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Among the different types of documents that exist today, PDF is one of the most used. PDF is popular because it can hold the consistency of the document. Publishing a document in PDF is like printing it on paper. So the document’s appearance will stay the same wherever you look at it. That’s why many electronic publications like e-books are in PDF.

But this “highly uneditable” feature is also PDF’s disadvantage to other “easily editable” formats like txt, rtf and doc. While it’s possible to create PDF documents with fillable forms (you can download an example of such a thing from Adobe’s site), the creation process requires advanced PDF tools – which are expensive and not accessible by most people.

So should we get the expensive PDF tools just to create a so-called interactive document? If you are using Mac, there are better solutions to this problem. Mac systems come with native tools to create and annotate PDF documents easily.

How to Create PDF Documents

We’ll start with the easy part: creating the PDF. When I first switched to Mac, I searched all over the web for an application to create PDF documents without knowing that this ability already comes natively with Mac.

All you have to do is “print” the document using the “File > Print” menu or “Command + P” shortcut.

Then, instead of clicking the “Print” button, you click the “PDF” button and choose the “Save as PDF” option.

The Save window is pretty basic, you write down the file name and you choose the save location.

But there’s an additional feature that you can apply to the document: security. Click the “Security Options” button and a new window will appear, letting you put in a password to open the document, to copy the content, and to print the document. All you have to do is to check the box(es) in front of your security choice(s) and write down the preferred password(s).

After everything is set, you can click the “OK” and “Save” buttons.

Annotating A PDF

The default Mac OS X document opener (and also a PDF reader) – Preview, has an underused feature called Annotate. This ability allows users to slightly modify, including adding notes, ordinary PDF documents. While completely editing the PDF is still out of the question, it’s possible to fill in any PDF form using the annotation feature.

When you open PDF with Preview, you’ll quickly see the “Annotate” icon in the toolbar. This feature is also accessible from the “Tools > Annotate” menu.

Clicking the icon will open up the Annotate bar at the bottom of the window.

There are several annotation tools available for you to use. You can add:

• Arrow (Command + Control + A)
• Oval (Command + Control + O)
• Rectangle (Command + Control + R)
• Text (Command + Control + T)
• Note (Command + Control + N)
• and Link (Command + Control + L)

You can also modify the text by giving it:

• Highlight (Command + Control + H)
• Strike through (Command + Control + S)
• and Underline (Command + Control + U)

After annotating the PDF, you can select and view those annotations quickly by opening the sidebar and choose the annotation view.

And don’t forget to save the document if you want to keep your annotations.

To those who often create PDF documents, these features might not look impressive. But for ordinary folks like me who have just discovered the tools, this annotation ability will surely come in handy.

Other alternative PDF readers/editors that you can try are: FormulatePro and Skim.

Do you feel that your life is surrounded by PDFs? Do you annotate your documents? Share your thoughts and opinions using the comments below.

Got Tech Questions? Ask Them on MakeUseOf Answers!

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Most of us don’t have the skills or the time to create our own custom applications or plug-ins, but when Apple produced Automator, a program installed in the latest versions of Mac OS X, it enabled users to create little time saving applications and Mac Automator workflows that can be customized for personal user needs.

Mac Automator workflows need not be complicated. They can simply be 1-3 step workflows that can save you some time on your computer.

We have published a few longer Automator how-tos here on MUO. This article, though, is going to introduce you to ten practical workflows that you can create in under five minutes. Once you create a few of these, I guarantee that you’ll want to see what other type of workflows you can create.

How Do Automator Applications Work?

Automator applications work pretty much like any another application. When you click on an Automator application, it opens up and you tell it what to do. You can also configure applications to simply perform a task without opening up. Just click on the application and it will execute the commands.

How To Create An Application

Okay, first off I will explain how to create an Automator application, and then I will briefly describe nine other similar applications that you might want to create.

Step 1: Launch Automator, found in your application’s folder. I’m using the Snow Leopard version of Automator for these examples. When the template window drops down, select Application, and then select Choose.

Step 2: This step introduces you to different parts of Automator and it also shows you to create your first application.

1. In the far left column, select Mail in the list of actions. These actions are a part of the Automator library.
2. In the next column select New Mail Message.
3. Drag the New Mail Message action into the workflow pane.
4. Notice that when you select an action, Automator provides a brief description of what it does. If that description does not show up, click on the little triangle at the bottom left of Automator.
5. Finally, once you get your workflow set up, you can select the Run button to see if the workflow works. This run test will not always work, depending on the workflow you’re trying to create, but for most of the applications we’re creating in this tutorial, you can run the workflow and test it before saving it.

Send Mail Message Application

So what is the purpose of this workflow? Why use it when you can just simply create a new mail message in Mail? Well, if you have a person that you regularly send email to, and typically that email contains a similar message, you can use this workflow to set up an email that will be automatically addressed to a specified person or persons, with any preset message and subject line.

So basically feel out the New Mail Message with the addresse(s) of the recipient(s), the subject line, and the content if it’s going to be similar each time.

Now click on the Options button at the button of the action. There is a box that says, “Show this action when the workflow runs.” This means that the new mail message will pop up and provide you with the opportunity to add any additional content to the message before you click send. If you don’t click this button, Automator will send the message automatically when you launch the application. So click that button.

Now click Run and see what happens. If it doesn’t work for you, write me a comment below.

Save As Application

After doing the test run, simply save the workflow. In the drop-down save box, click on the File Format button and choose Application. You probably should save this application in your Applications folder. If you plan to create more applications like this, you might want to create a special folder for your Automator applications.

All the Automator apps will be saved with this icon. Yeah, it’s a little ugly, but you can customize it like you do any other icon. See this MUO tutorial.

You can treat these Automator apps like other applications. They can be dragged to your dock or even put into your Finder toolbar.

Alright, now that you have completed this first really simple workflow, let’s explore others that you can do quickly.

To find each of the actions below, simply type in the name of the action in the search field at the top of the second column of Automator.

Document Printer

This action, when saved as an application, will automatically print any document that you drop onto it. After creating it using the steps described above, put it in your dock or Finder toolbar. Now grab a document file and place it on top of the saved app. That will cause Automator to run the action and print your document using your default printer. Note, you can also select the “Show this action when the workflow runs,” if you want to make some changes to the printing configurations before the action is executed.

Play Playlist

This app action plays a selected playlist from your iTunes library. It requires two actions. First open iTunes, select your favorite playlist and slide it into the Automator workflow pane. Next, locate Play iTunes Playlist in the Automator library and slide it also in the workflow pane under the playlist action. Now save it as an app. When you click on that app it will play the specified playlist.

Copy Items Of A Folder

This app will copy any files moved onto it, to a designated folder. Again, you might want to put this one in your dock or Finder toolbar. When you need to use it, simply drag files onto the app and it will run.

Hide Apps & Launch An App

This little workflow app simply hides all your running apps and opens a specified application so you can get focused and begin working.

Create Archive

If you need to quickly archive a bunch of files, this workflow is the easiest way to do it. Park it on your dock, put the selected files on top of it, and it will create a Zip archive of those files.

Copy Clipboard to Text Document

Okay, say you frequently copy text and paste it in a text editor document. Well, this workflow app will save you a few clicks. Copy the text as usual to the clipboard, click this app and it will automatically paste the copied text into a TextEdit document.

New Dated Folder

If you regularly create folders that need to be named with a date, simply click this workflow app and save yourself a few steps.

Set Desktop Image

If you have a favorite desktop image that you like to switch to from time to time, use this workflow app to set the desktop image, saving the steps of opening System Preferences. In this workflow, drag your selected image into the workflow pane, and right under it, drag the Set Desktop Picture action.

Launch Webpages

This workflow app will launch specified webpages. You can park it your dock and click it when needed.  This saves you the trouble of digging through your web browser bookmarks. Grab the two actions and replace the http://www.apple.com URL with your selected web page(s)

That’s it. Let me know what other time saving Automator actions you come up with. If you run into any problems with these actions, let me know by dropping a line in the comment box below.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

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If there’s one thing the Internet is great at it’s spreading educational information. It has debunked many myths especially those about personal health and fitness.

However, on the other side of that coin, various web apps, online fitness programs and supplements promise to make you extremely healthy and fit but in reality, they’re misleading and rarely ever work.

Unfortunately, in terms of fitness and physique, there is little one can do except eat right and exercise correctly in order to reach a point they’re comfortable with.

There are some great free online fitness program available which are trustworthy and don’t aim to sell you anything. I want to take a look at three fitness programs which have proven very popular with millions of people all over the world.

One Hundred Push-Ups, Sit-Ups Etc…

This series of free online fitness program have been very popular and has expanded in recent months. When the first program launched a while back we did an article on it here. Since then, numerous other programs have become available so that everything from push-ups to sit-ups to squats to chin-ups are covered.

They all work on the same principle and that is to gradually increase the reps over a period of weeks until you have reached the goal of the program. They also give you an initial test to determine your current strength and stamina. Based upon the results of this you’ll start on a certain week and work your way up.

An iPhone app is also available to keep track of your progress but you can do this only using the websites just as well.

Couch to 5K

This program became something of an Internet Meme when it was first released and is still very popular given its success in transforming couch potatoes into runners.

Once again, this program works on a chart which you are to work your way up over a period of time. Initially, it comprises of a certain amount of time jogging followed by a certain amount of time walking. The jogging is gradually increased over time as you become more fit until the end of the program, at which point you should be able to run 5K (or half an hour).

Because free online fitness program became so popular so quick, there are numerous websites which specialise in it instead of just one. I recommend this particular site because of the wealth of information on there compared to the others. Firstly, it’s regularly updated with articles related to the program on every subject such as nutrition, running gear and the most important of all; motivation.

They also have a great chart which you can print out which details the running schedule with plenty of tips.

Zero To One Mile – Swimming

Running and strength exercises aren’t for everyone though. Swimming, widely considered to be the best exercise because it gives you a full body work out, is a favourite of many people trying to get in shape.

Swimming just one length of a pool is a challenge for some people so one mile might seem light years away. However, with the Zero to One Mile program you could achieve that target in a few weeks.

The website, however basic, is packed with valuable information for swimmers including the essential chart to give you targets as well as track your goals. Along with a new Facebook support group this program also features a lot of information for adults learning how to swim for the first time and further challenges once you reach the one mile target.

Obviously, as with any fitness program, it’s the motivation and proper exercise that counts, not new workout machines or dietary supplements. All you need to get fit is a good training schedule and your body. The above programs should get you well on your way to achieving that.

Is there another free online fitness program that you prefer?  If so, let us know about it in the comments.

Image Credit: Brass n’Roll

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

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