On Wed, 2018-10-31 at 16:44 +0000, Bev Nicolson wrote:
On 31/10/2018 15:32, Bev Nicolson wrote:
On 13/07/2018 11:26, Bev Nicolson wrote:
A. On Thu, 2018-07-12 at 14:57 +0100, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:On 12/07/18 10:21, Bev Nicolson wrote:
On 11/07/18 22:50, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote: > On 11/07/18 10:41, Bev Nicolson wrote: >> I don't have Flash installed so I'm not able to 'measure' Adobe >> documents and it turns out this could be useful in some >> circumstances. Does anyone know of a Linux tool one could uses for >> this? >> > > What do you mean by "measure" a pdf document? I don't understand. I > could be being thick! > > Steve
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Coming back to this thread as I need to ask something related. I've now got Foxit Reader which is one of the best pdf programs I've seen so far. However, whither the measuring tool? It should be under 'comment'. Is it down to not having Adobe Flash that it won't play ball or that I've got a Linux version? Really puzzled.
If this is off topic, please shoot me gently. (And off list, perhaps.)
Bev.
P.S. Sorry, me again. If you want to answer this feel free, but on consideration, I've uninstalled it. Seems a bit of a risk having something isn't straightforward to remove.
Bev.
Dear Bev, On the (not very frequent) occasions when I have needed to measure a PDF (or a PS) file, I have used the following (admittedly primitive and a bit fiddly) method.
If it's a PDF file, convert it to PS (PostScript). Then open it using ghostview (gv), e.g. gv myfile.ps
In the left-hand margin under "File" you will see a small slot (2nd down) within which, as you move the cursor arounf the image. you will see a pair of nunbers varying (they disappear when you move the cursor off the image),
The first number in the pair is the horizontal coordinate of the centre of the cursor (in units of points, 1/72 of an inch) and the second is the vertical coordinate. Depending on how the file was created, the vertical zero may be at the bottom of the inage (the usual case) or at the top of the image (less usual). Also, it is possible that "1st horizontal, 2nd vertical" may be reversed, So you first need to move the cursor around a bit to make sure of what it happening.
Now you can observe, and then record (by writing them down or by typing them into a file) the coordinates of any any chosen point in the image. Repeating this for other chosen points gives you the coordinates (x,y) of each of the chosen spoints.
Now the distance from any of the chosen points, (x1,y1), to any of the others, (x2,y2) is simply the square root of (x2 - x1) squared plus (y2 - y1) squared, again in units of 1/72 of an inch. So now you can measure your file.
Finally, just to make it clear: these distances are the distances you would measure on the shhest of paper, if you printed the file. They are independent of the magnification with which you view the file using gv. So to locate the cursor more precisely, you may find it useful to increase the magnification (4th button on the top of the image).
Hoping this helps (and apologies if you've already been there, and are looking for an easier method).
With best wishes, Ted.