Reduce PDF Size

When saving a Word file as PDF there is a quick trick to reduce the resulting file size.

Use the following procedure.

In Word, use the normal Save as -> PDF
Open the PDF that was created (if it does not open automatically)
Select File -> Save as
Click “Save”.

This overwrites the current PDF file with a new version that removes the extra baggage that Word added.

As an example, I had a file that was originally 8,594 KB. After using the above procedure it was reduced to 6,353 KB.

Setup:

Word 2010
Adobe Acrobat 9
Windows 7

The Path

Here is a handy shortcut that I just found out about:

Under Windows 7, if you need to copy the path to a file, you just hold the Shift key, then right mouse click on the file. The menu that opens now has a new menu item in the middle called “Copy as path”. You can then use Paste to put the full path where ever you like.

Back From the Future

Lou: You gonna order something, kid?
Marty McFly: Ah, yeah… Give me – Give me a Tab.
Lou: Tab? I can’t give you a tab unless you order something.
Marty McFly: All right, give me a Pepsi Free.
Lou: You want a Pepsi, PAL, you’re gonna pay for it.

Here is a simple tip that can save a lot of time. If you click on a link in a PDF file, how to you go back to where you started?

The answer: Alt + Left arrow

Example: If you are on page 2 and you click a link that takes you to page 155, Alt + left arrow takes you back to page 2.

If you want to go back to the future, uh, I mean back to the page that you went to before, then use Alt + Right arrow.