ghostfill tips http://ghostfilltips.bashasys.info/ GhostFill document assembly tips and tricks en ibb@bashasys.com Copyright 2007 2007-02-22T00:27:01-05:00 Reduce Size of Embedded Pictures in RTF Templates http://ghostfilltips.bashasys.info/index.php/ghostfill/reduce_size_of_embedded_pictures_in_rtf_templates/ In Microsoft Word there can often be a major size discrepancy between Word files and Rich Text Formatted versions of the same file. This is most often due to how Word RTF handles embedded picture files (such as logos, watermarks, illustrations, etc.) When saved to RTF, the space allocated for the picture can be as much as 20 times the size of the combined size of the document and picture. According to Microsoft, this discrepancy is actually a feature. When a document is exported to RTF, the process creates two files for each image, one is the original image and the other is a Windows Meta File (WMF). The WMF format is designed to describe resizable vector-type drawings - line drawings - and is very efficient for those. However, it is horribly inefficient for storing photographic images pixel by pixel. There is a registry tweak that can turn off this feature.  General Take the following steps:

  • Close all instances of Word
  • Use the Windows key to START -> RUN
  • Type REGEDIT and click OK
  • In OfficeXP - Find the following Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Office/10.0/Word/Options
  • In Office2003 - Find the following Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Office/11.0/Word/Options
  • Right-click in the right-hand pane and choose New -> String Value
  • Enter the name “ExportPictureWithMetaFile” as the new key and click OK
  • Then double-click on the ExportPictureWithMetaFile and type 0 (zero) for its value and click enter
  • Close up the registry

    • After this, there will be no more expanding files. To deal with existing RTF files, simply open the file and save it to Word format. Then reopen the file and save it back to RTF format. These changes are machine specific and should be made on all machines where the templates are maintained. 

    ]]>     2007-02-22T00:27:01-05:00     Love Your GhostPad http://ghostfilltips.bashasys.info/index.php/ghostfill/love_your_ghostpad/ GhostFill in its last version upgrade included a new feature called GhostPad. GhostPad is both a text editor with full GhostFill fillpoint support and full syntax coloring. It should become part of your arsenal of development tools to tackle problems. General GhostPad allows you to enjoy the same functions as Microsoft NotePad. It can be used as a Clipboard to copy snippets of text from a Template or Script and store it for reuse. But its real power lies in its support for syntax coloring and the ability to test scripts. Syntax coloring means that all the fillpoints display in blue, comment text in green, and text strings in brown. And, all paired codes are automatically displayed in bold, so that you can tell the KeepBlock and the corresponding EndBlock.

    GhostPad allows you to test and manipulate text without endangering the template. For complex scripting, you can copy a paragraph from the template and lay it out based on logic decision points. In the GhostPad you can test the assembly. When the script works properly, simply remove the excess hard returns and tabs and paste the paragraph back into your template.

    Invoking GhostPad From the Start-Menu, START -> ALL PROGRAMS -> GHOSTFILL -> GHOSTPAD

    To create a desktop or quicklauch shortcut, point to C:/Program Files/GhostWare/GhostPad.exe

    From GhostFill developer: Right-click to create a new text template. Then right-click on the template and Open the file for editing. We suggest you create a template folder called “~Test” or “~Development” for your text templates used for testing purposes

    Useful Tip: Always remember to make a backup copy of your templates before making major text changes.

    ]]>     2006-11-15T00:25:00-05:00     Ghostfill Create a progress bar http://ghostfilltips.bashasys.info/index.php/ghostfill/ghostfill_create_a_progress_bar/ There are times where you wish to give the users information that progress is being made during an assembly, or some indication of where they are.  GhostFill has a progress bar utility. It can be invoked and then controlled by a script. That script is up to you.  Scripts %[x = dialogs.Utils.CreateProgressBar]
    %[x.title = “This is my Title"]
    %[x.show]

    %[x.progress =0.1]
    %[x.progress =0.2]
    %[x.progress =0.3]
    %[x.progress =0.4]
    %[x.progress =0.5]
    %[x.progress =0.6]
    %[x.progress =0.7]
    %[x.progress =0.8]
    %[x.progress =0.9]
    %[x.progress =1]
    %[x.hide]

    ]]>     2006-08-29T00:22:01-05:00     GhostFill Tips Site Goes Live http://ghostfilltips.bashasys.info/index.php/ghostfill/ghostfill_tips_site_goes_live/ Welcome to the new Basha Systems GhostFill Tips site.  It is run by our blogging software, but will grow to operate much like any information site… announcements As time goes by, we will be adding GhostFill tips and tricks to our database.  Eventually, this site will become a quality resource for the GhostFill document assembly community.  Also coming soon will be our Time Matters and HotDocs information sites, all run in a very similar manner.  If you find yourself becoming lost, the following color schemes should assist:

    - grey = generic blog containing articles & document assemby topics of interest
    - red = hotdocs specific tips and tricks
    - blue = ghostfill specific tips and tricks
    - tan = time matters specific tips and tricks

    quotes in the GhostFill Tips site will appear like this

    On the left side of this site, you will notice links to relevant GhostFill resources, as well as a search box, so that you can quickly find what you want from our site (if it is here of course).  If you want some light reading regarding document assembly generally, dont forget to check out our main blog which has many articles regarding the industry generally.

    We hope you enjoy the new approach.

    ]]>     2006-07-26T23:02:00-05:00