Landline + PC + (Printer) = Fax

Who said faxing is passe? It is still neat to get a quote from your insurance company faxed to you. Or in our case, we were asked to send a copy of our marriage certificate to the office of immigration. So fax is not dead folks.

But do you know that you don't need a fax machine to have a fax service? Wait, wait. Did I confuse you there?

Do you have a landline? Do you have a PC? (And if you want hard copies, a PRINTER?) Then, you can RECEIVE and SEND FAXES. Woohoo! Were you just jumping up and down there knowing you now have a fax? Haha. Sure. I felt the same way then. But how do you do it?

1. Make sure that your fax software component is installed in your PC. It comes with your operating system. Just see your OS documentation/help center.

2. Disconnect the cord/cable that connects to your phone unit.

3. Connect the cord/cable to your modem.

4. Send/receive fax. Your fax number is the same as the phone line you are connected to.
So let's say you are in Germany, then your German festnetz (landline) number is also your fax number. Let's say you are on vacation in Thailand, then the fax number is the same as the Thai landline you are connected to.

Take note that since you may have only one phone, and you call more than you send fax, you can't disconnect the phone cord from the unit all the time.

So if someone wants to send you a fax, tell the person to call again. Do 2 and 3, and wait for your fax to ring.

Editing a PDF File

I and Mr Bargainhunter, who are relatively young in our respective careers, are almost in an application frenzy. But with most application forms now in PDF format, we find it to be such a hassle to print the forms, fill them up by hand and then scan again for emailing, or worse, to go on foot for postal mailing!

Thanks to PDF Xchange Viewer, it is possible to fill-up those forms, ala typewriter. I find it especially cool too that it has a highlighter function. I can mark certain phrases for emphasis, or easy thumbing later on. Much the same way I mark in neon those passages that strike me, or which I need to be useful for quoting later on.

The sticky notes in the program is also a plus, coz sometimes I want to write down my own thoughts , or just make general scribbles around the text, when I am reading.

And best of all, it comes free!

Converting Files to Pdf Format

If you are using Open Office, chances are you already know that your file can be converted to PDF with the built-in converter in the program. But if you are using MS Word, how do you do it? And how about converting any other file you have to PDF?

In the previous entry, I mentioned about Primo PDF. While it's very helpful in appending many files to one PDF file, it produces a paler output. So if I don't need to append but just need to convert my file to PDF format, there's always Cute PDF Writer. The output file really looks better. Primo is like a point and shoot camera as Cute PDF is DSLR. Try it out.

And if you don't know why you may want to convert a word file to PDF. You have a problem, seriously. Haha. Kidding. Let's say you have a resume or CV. Making that CV in PDF makes it more polished, crisp looking. You also avoid the risk of having any unwanted layout change to your file, as what often happens with Word files opened in another PC.

JoiningTwo Files into one PDF

Here's a big thanks to my friend, Doraemon. Waking up with a "nice" migraine today makes it difficult to think of what topic to write about. And so his comment to my first ever post in this blog came right in time ;)

So the question is, how do you join two files into one PDF? File #1 may be in word processing format or another PDF file.

1. Download Primo PDF.
2. Install the program (it automatically makes itself one of your printers)
3. Open file #1.
4. If file #1 is a word file, click print using the PrimoPDF printer.
5. PrimoPDF prompts you to append or save the file.
6. Choose save as...
7. Primo Pdf converts file #1 to PDF.

8. Open file #2.
9. Print file #2 using the PrimoPDF printer.
10. PrimoPDF prompts you to append or save the file.
11. Choose append to file #1.

You now have two files joined to one. ;)

I find this program very neat. Don't be intimidated with the number of instructions. You can do it in a few seconds really. But this step by step thing makes it easier for the newbie I guess.

In the next post, I will write about other choices to make a word file into a PDF.