We want to convert the documents to PDF files. Are there scripts or tools that can do this automatically?
We have several old technical documentation in text files that have lots of line-drawing characters. We want to convert the documents to PDF files. We know we can load them in a word processor and print them to PDF one at a time, but we would like to convert them in batches. Are there scripts or tools that can do this automatically?
Got to www.sanface.com, which provides a shareware text-to-PDF converter called txt2pdf. To use it, download and install, then use the command “txt2pdf.pl myfile.txt.” The program creates a PDF file with the same name as the original, but with a PDF extension. The program can be used in scripts to automatically convert your collection of text files. The free Perl module a2pdf also can convert text files to PDF from the command line. This utility depends on an additional Perl module called PDF::API2. Install through the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network shell with the command “perl -MCPAN -e ‘install PDF::API2.'” Say yes if you are asked whether to install required dependencies. After installing PDF::API2, download and install the a2pdf package and follow the instructions in the ReadMe file.
Blass is a network architect at Change@Work in Houston. He can be reached at dr.internet@changeatwork.com.
