Overlay document printing

[allend66]

So, just a question more out of curiosity than anything, as I don't expect a solution (I know, pessamistic...)

It's time to renew my passport and the application form is a protected pdf (no modification, no comments - only printing).

After wasting a day looking for restriction decryptors, I just went with making a blank document to "double-print" ontop of the application form.

The tree-huggers are going to love this, but after wasting about 20 pages (rotation, page order, orientation etc...) and a lot of time I now have it sorted, but my question is:

Does anyone know of an app to overlay print jobs instead of manually inserting paper back into the printer tray?

I seem to remember back in the day (Win 98) I had a brill little printer app that would resize, multipage print watermark and all sorts, but for the life of me...

Thanks
D

 

[James Colbert]

A different approach might be to obtain a pdf program that creates, edits, etc. (I use Foxit Organizer...immature, but they are constantly working to improve it...and it's inexpensive). In this case (based on the info you provide), I would print the blank form, scan it in as a jpg file, then convert it to pdf, afterwards using the OCR tool to recognize the text for selection or highlighting (if desired).

After that, I would then either use the typewriter tool or, if I planned to use it multiple times over a period of time, create entry fields as layed out on the original form.

James

 

[Dwarf]

A protected PDF means that you can't save a modified copy, only the original. You should be able to fill the form in and then print it out. I had exactly the same problem when I was filling the Probate forms in for my late father-in-law's estate at the beginning of the year.

 

[allend66]

@ James - Yes, I had thought of that. I have pdfNitro freebie. The amount of information I needed to supply wasn't much - a passport renewel so they already know most of my info, plus I have to send in my expiring passport. I thought creating a blank doc would be the easiest/quickest.

@ Dwarf - interesting point. 6 months ago I did the same for my daughter's first passport, and there was no problem, I downloaded the blank form and filled it in with pdfNitro free version - no problem. But this time I couldn't do it (different form). I even emailed the webmaster - no reply. I assumed it was an extra security measure.

@ World - Does anybody know of an app to print various documents or pages on the same sheet of paper?

 

[whs]

Have a look at this: https://www.anzio.com/support/kb/PWwepo_kb/Overlays%20and%20background%20images%20in%20Print%20Wizard.htm

 

[allend66]

Good one, whs, but I couldn't get it to load a pdf then something else. It loves txt files, but...

Already ditched.

 

[whs]

Can you try to convert the .pdf to a .doc, e.g. with Free PDF to Word Doc Converter - easy and powerful pdf converter software. and then go from there.

 

[allend66]

Already tried that - in fact it was my first attempt. www.pdftoword.com - "failed because your file was encrypted".

 

[James Colbert]

I assume you are able to DL the file...have you tried using something like Foxit's free reader? It has a typewriter tool that allows you to click anywhere on a pdf file and add type. And it's free. Might be worth a try:

Foxit Software - Foxit Reader for Windows

James

 

[allend66]

Sorry - didn't download the pdf -to- word doc application because I presumed it wouldn't work after my online attempt.

Yes I d/l'd foxit and no it wouldn't let me type over the original because of "security measures". Although I was using Nitro pdf, but Foxit looks a little better, so at least some good has come out of this!

If there's any software developers reading this - your next brilliant idea: a program to map a document onto another, so making the filling in of form fields easier than printing out both documents, and holding them up to the light!

D