QuickFix: Desperate for that image? Crop a PDF or take a screenshot in Adobe Acrobat

Category:Techwriter   One of the more annoying situations while working on a design project is losing an Illustrator, .bmp, .png, .tiff, or .eps file amidst the huge maze of folders between networked computers.  There's also the matter of corrupted JPEGs and irrecoverable EPS files.   Adobe Bridge can only help so much in a disorganized mess of images and not even Photoshop can fix an image it can't even open.   As...

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Linux-powered Androids or Android-powered Linux?

Although it may seem presumptuous, news regarding Android and Linux indicate Linux may finally get some major credit for the popular mobile device platform.  Fork or not, Android is undoubtedly a success despite many reports of usage issues and unsatisfied customers who thought it was iOS.  On the flipside, adding Android code into the Linux kernel has a lot of potential and could provide a new approach to innovating any system...

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Secrets of a Manual: Writing Content for Translators

When writing or creating layouts for manuals, provide ample space at the bottom of your InDesign, QuarkXPress, or PageMaker document, especially if the manual is going to be translated to different languages.  Ask your editor or department just how much space the translators are going to need.  They will typically provide exact measurements in points or a less-accurate answer of "approximately 3 or 4 lines."   For manuals to...

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The Great Fire Wall and Tech Surfing in China - A Sampler

It is true that web surfing in Chuugoku can be a difficulty.  In particular, there are certain services that cannot be accessed without a proxy or a VPN.  Examples that I find particularly intrusive include Blogger, Wordpress, and YouTube.  LinkedIn isn't blocked and is freely open to users.   Most of the Linux sites I visit are still accessible though resources hosted on blog servers are blocked.  Most helpful Linux...

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Surprise! Bing actually works a little better in China than Google

Current relationship between China and Google notwithstanding, I've had interesting and inconsistent experiences with Google in Huaxia.  As a Linux user, Google is my primary search engine though I've used Bing frequently when I'm on a Windows 7 machine.  At the risk of being burned at the stake by Linux and Google users everywhere, I have no issues with Bing.  It's a useful search engine in its own right.  ...

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Encyclopaedia Britannica falls within 4 years after Microsoft Encarta

The Germanic deity Thor died a few steps after slaying the lizard Jormungad due to the monster's poisonous breath.  Britannica's fate is somewhat similar in that regard with Encarta.   I wrote about the death of Encarta when it was discontinued by Microsoft.  Admittedly, I still run Encarta's last release on my laptop (Encarta Premium DVD 2009) and will remain part of my Windows OS image for a long time to come.  Its ...

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Technical writer toolbox: Using Linux when writing about hardware

Hardware technical writers are regularly shipped or handed down barebone systems and naked prototype motherboards.  With nothing more than various types of fans, a 700W power supply, DRAMs and/or a video card, writers explore BIOS screens and check hardware configurations.    With no HDDs, chassis, or accessories to work with, a small Linux OS on a flash drive is a technical writer's best friend.  Some prototypes won't...

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Internet Access in Shanghai Hotels: Using Hotel IP Address Settings

Big and classy hotels in Shanghai provide the best Internet and Wireless Access the Great Morokoshi Firewall can allow.  However, budget business hotels may only provide a fairly inadequate wireless service and a desktop PC connected to their hotel LAN.  In Minhang District along Humin Highway for example, is Jiu Gong Hotel, which does just that.  The desktop PC in the hotel room is equipped with a modified Express Gate, an...

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Updating openSUSE in China

openSUSE has become such a stable product in recent times that very little updating is needed in order to maintain a functional operating system.  openSUSE 12.1 Asparagus is especially impressive in its ability to just chug along without any need for launching an Online Update regularly. Updates in Linux are, however, still a necessity and installing patches should always be a part of a regular routine...

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