Ghostscript And Pdf "stuff" - Revisited ...

WINDOWS 7 PRO 64BIT

One time, before the new look of MG forum, I posted a thread on the safe nature of GhostScript and another PDF thread also. I cannot find those now. I have done a complete new OS install on a new build. Even though I have covered myself this time around with system images I am still in the quest for a good PDF setup that dodges software problems and malware.

Is Ghostscript a threat to system stability? I have been all over the web for the last day. Still I revert back to advice from MG. I am debating on Bullzip for a writer. I don't want anything like PDF Creator that includes Open Candy.

I have decided to stay completely away from Foxit due to reports of all sorts of stuff coming from their programmers.

Additionally, I am seriously considering PdFill Tools and PDF-XChanger to complete my manually assembled suite of PDF printers, readers, mergers, editers, etc.

I do not like doPDF because of manually having to put in the destination directory every single time.

However - still hung on the Reader and Editer issue.

I greatly welcome input.

 

I'm starting to get an inferiority complex. I can't get an answer in the Software Forum or the Malware Forum. Please help me if you desire.

Thanks,
Dekade

 

Thanks for your reply plodr. Yes, I am using doPDF 8 also as a printer. I now have just installed PDF-XChanger Free which is all self contained from the creators. I think it has a printer also. Not sure yet. It is VERY versatile as a reader and annotator. Even has very good operating OCR option. Have been using the annotation features all day today. Really COOL. PDF-XChange does not have Ghostscript. They also have 4 or 5 more additional PDF software's that cost; as well as an upgrade from free to Pro which does also cost.

I also use Adobe Reader but it is on the way out on my systems. I looked at Sumatra the other day. Will revisit it again. Now the only thing that I have to locate is a set of tools that can handle merging and inserting PDF files. That's what prompted this thread in the first place. I had settled in on PDFill and its PDF Tools - UNTIL - I discovered its mandatory requirement of a specific version of Ghostscript. Darn - because that really had a very versatile cool set of features. Will post again when I find the set of tools that DOES NOT contain Ghostscript. Someone else may even beat me to it.

 

Hi plodr, thanks for the extra effort in suggesting an option. After checking it out I felt it didn't really satisfy my needs and wants. Again, though, thanks for the effort to assist. I guess we all have our own tastes.

 

Yes, you are correct. It has only been in the last three months that I have understood (mainly through MG, then following through with web research) that Java is a - not so good thing. I currently have nothing else that has installed Java on my computer. Thus, don't think I want to go there.

plodr, thanks again for your input. Eventually I'm sure you'll run out of ideas but I really appreciate your participation. So many 'additional' facts are learned through the interior guts of posts. That feature alone of MG's makes MG's an all encompassing very worthwhile (probably the best to be found on the web) stop on the road to smooth running and duty purposeful computers.

Dekade

 

No.

Why are you so paranoid about Ghostscript? I have had it on my PC for almost 10 years.
Here's a brief summary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostscript

FYI I use PDF-XChange Viewer and PDFCreator. If you want the latter to install without the crapware, disconnect your modem prior to the installation.

 

For some reason Eldon I got it in my head, (from past experience with Dekade - can you imagine that !?!?), that Ghostscript was a bad thing and a malware entry vein. I read it somewhere on the "all believable" web. However, I have read the wiki article you linked a few times and started rethinking my weak fears. I think I have once again overplayed an issue. However, I do like hearing of your 10 year experience. Gives me confidence. Anyway, I too, came across PDF-XChange Viewer just last week and incorporated it right away. Really pleased with it's clean overall programming, features, and structure.

I know the following doesn't pertain to this particular thread but now I'm in the same quest for knowledge about Java. Now - that one - is supposedly definitely a problem. I have been trying to get a replacement for MS Office 2002 in a Win 7 Pro OS environment. Don't want to operate in Virtual XP. That led to discovery of Open Office and Libre Office both of which run via Java. But, both of those are very comparable in 'all' features of MS Office. Then I started looking at MS Office 2007 since I can still purchase it as opposed to the unavailable purchasing aspect of MS Office 2003. (Trying to save bucks as always). I have been researching MS Office 2007 relative to Java. Appears 2007 has no link to Java. Found good pricing at MyChoiceSoftware.com

In summary, I'm just being a bit of a fanatic on retaining the cleanliness of this new build and fresh OS install.

 

My introduction to computers goes back to 1984 while studying electrical engineering.

Couldn't agree more.
Unfortunately the website is a little misleading.

Most of the features are not available in the free version of the editor. Stay with the viewer while you can.

With regards to your second paragraph...
1. In a nutshell... Java is like Flash Player... there's always some security issue. Avoid it if you can.
2. Start a new thread regarding an Microsoft Office replacement - haven't you already done that? WPS Office?

 

To the best of my knowledge I don't recall starting a thread on a replacement. The only MS Office replacement I had not looked into was your WPS OFFICE suggestion. I just looked at it. I'm considering getting a 3PC license MS Office '2010' 'brand new unopened' on Ebay. If for some weird reason that falls through (ex. not authentic) then I'll return it, or fall back onto ebay protection, and start over with downloading WPS.

Yes it did get a little bit aggravating determining the viability of the free version. But once installed on my PC I was able to work around some things with the luxury of having doPDF to serve the purpose of conquering merging, deleting pages, inserting pages etc., and in turn creating new documents without watermarks. Just had to be on my toes all the time before printing to doPDF.

Java ... avoid ... yep ... am now on my toes about that one. Didn't realize that about Flash Player also. Not much can be done though to avoid FP is there? - As in - replacement alternative.

 

Thanks plodr, Interesting approach on everything ... Something that I think I'll work with to determine my liking.