Best way to use an Access 2database report in a Publisher 2007 Web

[Billiam]

I have several reports produced in Access 2007 which I need to provide in a
Publisher 2007 webpage. The reports are in a table report with gridlines and
provides such things as names, phone, email, and courses taught (each report
is produced from a specific area code).
I would like to make the report easily printable....so I have made my web
publication width the creccoended number of pixels, but I suspect the best
way is to make a .pdf version. Also, When I use the Adobe snapshot option,
and place it in the webpublication, the resulting resolution is very poor. (I
must have gridlines)

Am I best to provide the original database report in .pdf on the webserver
and just link to it from the webpage---would this be a lengthy process for
the enduser?

Can you make a reccomendation please as to the best way to tackle this?

 

[DavidF]

Use a PDF file and link to it. That way you will know exactly how it will
print. Office 2007 programs have the option of converting your report to
PDF, and optimizing for print or for the web. When you File > Publish as a
PDF... note at the bottom of the dialog: "Optimize for" Click the Change
button and you will see the options. Minimum size will be the fastest to
download...or if the user has the Adobe reader plugin installed, the fastest
to open in IE. If you want a higher resolution, you can use one of the
others.

DavidF

 

[Billiam]

Thank You david !
As to the mechanics of the linking.... am I best to put all 20 .pdf pages in
one publication and then put it on the webserver, or individual pages, or
does it matter...I will be updating some pages much more frequently than
others...

Also, how do I do the linking to the files on the webserver from my
webserver publication? I am using a bell server...

 

[DavidF]

As to the question about grouping all the pdf pages in one document, or
offering them individually, a couple issues come to my mind. Will the user
want to read all 20 pages, or will they have interest in only one or two? If
you think the user will always want all 20 pages, then of course you could
offer them as a combined publication. However, this brings up issue two...20
pages, even with an optimized pdf format is going to take quite a while to
download. If you go this route, I would add a note along with the link
telling people how big the file is. Individually or collectively, depends on
the content and your intended use, but try to avoid large files. Given that
Pub 2007 will generate PDF files that have active links, you could do
individual files, and simply link to the next one...

As per linking, I would set up a "downloads" subfolder on your site at the
same level as the index.htm file and the index_files folder. Then the link
to a pdf would be: http://yourdomain.com/downloads/yourpdffile.pdf . When
people click on the link, and assuming that they have the Adobe Reader
plug-in installed, the file will open in IE. They will be able to save or
print after downloading.

Reference: Including external files in a Publisher web:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/dbartosik/archive/2006/01/07/80561.aspx

DavidF

 

[Billiam]

THANK YOU !!!! Worked perfectly---by the way, individual pages make the most
sense--a good point.
Can you tell me how "secure" are my .pdf pages that Publisher 2007 makes?
Can they be modified by anyone easily?
Bill

 

[DavidF]

Great! Glad it worked out for you, and thanks for posting back.

How secure? I don't have the full Adobe Acrobat program to see if a Pub
2007 generated PDF can be opened and modified. I do think one should assume
that there is no such thing as a totally "secure" file, and that any file
can be edited...even PDF files.

You can "encrypt" the PDF files, which makes them less easily modified. Not
sure the Publisher PDF tool will do that, but www.primopdf.com does...and
its free.

You can add a level of "security" by making the download folder a password
protected folder, that is only accessible by those you give the password.
Look to your webhost for instructions on how to create password protected
folders...usually in the FAQs section.

DavidF

 

[Mike Koewler]

David,

Using Acrobat (the full version) one can protect a document from being
opened, being printed or being edited. Sure, a specialist in cracking
codes could probably figure it out, but not the normal viewer.

Mike

 

[DavidF]

Mike,

Hummm. I thought that was basically what I said. Guess my message got lost
in the forest of words. ;-)

DavidF

 

[Billiam]

Hi David,
I Have a friend who has Adobe and is going to try and mess with my file to
see what he can do with it. Thanks for all your help..I will post back to let
you know how he made out with my Publisher .pdf version.
Bill

 

[DavidF]

We'll look forward to your report.

DavidF

Hi David,
I Have a friend who has Adobe and is going to try and mess with my file to
see what he can do with it. Thanks for all your help..I will post back to
let
you know how he made out with my Publisher .pdf version.
Bill

 

[Billiam]

My friend was easily able to modify the .pdf file created by Publisher 2007,
so very dissapointing, I guess I will have to by Adobe Acrobat now. He was
actually able to remove items from the document.
Bill

 

[Mike Koewler]

Bill,

I can mess with the contents of a pdf file also, even if it is made
using Acrobat. Unless, I set the security to not allow editing,(or
printing).

Mike

 

[Billiam]

Mike are you saying these properties can be set within Publisher 2007? If
they are able to be set, can you tell me how, as the documents I will be
sending must not be able to be changed by anyone else...If they are not able
to be set by Publisher 2007, can you advise how to secure them without
purchasing another product?
Bill

 

[Mike Koewler]

Bill,

Not sure about Pub's pdf options, but with Primo's (www.primopdf.com)
free pdf printer you sure can.

Mike

 

[Billiam]

Thank you very much for the tip, Mike! I will definately try it out.
Again, thanks for the help.
Bill

 

[Mike Koewler]

Bill,

You'll have to play with settings a tad - IIRC, you want to leave the
top line (in security settings) blank, but enter a password so the
security settings can be changed. If you want me to check it, create a
real small pdf and e-mail it to me.

Mike

 

[Billiam]

Mike, Primo worked perfectly and my friend was unable to change the document
in Adobe...so many thanks. Is Primo new or have you used it before...how
trustworthy/likely is it to remain free...any ideas?
Bill

 

[Mike Koewler]

Bill,

I downloaded it to try and see if it would work. I use Acrobat. As far
as staying free, the version you are using will be free for ever. Can't
predict future version, though.

Mike

 

[DavidF]

FWIW I have downloaded and used I think three of the free versions over at
least a couple years. They seem to periodically update or upgrade them, and
the most recent one allows you to append an existing pdf file which was a
great upgrade for me. I don't use the encryption, but also like the on-line,
print etc. versions. The on-line version produces a much smaller file to
email people. Now if they would just provide a free version that allows
inserted links to survive the conversion to pdf, I would really be a happy
camper.

DavidF

 

[Billiam]

Thnaks, for the input, David. I assume you do not use the encryption because
you do not require it versus there are problems with the program's encryption
abilities? Also, I assume Adobe does allow the links to survive...that would
be fantastic in a free version!
Bill