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

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

Billiam

2007-10-10, 10:14 pm

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

2007-10-10, 10:14 pm

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" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AEA811AD-03C4-4A49-B521-9EFE2832BC08@microsoft.com...
>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?

Billiam

2007-10-13, 6:15 pm

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" wrote:

> 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" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AEA811AD-03C4-4A49-B521-9EFE2832BC08@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-10-14, 6:15 pm

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/a...1/07/80561.aspx

DavidF

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C9B8614E-F8C4-411E-96DA-0D9A994E5795@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> 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" wrote:
>

Billiam

2007-10-17, 6:15 pm

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" wrote:

> 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/a...1/07/80561.aspx
>
> DavidF
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C9B8614E-F8C4-411E-96DA-0D9A994E5795@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-10-18, 3:18 am

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

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:73095C31-579E-4B85-9578-8C1FF66A31E4@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> 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" wrote:
>

Mike Koewler

2007-10-18, 6:17 pm

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 wrote:
> 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
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:73095C31-579E-4B85-9578-8C1FF66A31E4@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-10-18, 6:17 pm

Mike,

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

DavidF

"Mike Koewler" <wordwiz@fuse.net> wrote in message
news:8a245$47178788$d844df7f$9370@FUSE.NET...[color=darkred]
> 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 wrote:

Billiam

2007-10-18, 6:17 pm

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" wrote:

> 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
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:73095C31-579E-4B85-9578-8C1FF66A31E4@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-10-18, 10:15 pm

We'll look forward to your report.

DavidF

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7F7C0C05-6DCC-4852-BC35-366FE3CCCBCD@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> 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" wrote:
>

Billiam

2007-11-13, 6:15 pm

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

"DavidF" wrote:

> We'll look forward to your report.
>
> DavidF
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:7F7C0C05-6DCC-4852-BC35-366FE3CCCBCD@microsoft.com...
>
>
>

Mike Koewler

2007-11-13, 6:15 pm

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 wrote:
[color=darkred]
> 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
>
> "DavidF" wrote:
>
>

Billiam

2007-11-13, 6:15 pm

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" wrote:

> 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 wrote:
>
>

Mike Koewler

2007-11-13, 6:15 pm

Bill,

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

Mike

Billiam wrote:[color=darkred]
> 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" wrote:
>
>

Billiam

2007-11-14, 6:17 pm

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

> Bill,
>
> Not sure about Pub's pdf options, but with Primo's (www.primopdf.com)
> free pdf printer you sure can.
>
> Mike
>
> Billiam wrote:
>

Mike Koewler

2007-11-14, 10:15 pm

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 wrote:
[color=darkred]
> Thank you very much for the tip, Mike! I will definately try it out.
> Again, thanks for the help.
> Bill
> "Mike Koewler" wrote:
>
>

Billiam

2007-11-17, 6:16 pm

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" wrote:

>
>
> 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 wrote:
>
>

Mike Koewler

2007-11-17, 10:15 pm

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

Billiam wrote:[color=darkred]
> 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" wrote:
>
>

DavidF

2007-11-17, 10:15 pm

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

"Mike Koewler" <wordwiz@fuse.net> wrote in message
news:3396c$473f9b8b$453d9472$21458@FUSE.NET...[color=darkred]
> 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
>
> Billiam wrote:

Billiam

2007-11-18, 6:15 pm

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

"DavidF" wrote:
[color=darkred]
> 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
>
> "Mike Koewler" <wordwiz@fuse.net> wrote in message
> news:3396c$473f9b8b$453d9472$21458@FUSE.NET...

DavidF

2007-11-18, 6:15 pm

Correct. I have had no reason to use the encryption, nor do I really think
it is all that necessary as a general rule. I keep copies of every PDF I
create, along with the originating file, so I can document the original. I
can't see any way someone that I deal with getting away with editing a PDF
from me. But I am sure that there is a need for encryption...

I haven't used the full version of Acrobat since version 4.0, but I assume
so. There are also other pdf tools that allow the links to survive, but no
free ones that I am aware of.

DavidF

"Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8064DE7E-B05A-4C9A-B01C-6ECE38F5A5D7@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
> 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
>
> "DavidF" wrote:
>

Mike Koewler

2007-11-18, 10:16 pm

David,

I added an e-mail address in Pub and printed it using Acrobat 5. The
link was in blue and underlined but the link did not work. I tried it in
PagePlus using its built-in ability to create a link. Using the Web
profile worked, other ones didn't. Acrobat 5 is quite old, though. I
think I got it back in 2001.

Mike

DavidF wrote:
> Correct. I have had no reason to use the encryption, nor do I really think
> it is all that necessary as a general rule. I keep copies of every PDF I
> create, along with the originating file, so I can document the original. I
> can't see any way someone that I deal with getting away with editing a PDF
> from me. But I am sure that there is a need for encryption...
>
> I haven't used the full version of Acrobat since version 4.0, but I assume
> so. There are also other pdf tools that allow the links to survive, but no
> free ones that I am aware of.
>
> DavidF
>
> "Billiam" <Billiam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8064DE7E-B05A-4C9A-B01C-6ECE38F5A5D7@microsoft.com...
>
>
>
>

DavidF

2007-11-18, 10:16 pm

Mike,

Who knows when Adobe added that capability? <shrug>

I like the fact that links survive the conversion to PDF from Publisher
2007, using the PDF Add-in. But as Bill points out, there is no built-in
encryption option. It also has a bug that results in email address links
"breaking", that limits its use. So though the Office XPS & PDF Add-in is
certainly a step in the right direction, MSFT has a few things to fix and
improve....IMHO. Hopefully the email bug can be fixed in SP1.

DavidF

"Mike Koewler" <wordwiz@fuse.net> wrote in message
news:cb5f8$4740cdb3$453d9472$6638@FUSE.NET...[color=darkred]
> David,
>
> I added an e-mail address in Pub and printed it using Acrobat 5. The link
> was in blue and underlined but the link did not work. I tried it in
> PagePlus using its built-in ability to create a link. Using the Web
> profile worked, other ones didn't. Acrobat 5 is quite old, though. I think
> I got it back in 2001.
>
> Mike
>
> DavidF wrote: