A simple question on copy and paste

satimis · 05-31-2006, 10:41 PM

Hi folks,

FC5_64
======

What will be the simple way to copy and paste selected text/paragraph from .ps/.pdf file on text editor?

Occasionally I printed technical documents on Internet as .ps file. However I was unable to copy/paste their content on .txt file without going through a long way, treating them as graphic file. Conversion .ps -> .pdf -> .html was not alway working perfectively without error. The version of Acroread (Acrobat Reader) running on this box does not have text-selecting function. Saving technical documents on Internet as .html file is sometimes failed (no indication as read only).

Please shed me some light. TIA

B.R.
satimis

nitinatindore · 06-01-2006, 12:32 AM

I am not very clear about your problem, but the few solutions are:

1. Install latest Acrobat Reader from Adobe, and ensure "gpm" (console mouse service) service is running. now copy the text and middle mouse button will paste whatever that you have copied (in editors like vi too :-)

OR

2. Download some of the freely available convertors like ps2html, pdf2html etc. and once material is converted into html you know howto copy/paste into a simple text file.

Hope this solves.

satimis · 06-01-2006, 03:14 AM

Hi nitinatindore,

Tks for your advice.

Quote:

1. Install latest Acrobat Reader from Adobe, and ensure "gpm" (console mouse service) service is running. now copy the text and middle mouse button will paste whatever that you have copied (in editors like vi too

I have Acroread running on this FC5_64 box.

# yum list installed acroread

Code:

Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Installed Packages
acroread.i386                            7.0.5-2.2.fc4.rf       installed

but without text-selecting function

# /etc/init.d/gpm status
gpm (pid 1824) is running...

# grep gpm /var/log/messages

Code:

May 28 08:50:23 localhost gpm[1825]: *** info [startup.c(95)]:
May 28 08:50:23 localhost gpm[1825]: Started gpm successfully. Entered daemon mode.
May 28 08:52:35 localhost gpm[1823]: *** info [startup.c(95)]:
May 28 08:52:35 localhost gpm[1823]: Started gpm successfully. Entered daemon mode.
...

I'm running a wireless mouse. However selecting function is available on text files, .doc files, other applications, etc.

Quote:

2. Download some of the freely available convertors like ps2html, pdf2html etc. and once material is converted into html you know howto copy/paste into a simple text file.

ps2pdf, pdftohtml are running on this box but without ps2html.

# which ps2pdf
/usr/bin/ps2pdf

# which pdftohtml
/usr/bin/pdftohtml

# which pd2htm
# which pd2html
# which pdtohtml
all no printout

# yum search ps2html
# yum search pstohtml
both no result.

Neither can I find pd2html rpm on Internet with rpmfind.net/rpmphone.net. Please advise where can I have it download

I tested converting .ps file to .pdf then to .html;
.ps file to .pdf successful. files thus converted can be retrieved and read

.pdf to .html failed

$ /usr/bin/pdftohtml meta_metadata.ps

Code:

Error: May not be a PDF file (continuing anyway)
Error (0): PDF file is damaged - attempting to reconstruct xref table...
Error: Couldn't find trailer dictionary
Error: Couldn't read xref table

$ /usr/bin/pdftohtml information\ life\ cycle\ management.ps

Code:

Error: May not be a PDF file (continuing anyway)
Error (0): PDF file is damaged - attempting to reconstruct xref table...
Error: Couldn't find trailer dictionary
Error: Couldn't read xref table

B.R.
satimis

satimis · 06-01-2006, 03:37 AM

Hi nitinatindore

Further to my late posting, it was discovered that .pdf files download on Internet their text can be highlighted and copied/pasted.

All documents on Internet printed as .ps files and/or later converted to .pdf have problem. Disregarding they can be retrieved and read, their text can't be highlighted and copied/pasted. I don't know what mistake committed. Any suggestion?

TIA

B.R.
satimis

nitinatindore · 06-02-2006, 06:13 AM

I havent tried these resources, but it should offer you the desired features. Try the resources listed at:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...ostscript.html
http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/g...onverters.html

btw Acrobat Reader has text copy function enabled on Linux, it works perfectly on my Mandriva, and I can copy and paste the stuff in vi. May be, you should try rpm directly as avaliable on adobe website, in case Fedora guys have changed sumthng in their rpms.

I think you are opening secured pdf documents, whereas copying is not allowed. Try opening a generic pdf like this one http://www.linux-delhi.org/anCMS//da...ps2Samadhi.pdf
and then try copying. Even if the problem presists then try other pdf viewers like xpdf/kpdf/gpdf etc.

And I think dont really on yum totally for downloading the utilites, because all software will be available in source format, and popular ones port their code to rpm/debs etc.