How to Upload Large PDF Files to Your Blog

You cannot actually post a raw PDF file directly into your blog. The other thing to consider if you're able to convert a very large pdf file to html or txt is the page size limit. Fortunately there's a lot of ways to get around with it. Here's my story..

A few days ago, I was struggling to post a large PDF file into my blog. This file has 774 pages!! Yes you read it right, but I did it with a dash of patience and and a pinch of persistence. It's a complete list of successful examines who passed the 2007 Nursing Board Exam (Philippines). I tried to convert the file to both text (txt) and HTML files using Adobe Acrobat Pro and upload it in this site, but the file size exceeds the limit. Well, just imagine how many pages, but my idea was to put it inside a box and you can scroll it to view the file. Anyways, that simply didn’t work.

So with my googling power, I stumbled upon the following solutions. I tried each one of these to find out which can do the job.

SaveFile is a free File Hosting Website where you have to register for an acoount... upload the file up to 60mb... they will provide you a link to embed in your site. To view that file, click the link which leads you back to their website, and while there, you have to find another link to access the file. Duh… Not Recommended, more cons than pros.

Gmail account. If you already have this, just login to your account, compose an email, attach the file to that email, send it to youself, open the attached file as HTML, then copy and paste it to your website. Easy huh. But it only converts, from PDF to HTML, 3 pages of my file. My verdict: Very handy and recommended for small files.

Scribd is another File Hosting Website that works for large files. With this, you can upload any file type, upload multiple files at the same time, and convert to flash files which can then be embedded in your site. While viewing, you can pan, scroll, adjust the view size, search a word or name within the file, print, download the file as PDF, MS Word, Plain text or MP3, print, email it... Wow!! For me it is more convenient than downloading the file locally and viewing it using Adobe Reader or even Foxit. Check out the post where I used it.

More tips from Blogger Tips and Tricks

Minimalist Browser

Here's what I did to optimize the usage of the "only" real state I own - my firefox browser "display window" or "work space".

1. Remove the Bookmarks Toolbar. This toolbar is redundant because you can access your bookmarks through the bookmarks menu toolbar. You can remove this by right-clicking a toolbar then uncheck the "Bookmarks Toolbar".
2. Transfer all items from Navigation into the Menu Toolbar (I guess I need to post a separate article about toolbar names). This is done by right-clicking again the toolbar, this time choose "Customize". Now you can freely drag any items in the toolbar and move to anywhere you want, e.g. drag items from the "Customize Toolbar Window" to your browser and vice versa. I prefer hiding the search bar so I dragged it into the window. Before clicking the "Done" button, select "Icons" in the "Show" drop-down menu, then check "Use Small Icons".
   
3. Remove the Navigation Toolbar by right-clicking then unchecking it. Same as what we did with the Bookmarks Toolbar.
4. Shrink the Menu Bar (File, Edit, etc.). Download TinyMenu, a Firefox extension. It will automatically convert the Menu Bar into a one tiny pull-down menu.
5. Now you're ready to display your favorite or most frequently visited website icons or shortcuts for easy access. Drag it from either the address toolbar or from bookmarks menu to anywhere you want inside your last remaining toolbar (I'm not sure what this toolbar shall be called now). Right click that link you just dragged, select properties, and remove the name leaving just the icon. There's no reason of putting shortcuts or icons on your desktop because you can access it here!
   
6. Personalize it by changing the Firefox theme. I personally like the Blue Ice theme.
7. What else?... Organize your Bookmarks. Download Firefox Extensions. Check out the list of my Favorite Firefox extensions.
   

The reason I set my homepage to Google is because it is the "fastest" page to load, no embedded sound, images nor ads. From there, I can easily select the site I want to visit or do some googling. This is my Google Home Page.
See? a lot of reasons I like Firefox and I'm not ready yet to try Safari (still in beta).

Mag firefox ka na nga ...

Minimalist Desktop

Is your desktop still a mess and full of icons/eyesore? I am a minimalist and I like the look and feel of a Mac OS but can't just leave PC for many reasons. All I have in my desktop is a nice taskbar and my favorite widgets - one that monitors my cpu and the other my battery. All the apps I used here are free.. want to try?

1. Remove all the icons! Don't worry, you can still easily access them by clicking the start button or through the Windows Explorer (right-click the start button). Your favorite apps can also be accessed through your new taskbar (I will explain next). I used TweakUI to hide the recycle bin icon.
2. Download ObjectDock (free version) to replace your old and boring taskbar. Customize it by adding your favorite apps into it. Under the "General" tab, check the following: "Load the ObjectDock at startup" and "Hide the Windows Taskbar". It doesn't make sense keeping both the Windows and ObjectDock taskbars. I actually set my ObjectDock to autohide, I just show it for you to see.
   
3. Add the Yahoo Widgets. Just visit their site and you can pick whatever you want. Just don't clutter again your desktop with widgets.. not more than five (My Rule!).
4. Change your Wallpaper with something different. I got mine from deviantart.com. I love their wallpapers.
   
5. Keep customizing according to your taste, play with it and release the creativity within youself. Cheers!!
   

My other computer.. do you like Naruto ?!
Kita mo Chikka icon ko? tsika tayo.

How to download videos from tv-links

Some have trouble downloading DivX videos from tv-links. Last night I tried my luck and I actually copied an episode of "Fawlty Towers", a DivX video. At first I don't have a DivX plug-in so I downloaded just the player and web player components from this site www.divx.com (stage6)

After downloading it, I just played the DivX video in embedded mode then use DownloadHelper (a firefox extension). If the video plays in a small window, just right click the window and select "embedded mode" or just click the exit button. You cannot copy if it plays in "windowed mode" or plays in a separate small window. Now I can see the DownloadHelper icon gets animated, click it.. and VOILA! I got the video and watch it in my DivX Player (you cannot view it without this player).
If it is just a flash video, walang problema, just click the DownloadHelper icon and enjoy. Try it and have fun!

My Favorite Firefox Extensions

Reasons that I like firefox in addition to security , stability and speed, is the wild selection of extensions that enhance functionality of the browser. With over 1800 extensions to date available for download, there are many that can be used to make your browsing experience fun and productive. Select only the ones you really need because using too many extensions could also affect the performance of firefox. Here is the list of extensions Im using:

1. Cooliris Previews This extension gives you the power to browse and share links, images and videos faster. Just mouse over any link, and the Cooliris preview window immediately appears to show you the content.
2. Tab Mix Plus This one enhances Firefox's tab browsing capabilities. It includes such features as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options, undo closed tabs and windows, plus much more. It also includes a full-featured session manager with crash recovery that can save and restore combinations of opened tabs and windows.
3. Tiny Menu This is useful for those who want to maximize their browser display window by minimizing the toolbar area. It replaces the standard menu toolbar with a single drop down menu. Set up is not a pain.. what set up? I just download it and instantly got what it says.
4. DownloadHelper This is a tool for web content extraction or used to capture video and image files from many sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Google videos, DailyMotion, Porkolt, iFilm, DreamHost, tv-links, etc. When DownloadHelper detects something to capture, the icon gets animated and a menu allows you to download files by simply clicking an item.
5. Tab Effect This add-on just adds visual effect when current tab is changed. An eye candy that adds sweetness to your firefox.
6. Ctrl Tab Preview This is an extension that replaces the behavior of Ctrl+Tab or Cmd+Option+Tab on Mac. You can preview all the accessed web pages and easily switch between them.
7. Firefox Showcase It provides a new way to manage your Firefox tabs and windows by showing them as thumbnails in a single window, tab or sidebar. It also includes a find bar that will filter the thumbnails, and the capability to select the thumbnails in the same way you would select files in your system.

tweaks to make firefox faster

I tried this myself and noticed web pages load faster. If you have broadband internet connection, try this simple tweaks to make your firefox browsing faster. If you dont have firefox, download and install NOW.

1. In the address bar, type "about:config"

2. In the filter box type "network.http" to easily find the following preference names and double click each to change to the following values:

network.http.pipelining = true
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests = 30 (it'll make 30 requests @ once)
network.http.proxy.pipelining = true

3. Right click anywhere on the blank area, select "new -> integer" then type "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set the value to "0" zero. This gives the browser zero amount of time to act on information it receives.

Enjoy!!

Caution!! Doing this can actually slow down "certain" pages. You can undo it if you experience problems by double clicking the above mentioned preference names and change it back to default setting.

Kapoy ininglis ba...