I did a comparison test.

PDF Shaper Pro 5.1 (from Burnaway) vs. Microsoft Save to PDF Add-in

For brevity's sake, let's call them SP vs. MS.

My 2 page Word .doc test file contains headings, paragraphs (some with indents), lists, tables, boxes, and 2 images.

Notes:

1. Both the SP-converted file and the MS-converted file looked presentable. At first glance they looked very much like the original source file.

2. Upon closer inspection, I noticed there were several issues in both output files. So, I opened both files with a PDF object viewer to see how they were built.

The following points are the significant differences I noted:

1a. MS kept the original Word "style" information intact for the most part. Headings were still headings, with the proper levels. Paragraphs were still paragraphs.
1b. SP threw out the heading styles and changed them to paragraphs (this presents a major Accessibility issue).

2a. MS kept the tagging structure information (tab order).
2b. SP threw out the tagging structure information (this presents a major Accessibility issue).

3a. MS kept the alternate text and annotations for the images.
3b. SP threw out the alternate text and annotations for the images (this presents a major Accessibility issue).

4a. MS kept the table structure intact: rows; table headers; table descriptors; and regularity of rows and columns.
4b. SP did not retain the table structure. (this presents a major Accessibility issue).

5a. MS kept the list structure intact: tags; labels; and content.
5b. SP did not retain the list structure. (this presents a major Accessibility issue).

There were additional issues but, in my opinion, they would not have as much impact as the ones listed above.

Compliance with Accessibility standards for web-based information is required in most countries now. Any PDF posted to a website must meet certain requirements in those countries (WCAG; Section 508; AODA; BS 8878; etc.). Output produced by PDF Shaper Pro 5.1 simply does not meet the required thresholds.

For me, the points listed above are show-stoppers.

I realize PDF Shaper Pro 5.1 has many more features, but I can't trust the integrity of those operations either, without conducting an in-depth review.

Therefore, thank you GAOTD and Burnaware, but I will pass on your offering today.

Cheers

Johnnie Walker  –  8 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+30)

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Since upgrading to Windows 10 I have found that the GOTD Activation box just hangs and the set-up dialogue box doesn't appear. Following help from GOTD I found that this is caused by Windows Defender and the solution is to go to 'Settings - update and security - Windows Defender' and turn off real-time protection before clicking on set-up exe. It all works OK after that and you can turn protection back on again. Hope that helps some one.

DaveSuffolk  –  8 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+29)

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Took 3 tries to get it to install, appears the GOTD installer 'thought' the installation was complete before it had even started.

Application is 'OK'. It works and has several options but leaves out the option to convert from PDF to Word format. The option to convert from Word to PDF is available but isn't really necessary considering there are free printer driver software applications available (such as FreePDF xp) that can convert any printable file to pdf, thus making the function in this application rather useless and very limited. Additionally, the same mentioned print driver, will also append pdf files.

In all fairness, this can be a useful application if the author would add the missing functionality (convert from pdf to X, compression, etc), but the $30 price tag for this application in the current form cannot be justified. Although there are 16 functions available, most, if not all, are available in freeware packages.

Matt  –  8 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+28)

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Tried the Crop Pages tool. Also tried Delete Pages tool.
In Crop, the amount of pixel width to crop on the left margin and right margin can be specified.
This is not accurate. For example if the measured margin width is 220 pixels, you must specify about 140 pixels.
Otherwise the software will over-crop into the text.
Once you get the hang of it, the tool is useful for cropping.

In Delete Pages - you specify the pages that you wish to delete. Not the pages you want to keep.
e. you have a 26 page PDF document. You want to delete pages 11 to 26. You want to keep pages 1 to 10.
Then in the tool, you input 11-26.
and click Process.

ric  –  8 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+24)

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I have the free version of PDF Shaper, but was under the impression that the pro version was more about licensing than features. Figuring that there might be more than that since it was on GOTD, I went back & found a version comparison...

The pro version includes:
Convert Word DOC/DOCX files to PDF documents
View and print PDF documents with external PDF viewer
Usage in commercial organizations or with commercial purposes

The free version is almost portable, with an .ini file added to Users\ [UserName]\ AppData\ Roaming, with an interface or GUI that features icons for the different functions in the app's window.

pdfshaper[.]com/compare-editions.html
pdfshaper[.]com/features.html

mike  –  8 years ago  –  Ritieni questo commento utile? sì | no (+18)

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