Marti's blog

Yesterday I got to scan a few multi-page contracts and email them. Sounds easy enough: scan the pages to a bunch of JPEG, put all of them in a ZIP file and email the result.

Well I forgot to mention that the recipient is not very good with computer, so this rules out the idea of sending a ZIP file. The best solution would be to get all the scanned page in a nice single PDF file, ready to be opened and printed if necessary. Problem is, you can't do that without some extra software, and as far as I can tell none of them is really free.

Well after searching around for a free alternative (yes I'm cheap), I managed to find a convenient solution. I thought I might as well share it:

• Download and install the open-source utility PDFCreator, which lets you print from any application into a PDF file (I suggest you choose the MSI installer).
• Start the Windows Scan Assistant (in Programs then Accessories), set it up whichever way fits your document best
• Scan your pages and save them all in an empty directory (with a page feeder Windows will conveniently make one file per page with a page number at the end of each filename). For the file format I recommend PNG.
• Now open that directory: on the left panel, if no file is selected, Windows is offering to print all the pictures. Make sure the pages are displayed in the proper order and then print them all.
• When asked which printer to print to, pick the PDFCreator one. You'll be asked for some optional title, date, author, etc. for your PDF file. Once you are done pick "Save" (or "email" if you want to do just that)
• Enjoy !