you've got a one-off document to edit, download a "Free Trial" of the licensed version which runs for 30 days at no cost and then uninstall.

AWS260 · Post by **AWS260** » Thu Jun 28, 2018 3:00 pm

The project manager of Microsoft Bob on the importance of failure.

If you haven’t heard of it—or you’ve only heard it as a punchline—I’m not surprised. The program needed a more powerful computer than most people had back then, and a lot of critics found the visuals too cute. One reviewer said it was designed “as if the program’s target audience were the under-12 set,” and called the program “unappealing to people seriously bent on getting a lot out of their PCs, or to adults of any kind, for that matter.”

Not a lot of real insight, although I learned that Comic Sans, the world's most mocked font, originated with Bob.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:23 pm

Microsoft to start warning users of Win 10 not to use Firefox or Chrome

Thanks MS now go fuck yourself.

Microsoft is getting ready to warn Windows 10 users not to install Chrome or Firefox. The software giant is in the final stages of testing its Windows 10 October 2018 Update, and testers have spotted a new change that appears when you try to install a rival web browser. “You already have Microsoft Edge – the safer, faster browser for Windows 10” says a prompt that appears when you run the Chrome or Firefox installers on the latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

While the prompts can be turned off, they’re yet another example of Microsoft infesting Windows 10 with annoying ads and pop-ups. Some similar prompts already appear and attempt to push Chrome or Firefox users to use Edge, but this latest one steps up Microsoft’s war against Chrome even further. It’s not clear why Microsoft thinks it’s a good idea to include these irritating prompts, as all they’re likely to do is anger Windows 10 users rather than convince them to switch to Edge.

I wish someone could compete with MS in the OS world for PCs.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:20 pm

the latest Steam update greatly improves the WINE layer to improve compatibility of Windows games on Linux. it's crazy, try it out.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:29 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:20 pm the latest Steam update greatly improves the WINE layer to improve compatibility of Windows games on Linux. it's crazy, try it out.

Is there a compatible version/software that acts as a stand-alone so it can be used with other platforms, like GOG?

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 6:46 pm

the technology that enables this is Proton, which is a heavily modified WINE that works only with Steam Play

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton

WINE itself is pretty good for some Windows software in general, but usually requires at least some config adjustments and is definitely not guaranteed to work, in any case.

that being said, PlayOnLinux is worth checking out - it promises to make a lot of the WINE configuring easier/less burdensome:

https://www.playonlinux.com/en/

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 1:41 pm

I love that tingle of uncertainty when you're moving a network and you plug in all the new settings at the old location and won't know if you got them right until you fire everything up in the new location.

/working on a Sunday to move the last parts of a network

/no device left behind!

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 2:51 pm

Which is why I went software. I can throw traces and debuggers into my stuff to know when it's partially working and where it fails.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:10 am

No lost devices, but a lot of stray one-off settings fell out of the sky. Little things - like scanners hard-coded with the old DNS server IP for destinations, or credit card terminals refusing to take new settings without being rebooted.

A busy morning, but no catastrophes. Except for the state of my "server closet" - a wretched mess.

I took a half-rack's worth of gear and had to stuff it in a closet that's barely big enough for a Telco rack (about 1/3 the depth of a full rack, big enough for switches and little else) to hang on the wall. That gives me 5 physical servers - 4 blades, 1 tower, all sitting on the floor. The blades are on their sides. The whole kit is propped up by a pair of UPS units. Absolutely no way to make it look good. Barely adequate ventilation. No cooling.

It does not make us happy to put the Precious in such a bad place. No, it does not.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:22 pm

My power company is always trying to improve their website... ALL THE TIME. But it was perfect a few years ago when they started all this shit. Now its harder to use and more of a mess. And now they have borked it well and good. Wife is having to pay over the phone it in. And she cant do that because they want the acc# and we haven't had a bill mailed to us in 3 years.

Heres their error

Your connection is not secure

The owner of ccspresentweb.totalccs.com has configured their website improperly. To protect your information from being stolen, Firefox has not connected to this website.

Learn more…

Report errors like this to help Mozilla identify and block malicious sites

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:51 pm

A SPAM email in my trash box had the nerve to state it was fro ma trusted sender hahahaha...the gall of them...deleted.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:35 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:22 pm

Mozilla support

Security changes on Firefox

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:39 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:35 pm
Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:22 pm
Mozilla support

Security changes on Firefox

Or, since you know that the website is legitimate, just login with a different browser.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:35 pm

Ah it was that I was worried about the name pass and my payment info being open to everyone. I dont trust the site because they are working on it and Im worried they messed it up.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:37 pm

Not strictly about computing, more of a tale of Amazon makes compulsive shopping too easy.

I have a 5th Gen Fire 7 tablet (I gave my 4th gen to a friend). But it seems that version is not capable of running Fire OS 6 (based on Nougat). I have a 64GB SD card in there and it's barely used. Apparently, I need the 7th or 8th gen to get Fire OS 6, which uses adoptable storage to make the SD card part of the system.

Given that Fire HD8 is $50 on Amazon, I'm kinda tempted to just buy it... But one thing lead to another (I want 32GB, plus a case, plus screen protector... ) and next thing you know, I'm checking out with 5-6 items.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 3:20 am

My right wrist started to hurt and I just switched to an ergonomic mouse (vertical mouse) from Anker that was on sale last week. Seems to help.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 4:30 pm

I broke down and bought the Fire HD8. Surprisingly, it has MUCH better battery life than my Fire 7 (5th gen), I'd say it lasts TWICE as long. I had it playing text-to-speech the ebooks all day, from 10AM to 10PM and it STILL has like 25% charge left. My BT headset actually ran out of power first. That's f***ing amazing.

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:33 pm

My work laptop wouldn't boot up after some Windows updates this morning. It's running Win 7.

Something similar happened last month, and I was able to do a system restore. Today it's telling me I have no system restore points saved.

Okay, fine. I ran startup repair (from F8 boot options). It can't do a repair. I tried running sfc /scannow. It found nothing. I even tried running several options with DISM tool but they all either failed outright or said they couldn't repair...something.

Safe mode starts up fine, but during normal startup it goes from the "Starting Windows" screen straight into BSoD. It flashes too fast, but after a dozen or so attempts I finally managed to read the error: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA, caused by dlkmd.sys.

Google suggests that dlkmd.sys file comes from DisplayLink Core software that has known conflicts with Nvidia drivers. The fix is to uninstall DisplayLink Core or possibly to install an updated version.

I can't boot up outside of safe mode. Windows Installer service is required to install or uninstall anything. Windows Installer cannot be started in safe mode. Another registry hack coming up...good thing that through someone's oversight, I have almost full administrative access to my laptop. And that actually fixed it, but now I'm afraid to plug it into my docking station. At least not until I manually roll back the latest Nvidia driver update and create a system restore point

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:37 pm

I always ignore the notifications about new Nvidia drivers being available for download until a week or so has passed and any horror stories get exposed.

Updates make me nervous in general. Especially updates that auto-install

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:08 am

My phone just got automatically updated to Android Pie (9.0) and I guess I have to get used to yet another variation of Android... They changed the UI a bit from the previous version.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:44 am

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:08 am My phone just got automatically updated to Android Pie (9.0)

Good gosh, I'm way behind on my Android OS knowledge. I have a Lenovo Tab but I don't think it's running anything near that OS release.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:17 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:51 pm A SPAM email in my trash box had the nerve to state it was fro ma trusted sender hahahaha...the gall of them...deleted.

Let me guess. Sender was "Fedex"?

But not really of course.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 5:38 am

For proper posture I am trying two different mice: a finger mice (that I mount on my right middle finger) and a verticccal mice. Neither works very well for me. *sigh*

The vertical mice just feels weird, and doesn't feel as precise as my Logitech mice. (Speaking of mice, this is the 4th mice on my desk. I have a 500G, a Logitech wireless I bought when I thought my 500G died, the vertical, and now the finger mouse) It does have a back button but overall it just feels a bit too LARGE for my hand. Wish it was like, 20% smaller.

As for the finger mouse... It's a bit weird, Basically you wear it on your right middle finger. When you need to use the mouse, you crook your middle finger so the mouse sensor is on a flat area, then your thumb reaches over for scroll wheel and the two buttons. It sort of works. But it sort of impinges on the buttons. And that's annoying too. I guess I need to pay extra for a touchpad or touchpoint keyboard. *sigh*

MonkeyFinger · Post by **MonkeyFinger** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:05 am

Had to look up what the heck a "finger mouse" was... you're right, just a wee bit weird.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:18 am

MonkeyFinger wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:05 am Had to look up what the heck a "finger mouse" was... you're right, just a wee bit weird.

MonkeyFinger thinks a finger mouse is weird. I love the internet!

MonkeyFinger · Post by **MonkeyFinger** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:58 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:18 am
MonkeyFinger wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:05 am Had to look up what the heck a "finger mouse" was... you're right, just a wee bit weird.
MonkeyFinger thinks a finger mouse is weird. I love the internet!

I was SO hopeful for a brief, shining moment and then...

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 3:21 pm

MonkeyFinger wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:58 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:18 am
MonkeyFinger wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:05 am Had to look up what the heck a "finger mouse" was... you're right, just a wee bit weird.
MonkeyFinger thinks a finger mouse is weird. I love the internet!
I was SO hopeful for a brief, shining moment and then...

To be clear, I was just laughing at the oddity of the juxtaposition of the words, not your opinion. I've never even heard of a finger mouse.