An Alternative Way to use Free PDF

This document describes and alternate way to use Free PDF.

This method:

This page is available in viewable or Downloadable PDF Format:

New Free PDF Alternative Method Page in PDF format
or
New Free PDF Alternative Method Page in PDF format (Zipped)

Adding a 'Convert to PDF using Free PDF' item
to Windows Explorer's 'Context Menu'
for files with .ps or .prn extensions  

This document explains how to create a new windows 'file type' called 'Printer Files' and associate this type with certain extensions ('ps' and 'prn' recommended). Doing this allows you to just right click on a Postscript file (with those extensions) in Windows Explorer, and have a 'Convert to PDF using Free PDF' choice in your pop-up 'context menu'

NOTE: You still need GhostScript and a properly configured PostScript Printer Driver (as described in the Configuration Page) for this method to work

Overview of Steps

This process is fairly easy, especially for people who are Windows 'Savvy'.  The steps involved are:

Create and Configure the 'RunFRPDF.bat' Batch file

Do the Following:

  1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the 'c:\freepdf\ folder

  2. Do a File>New>'Text file'

  3. Change the name to 'RunFPDF.bat'

  4. Click yes on the 'Rename' Dialog

  5. Right click on the 'RunFPDF.bat' file and select 'Edit'

  6. Paste in the Following Code in Notepad and then do a File>Save and a File>Exit.:
    @echo off
    echo Converting %1 to a PDF using Free PDF
    cd c:\freepdf
    C:\freepdf\frpdf095.EXE "" "%1"


  7. Right click on the 'RunFPDF.bat' file and select 'Properties'

  8. Click on the 'Program' Tab and:

    1. Change the 'Run' field to 'Minimized'

    2. Check the 'Close on exit' checkbox

    3. Click on 'Ok'

Associating Free PDF With an Extension in Explorer
"Do it Yourself" Method

What you need to do now is to tell Windows to put this on the 'Context Menu' when you right click on a file with a '.ps' or '.prn' extension.
Do this by:

  1. In Windows Explorer, on the menu, click on 'Tools' and select 'Folder Options'

  2. In the 'Folder Options' Dialog, Click on the 'New Type' button

  3. In the 'Add New File Type Dialog,

    1. Change the 'Description of type:' Field to:
      Printer Files

    2. Change the 'Associated Extension:' field to
      .ps

    3. Below the 'Actions' list, press the 'New...' button to create a new action

  4. In the 'New Actions' dialog,

    1. Change the 'Action:' Field to:
      Convert to PDF using Free PDF

    2. Change the 'Application used to perform action' field to
      C:\freepdf\RunFPDF.bat "%1"

    3. Click on 'Ok'

  5. Back now in the 'Add New File Type Dialog, WITH THE
    Convert to PDF using Free PDF
    ACTION HIGHLIGHTED,
    below the 'Actions' list, click on the 'Set Default' button
    This will change the font to bold of the
    Convert to PDF using Free PDF
    entry

  6. Still in the 'Add New File Type Dialog, Click on the 'Change Icon' button,
    and in the 'File Name' Field paste in
    C:\freepdf\fpdf.ico
    so this

    Becomes

    and click on the 'Ok' Button

  7. Now your 'Add New File Type' dialog should look like this,

    Click on the Close Button

  8. In the 'Folder Options' dialog, Click on the Close Button


    and you're DONE!

  9. Repeat this whole process of 'Associating Free PDF With an Extension in Explorer
    "Do it Yourself" Method    ' for the '.prn' extension or use the method below

Associating Free PDF With an Extension in Explorer
Easy "Merge" Registry export Method

Alternatively, you can just Double Click on the 'PrinterFiles.reg' registry export file supplied with the Zipped version of this document in PDF form, and Click on 'Ok' to include them into your registry.

Back up your Registry First! 

By clicking on 'PrinterFiles.reg' registry export file, you indicate your agreement to not hold The ZipGuy responsible for any Registry problems resulting from this action.

The Contents 'PrinterFiles.reg' registry export file are:

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\.ps]
@="psfile"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\.prn]
@="psfile"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\psfile]
@="Printer Files"

"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00
"AlwaysShowExt"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\psfile\Shell]
@="Convert_to_PDF_using_Free_PDF"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\psfile\Shell\Convert_to_PDF_using_Free_PDF]
@="Convert to PDF using Free PDF"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\psfile\Shell\Convert_to_PDF_using_Free_PDF\command]
@="C:\\freepdf\\RunFPDF.bat \"%1\""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\psfile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\freepdf\\fpdf.ico,0"

Test the new associated File Type

What you need to do now is to test the new batch file and 'File Type'. Do this by:

Upgrade Issue

Keep in mind that, when, and if, you upgrade to a newer version Free PDF, it will be necessary to edit the 'RunFPDF.bat' batch file in the 'c:\freepdf' folder.

You will need to change the Digits portion of the executable's name to match the new version's name.

So, for example, to upgrade from v0.95 to v0.98, you would need to change (in 'C:\freepdf\RunFPDF.bat')

C:\freepdf\frpdf095.EXE "" "%1"
                 ^^
.................||
             to
C:\freepdf\frpdf098.EXE "" "%1"
                 ^^
.................||

PDF (Portable Document Format) is
Copyright ©2000 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Brought to you by Courtesy of The
some