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Attaching MS Word or Excel files to a post — Parallax Forums

Attaching MS Word or Excel files to a post

Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
edited 2005-12-22 21:34 in General Discussion
I was trying to attach an MS Word document to a posting and received the following message...

* You cannot upload files that use MIME type : application/msword.
The file was well below the max size of 2048 KB.· Any ideas why we can't attach these types of files?· What are the vailid types we can·attach?

Thanks,

Steve

Comments

  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2005-12-22 16:27
    I can certainly understand why they might not allow Word, Excel or other file types that support internal macros/code (VBA).

    An alternative would be to use something like PDF Creator (freeware), or PDF 995 (free version with POP ups, $9.95 for version without pop ups) and convert the document to a PDF. These applications (and there are others, ranging from free, to several hundred dollars), work like a printer, but create a "PDF" or Adobe Acrobat format document.

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    John R.

    8 + 8 = 10
  • Jim EwaldJim Ewald Posts: 733
    edited 2005-12-22 16:36
    John is correct in that we don't support Office documents as attachments. PDFs are the preferred method of distributing documents with the formatting intact. It also has the benefit of allowing members with Linux or Mac operating systems to access you document without using special reader software.

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    Jim

    Parallax IT Dept.
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-12-22 16:53
    Also you can upload zip files, so you can attach any type of file if you zip it first. But in general its advisable to not post any file type which can contain a virus (both Word and Excel files can).

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    ·1+1=10
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2005-12-22 20:49
    Jim,

    Not everyone has the capability of generating a PDF file. I have used a "distiller" in the past and did a
    Google search for.... "online distiller" PDF ...and found this...

    www.ps2pdf.com/convert/convert.htm

    ...I have not had a chance to test it yet.

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    Beau Schwabe

    IC Layout Engineer
    Parallax, Inc.
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2005-12-22 21:31
    Beau - funny you should mention that... I have used that "service" several times in the past... I found that a lot of research work at Universities would produce their papers in postscript to prevent folks from easily copying it. I guess this was before things like pdf's. Mprobo just sent me a link (http://www.pdfonline.com/convert_pdf_2.asp) that works a similar way... you upload any file, and it sends you a pdf! These are the best types of solutions... no software to download, and FREE!!! I tried it out and it worked great!
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2005-12-22 21:34
    The following is "open software":

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

    There is also

    http://www.pdf995.com/

    that is free if you can live with the pop ups, and as cheap as $9.95 for a pop up free version (more depending on the optional packages you want).

    ...and tons of other free or useable for free (may include a pop up or watermark, etc. if you don't pony up). In addition to Beau's search, use PDF Creator, PDF Printer, PDF Converter, etc.

    We use this stuff at the "day job" routinely, and there is new (and better) stuff coming out all the time. As much as I dislike the Adobe Reader (performance dog and resource pig), it is a very nice way to transmit electronic documents with minimal risks, not only to virus infestations, but also in terms of protection of the document integrity.

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    John R.

    8 + 8 = 10
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