How to save articles.

I tried CutePDF but didn't find a way to print a pdf-file into another pdf-file with it. If Nitro Pro works I can't say but $120 for hobby use is a bit much for me. There is free software available to split and merge pdf-files. But they don't work with protected files. So I haven't found a solution yet to save single articles. Does anybody know of working alternatives?

Regards, Volker

Not supposed to be split

The purpose of the free model of MRH is to keep the e-zine in its delivered entity as the advertisers pay the freight and should have their content delivered with the e-zine.  If you split it up, they lose their value in allowing you to have a free magazine.

Protected PDF

We protect the PDF mainly to get Adobe to stop thinking the issue has form fields in it that need filled out. While we don't encourage splitting up the PDF, we don't want to prevent it either. For that reason, as of the March issue, we're making the password public - just look on the staff credits page down on the bottom right.

Regarding Form Fields in PDF

The fact that you get the field variable version PDF during creation tells me you are post-processing using Live Cycle or Acrobat Forms presumably to add interactivity to the PDF. Are you aware that In Design CS6 allows the functionality to be built directly into the INDD file? There are a few settings required in the Export dialog to preserve the interactivity but otherwise much simpler than using LC or Acrobat. As a bonus you don't get the Interactive Forms messages from the PDF unless you actually did put in a 'real' user supplied variable field.

Alan, don't think so

Alan, I didn't think that's what we're doing. Here's our basic process:

1. Pasteup in InDesign CS6, including all hyperlinks and embedded media.

2. Export to PDF

3. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, save as optimized and add password security

No where do we use Acrobat to add any interactivity, so I fail to see why it thinks we have form fields in the doc. When I've used other tools to show "form fields" the next and previous buttons show up as form fields. Those get added to the doc in InDesign.

Protected PDF

Where and how do you enter the password to unprotect the issue? Can this be done offline on a downloaded issue  or does it have to be online?

I also use Preview on a MacBook Pro and could not get the suggested Mac print work around to save one page at a time let alone an article with two or three pages.

Previous issues prior to February worked OK.

Jagy

Something setting the flag

Joe, check for any of these conditions in the INDD file:

• Blank cell in a table
• Space character to right of a table in a frame
• Overset blank table cells
• Blank frame with content set to text
• Shape (tool or pen created) that has accidently been clicked into with the type tool thus changing its content setting

The Tagged Export function scans the document looking for frames that content is set to text but the frame contains no text. Frames that meet this criteria become tagged as variable which Acrobat then creates a corresponding field and sets the Form Fields switch.

Is it possible the next/back buttons are set content = text without text being present? That will force a variable field every time.

If for some reason a frame must stay content = text yet no text is desired then place a single character with fill color same as page to make it invisible.

If you want to send me a copy of the INDD file I would be happy to see if I can find what is throwing the field switch. Send a PM and I'll reply with a shared DropBox link.

Password

< File> < Document Properties> < Security tab>

Yes.

Password

Alan 

What program are you using to enter the password to unprotect the issue?

I normally use Preview on a MacBook Pro, but I tried Adobe Reader XI Files/Properties then Security Tab but there is no place to enter password.

Thanks for your help

Jagy

Adobe Acrobat X

Adobe Acrobat X. Click Change Settings...

Acrobat X

Alan 

Thanks for the information.

jagy

Az ...

Az ... we make it not fall-off-a-log easy to bust up the magazine. You need to know how to use the password to unprotect the PDF, and the software you need to turn off the password is not free.

In short, we don't make it impossible because there's a good use case for needing to do this, such as people with a really slow internet connection. The likelihood they will click on ads is slim to none already.

We also recommend you just save the whole issue because you never know - interests change over time. As we pointed out in the March staff notes, disk space is cheap and thanks to Rod Goodwin, MRH is indexed, making finding an article easy.

The other option is to make the ads in-your-face, which might make the advertisers happy, but if the readers get totally annoyed, they will leave, so you're shooting yourself in the foot if you care about audience size.

So we walk the tightrope - keep the magazine reader-friendly and you will grow your audience to record levels. The advertisers first care about bigger numbers - what a few readers do or don't do isn't a big concern to them. Only a handful of people will bust up the magazine.

My own view on busting up the magazine is you're being penny wise and pound foolish. Disk space is so cheap these days, and if like me you consider the ads to be content, getting around the ads actually diminishes the value of the issue. From our email feedback and our survey results, most readers agree the ads are content.

Passwords

Till now I have only found the password for the March 2013 issue. Can you tell us the passwords of the older issues please?

Volker

MRH Format + PDF's

I agree, SB has it right on the money where MRH is concerned!

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With the ability to search PDF's & Rod's Index, just leave it as-is.. PDF's take hardly any room at all on todays 80GB+ PC's, not enough to be missed anyway, and for those that are concerned about disk space, go & buy an 8 or 16GB USB stick, their cheap enough, a 16GB USB stick will cost you only as much as 3 off the shelf magazines! (In the UK anyway lol)...

Stu...

PDFcreator

I'm late commenting, but I'm surprised that PDFcreator wasn't mentioned. It's one of the original print-to-PDF software (for Windows), it's been around since at least 2003. And the "free, now and forever" sound kind of like MRH pricing ("forever free").

PDFarchitect (from the same site) can do fancier editing stuff (splitting and merging, rotating pages, etc).