OBT Forum

Open Office is like Microsoft Office (well almost as it changes a couple of things but nothing important).
And to make pdf out of Word, just install PDF Creator.

And if you want some editing work to be done, mail it to me and say what you want and I will see what I can do.

...Actually, I just finished the book, and it is very well done...  But I did notice the individual Clans and their information is split onto 2 pages.  Perhaps there's some way for it to be shrunk onto one page?  Perhaps a smaller font?

...'pdf creater'...  More info, please.

Basically you install a pdf printer (in the this case he suggests the one named pdf creator) there are several free ones on the internet. Installing them will install a program along with a printer object on the computer. Then when you want to "save" something as a pdf you go to print and select the pdf printer as your printer object. It will "print" it to a pdf file (after asking you for the name, location, etc.). This is the incredibly confusing way free pdf file creation works (ie those of use who don't have bunches of money for adobe acrobat) and the mac os has one built in (just go to print on a mac and save to pdf is an option, you have to kinda look around a bit though but there is a "PDF" button with a down arrow)

I will look into this pdf creator though, maybe its better than the one I have on my PC (hopefully) and I'm hoping to find some program to merge pdf files (if I can do that I'll have a way to make this document look really good, basically by doing it one page at a time and merging the PDFs)

...Actually, I just finished the book, and it is very well done...  But I did notice the individual Clans and their information is split onto 2 pages.  Perhaps there's some way for it to be shrunk onto one page?  Perhaps a smaller font?

Thanks, glad you like it.

Yes that is something I was tackling. I had several clans reduced to 1-2 pages instead of the 2-3 they are now but the formatting started to mess with eachother (as I said Word is not useful for projects this size) and I would setup one section only to see it mess with sections 20 pages away even though there were several full page breaks between. There are also several instances of similar wastes of space throughout the IS, Mercenary and Periphery sections that I hope to trim down in editing once I figure out what program I want to use.

For the next level of layout etc. you can always try Scribus, a freeware version of InDesign.

Awesome, I'll look into that, Thanks!

Oh!  Cent13 is working with Indesign for TRO:3063 - Scribus.  Sounds interesting.

On the other hand, apparently the later versions of Windows offers the print to .PDF option.  I wonder if I take multiple .PDFs to Staples if they can do something about putting them together.

Oh!  Cent13 is working with Indesign for TRO:3063 - Scribus.  Sounds interesting.

On the other hand, apparently the later versions of Windows offers the print to .PDF option.  I wonder if I take multiple .PDFs to Staples if they can do something about putting them together.

Maybe, but it'll cost ya. You're probably better off seeing your local print company store. They'll have the layout software on hand (if they offer design services.) It'll still cost a penny, but if might be higher quality.

I agree, but having these tools do most of the repetitive stuff, means you can proof read more than copy edit.

I took the suggestions here (most notably using Scribus) and have labored to make a more presentable version of my Field Manual.

I'm hoping to take what I've learned in doing this and crank out a few historicals to advance my storyline so if anyone's interested you can look forward to those.

PS. If anyone has used Scribus and can help me with making it look better I'd be very appreciative. I notice especially when looking from a more zoomed out perspective that the writing seems to be randomly bolded when its not supposed to be and harder to read in some sections which is werid because its all the same font except for a few words bolded or italicized (not whole lines as it can appear).