On Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:34:09 +0930 Ray <strathrr at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Folks, > As an 82 yr old I have a task from someone to > edit a large 500page, 300+MB PDF file. > I know Scribus opens pdf files but not this > one, presumably 'cause of its size. > I have tried other programs too but they won't > open it either. I am using Mint 17.1 OS and > Scribus 1.4.3.svn. Is there some way (or pdf > program) I can use to open the file and maybe > break it down into smaller groups of pages, so > that Scribus will then open it for editing? Ned > > The Texlive distro has several useful pdf tools. I use pdftotext and pdftk on a regular basis. The statement: pdftk file.pdf burst yields a whole fistful of one page pdf files called pg_0001.pdf, pg_0002.pdf etc. There is also a pdf editor called Master PDF Editor that you can download that is a bit quirky but helps in some situations. My technique with pdf files is to reduce them to text and then edit and format them them from that point on. On my current project of updating a very fancy 208 page book that is what I am doing. with a file of this size my basic layout program is the Context version of TeX but I use Scribus and/or Gimp to massage or even recreate the fancy pages. To reduce a pdf file to text I can use Okular (a pdf viewer) or pdftotext. This book was set up in MSWord and then laid out in InDesign. Since MSWord output varies a bit from machine to machine I start with the pdf version and reduce it to text. I too am 82 and getting a bit forgetful. So I depend on lists like this one to help me out. -- John Culleton Wexford Press Free list of books for self-publishers: http://wexfordpress.net/shortlist.html Updated PDF e-book: "Create Book Covers with Scribus 1.4.5" coming soon at http://www.booklocker.com/!
