Have you ever bookmarked a Web page and revisited it only to find that it has changed or been removed? Would you like to get all those important papers into a digital format? Would you like to be able to share documents with others that use different programs or operating systems?
Even though these requests sound quite unrelated, the PageGrabit software program can accomplish them all.
PageGrabit is a simple software program that turns just about any Web page or document into a PDF file. PDF stands for Portable Document File, and it is the defacto standard and universal format for such documents. You need a copy of the free program called Acrobat Reader to read PDF files. Since Acrobat Reader is installed on most computers today this poses no problem. In fact over 300 million copies of Acrobat Reader are currently in use. PDF files are secure since they are read-only files and cannot be changed once they are created. They are often used for forms, contracts, and graphical documents because they provide a true and accurate representation of the original documents. In very simple terms, a PDF file is a picture of the document that can be viewed on any computer.
PageGrabit is simple to use. During its installation, the program creates a new printer in your computer’s printer area. So to create a PDF out of any document you simply click on Print, choose the PageGrabit printer, and click Okay.
I often use PageGrabit for capturing Web pages. PageGrabit is also a great way to archive paper documents. You can even e-mail a PDF file instead of faxing documents when you want the recipient to see the document in full color with all the details. PageGrabit can come in handy in other situations as well. For instance, if you need to print something when a printer isn’t available, you can print to the PageGrabit printer which creates a PDF file that can be printed whenever a printer becomes available. This program can also come in handy when you would like a print-out of an online tutorial or form.
PageGrabit comes with a very small installation guide. Although the installation was easy, at one time I saw a list of errors on the screen which scared me a little. The program, however, installed without a hitch.
Actually, there is much more to this program, but there is little documentation, so you may have to dig into the program to find these additional features. For example, by changing the paper size and resolution settings on the Grabit printer you can make any document larger or smaller. By using the Concatenate Files option in the PrintGrabit Print menu you can create a single PDF file of several pages, even if they are from widely different applications. Also, you can add comments and categories to documents so they can be easily found after creation. PageGrabit can even be used in applications that don’t have a print button. The only thing lacking is an online tutorial that shows how to use these added features.
PageGrabit deserves applause. It is extremely easy to use, works with Windows 95 or better, and is an inexpensive solution for making and saving digital documents. Yet it has in-depth features for those who want to take it to the next level.
