Where are the manuals?

[TZ250]

Manuals, real paper, are great for learning. I can't take my computer everywhere I go. It would be nice to take a book (manual) with me, in addition to the laptop.

I've never used nor seen BobCad before buying the software three weeks ago. However, I have a V17 manual that has been very helpful. Naturally, some things are different, but I can figure that out. Compared to 2007 and V21 it's usually just a different icon for the same function or a function that's in a different location.

I understand that companies need to make money and that large manuals cost money. Why don't they make that an option for, say, $50? I'd buy it!

[tobyaxis]

Manuals, real paper, are great for learning. I can't take my computer everywhere I go. It would be nice to take a book (manual) with me, in addition to the laptop.

I've never used nor seen BobCad before buying the software three weeks ago. However, I have a V17 manual that has been very helpful. Naturally, some things are different, but I can figure that out. Compared to 2007 and V21 it's usually just a different icon for the same function or a function that's in a different location.

I understand that companies need to make money and that large manuals cost money. Why don't they make that an option for, say, $50? I'd buy it!

Most software companies today make manuals in PDF Format. This method is more cost effective. All too many times people borrow or steel manuals from their employers so to be quite honest paper manuals are outdated. I would like a manual but haven't even looked at the help files in V2007 yet.

Their is an option Do a print out of the PDF Help files in BCC V2007. You will probably spend 10 dollars and a few minutes of spare time but you will have a manual.

Cheers!!

[ger21]

I understand that companies need to make money and that large manuals cost money. Why don't they make that an option for, say, $50? I'd buy it!

Because not enough people would pay the $50 to even cover the cost of the production run. Unfortunately, manuals are a thing of the past. I havea big shelf full of old manulas, but haven't added to it in years.

Like Toby says, print the .pdf manual. Take it to Kinko's and let them do it for you. They can even spiral bind it for you, and it will probably be less than $50.

[NC Cams]

Don't count on it - as in readily printing out a manual.

One outfit I bought PDF's out of had a protection scheme on them - you HAD to have the CDROM in the machine to view them and the SOB's copied the pages on random sized paper which meant you could not simply print them out - the printer would jam/hang up looking for god knows what paper size next.

Also, some of the old manuals were hard bound and not available on PDF's - some of the GE and GE/Fanuc stuff is that way. I thought about copying some and offering the outdated stuff until I priced creating PDF's - the local copy house wants $0.25 per page to create a PDF and it is/was no harder than the $0.05 per page photo copies that they ran for me. Talk about a rip off.

Then again, in some respects, PDF's are actually easier to copy and send around the world - I wonder when the copyright agents of/for the IP holders will figure that out and make PDF's as hard to get as paper copies.

The frustrations never end...

[tobyaxis]

Don't count on it - as in readily printing out a manual.

One outfit I bought PDF's out of had a protection scheme on them - you HAD to have the CDROM in the machine to view them and the SOB's copied the pages on random sized paper which meant you could not simply print them out - the printer would jam/hang up looking for god knows what paper size next.

Also, some of the old manuals were hard bound and not available on PDF's - some of the GE and GE/Fanuc stuff is that way. I thought about copying some and offering the outdated stuff until I priced creating PDF's - the local copy house wants $0.25 per page to create a PDF and it is/was no harder than the $0.05 per page photo copies that they ran for me. Talk about a rip off.

Then again, in some respects, PDF's are actually easier to copy and send around the world - I wonder when the copyright agents of/for the IP holders will figure that out and make PDF's as hard to get as paper copies.

The frustrations never end...

Well now you let the cat out of the bag LOL They will be doing that ASAP or when they know they have enough of us that use them.

BTW: I haven't had any trouble printing my Machinist Handbook 26th PDF, the Alibre V10 Help Files, or Fanuc M Series PDF's for personal reference copies. Maybe they haven't gotten to me yet which means soon!!!

[tjones]

LOL....Buy a MAC...Or if you know someone with a MAC let them try it out. I bet it could print those PDF files without any problem.


Also you can try to find the scale to print and check it. Then it would set to whatever paper size was in the printer.

To create your own PDF files install CutePDF. It is free and installs like a pirinter. All you do is print to cutepdf and you have a pdf file.

You can purchase a scanner for around $90 that will scan to print. Simply scan the page and it prints to the default printer (cutePDF). Then you have a pdf file of the page.

[NC Cams]

Already went looking for scanners - it is REALLY hard to find any anymore that still support the Win 9x O/S's - everything is now XP and I'm not going to buy new PC's to get/run XP when I have nearly 6 operating "legacy" ones already. Moreover, some of the scans for machine tools are 11x17 and scanners for that cover that size without chopping things up are NOT $90.

The protection scheme mentioned previously took that into consideration - they had it set to NOT auto print the pages - you had to bypass the default page size for EACH AND EVERY page in order to print. And it would only print so many pages and then quit printing. YOu had to reboot if you wanted to print anymore. Oh, and they had code programmed into the PDF file for it to "look" for the protection program on the CDROM. YOu could copy the PDF but it wouldn't open without the CDROM which also controlled how the damn thing would print.

Essentially, it would take DAYS to print out a manual. Besides, the scans were not that well done and some of the stuff was washed out/barely readable. A real disappointment.

I will say, however, that whoever came up with the protection scheme, however was pretty adept and clever at protecting their "copies".

[tjones]

Then try to find someone with a MAC to look at it. You never know but my bet is this would not prevent a MAC from opening and printing as needed.

[tobyaxis]

Already went looking for scanners - it is REALLY hard to find any anymore that still support the Win 9x O/S's - everything is now XP and I'm not going to buy new PC's to get/run XP when I have nearly 6 operating "legacy" ones already. Moreover, some of the scans for machine tools are 11x17 and scanners for that cover that size without chopping things up are NOT $90.

The protection scheme mentioned previously took that into consideration - they had it set to NOT auto print the pages - you had to bypass the default page size for EACH AND EVERY page in order to print. And it would only print so many pages and then quit printing. YOu had to reboot if you wanted to print anymore. Oh, and they had code programmed into the PDF file for it to "look" for the protection program on the CDROM. YOu could copy the PDF but it wouldn't open without the CDROM which also controlled how the damn thing would print.

Essentially, it would take DAYS to print out a manual. Besides, the scans were not that well done and some of the stuff was washed out/barely readable. A real disappointment.

I will say, however, that whoever came up with the protection scheme, however was pretty adept and clever at protecting their "copies".

You should at least try Tjones's suggestion in finding someone with a MAC PC. The worst thing that could happen is that it won't work. Always worth a shot though

[ger21]

Don't count on it - as in readily printing out a manual.

One outfit I bought PDF's out of had a protection scheme on them - you HAD to have the CDROM in the machine to view them and the SOB's copied the pages on random sized paper which meant you could not simply print them out - the printer would jam/hang up looking for god knows what paper size next.

Also, some of the old manuals were hard bound and not available on PDF's .......

The original post was talking about software manuals. Virtually all software today comes with .pdf manuals ( or html manuals which I hate), and I doubt that you'd find any that wouldn't easily print.

[tobyaxis]

Like my previous post I haven't had any trouble Printing PDF's.

Gerry, NC Cams, Tjones, do you guys think it could have something to do with the actual Printer??? Weird question I know but a possibility none the less.

Some of these new Printers are pretty smart, and the one NC Cams is describing is pretty big. They use these at a few shops I frequent so I will ask about this.

Sometimes PC's, Software and Accessories are more of a pain than they are worth.

Maybe a new thread Titled "Acrobat Adobe PDF Printing Problems and Solutions", LOL

[NC Cams]

The protection scheme used on the PDF's was the problem - we tried it on several O/S's (IBM) and several printers - all to no avail. THe printers and O/S's all balked when the goofy protection scheme kicked in and prevented printing. Interestingly, the scheme would let you print a page or two with a 9x system and flat die/do nothing on XP.

The only person I had relations with who had a Mac was my ex-fiance. After the grief she caused by returning the ring and the other anguish that the collapse of the relationship caused, I really am not in the mood to kiss her ass to get something printed on her MAC

At this point, I have other things on my plate that have higher priorities - I only mentioned the deal to illustrate the possible "issues" that face PDF users..