TextMakerFree and pdf files

[davowolf]

I've been using this software on advice from this forum (to replace Open Office) and have tried saving a rather large file as a pdf in order to send it by email attachment.

Well, it seemed to save OK but on trying to then open it as a pdf, I get this...

.

Stangely despite this message, it actually did open for a first time. But on closing and trying to open a second time, it just ignored the instruction.

And the same failure to open when trying to attach the pdf file by email on receipt. It took a long time to send, several minutes.

The pdf file = 232.4 MB and has 134 pictures. (Its a sort of diary of text, photographs and LP cover photos).

Any ideas ?

 

[MacInWin]

A couple of comments: 1) most mail systems won't send at attachment that large. Maybe yours will, and maybe the recipients will accept it, but unless you've done it before, it's not likely to work.
2) another way to create a PDF is to simply print the document, then in the print dialog change the output to PDF and save it as a pdf using the print system.

BTW, if the mail system WON'T take the attachment, you can always put it up on something like Dropbox and just send the link to download it.

 

[IWT]

Or perhaps use Mail drop? 5GB limit.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT203093

Ian

 

[chscag]

Good one Ian. Lots of folks forget about Mail Drop.

 

[davowolf]

Thanks to Jake and Ian (and chscag).
Great, by saving from the Print menu as a file (pdf seems the default), the file then does attach, sends (in time about 4 minutes) and is received OK. The Droopbox option also seems to work. But I'm waiting for the recipient to confirm this.
As for Mail Drop, I don't see this anywhere at first look, where its an option, despite the link you sent Ian. I suppose because its able to deal with the pdf by simple attachment (now), it just doesn't go there ?

 

[IWT]

As for Mail Drop, I don't see this anywhere at first look, where its an option, despite the link you sent Ian. I suppose because its able to deal with the pdf by simple attachment (now), it just doesn't go there ?

First thing: Open Mail, then use Keyboard shortcut - Command plus comma - to open Mail Preferences. Then Click on "Accounts".

For each account on the left, check the box "Send large attachments with Mail Drop". As below:



From now on, it should be automatic that large messages will be sent by Mail Drop.

Have a quick look at these:

https://osxdaily.com/2018/05/07/enable-mail-drop-email-account-mac/
https://osxdaily.com/2014/11/14/use-mail-drop-email-large-files-mac-os-x/

Ian

 

[davowolf]

Ahh thats interesting Ian thanks; as you see the Mail Drop box was already ticked; I can't recall ticking it myself but can't rule that out in the dim past.



So maybe thats how the file was sent by default.

But it doesn't explain why an apparent pdf saved previously from within Textmaker didn't produce a pdf. Only the pdf saved from the Print menu did.

 

[MacInWin]

You might check where the system saved the pdf. I have noticed that I have to be careful to get things saved on my internal drive, or a local drive, instead of into the cloud. More and more apps seem to default to the cloud. You can check by opening the file again, then try exporting as a pdf and noting WHERE it is planning to put the resulting pdf.

 

[davowolf]

Good idea Jake, yes did that.
I've since discovered 'wetransfer.com'; the local printer who's making a booklet, just asked me to use this as they were getting a '404' error when they tried to download it. I don't know what that means. I suppose wetransfer works on a similar principle to dropbox ?

 

[MacInWin]

404 is the code sent back when a browser looks for a web address and it doesn't exist. Some sites have a specific 404 page to let the user know that what they asked for isn't there. Normally, a 404 error means the link is bad. Getting the link from Dropbox to a specific folder or document isn't difficult, but you do have to be on the right folder/document when you ask for the link, and you have to make the document sharable for the link to work. I don't know about "wetransfer" as I have never heard of it.