In an initiative to "E-tize" the business, we started off looking for a tool which would convert and store the text based reports, and have them be available for viewing and printing by multiple users. One software package that we started to justify, had a price tag of $15,000 including a new server to run the application.

We discovered txt2pdf from Sanface software, and from the moment that the trial version was installed, we were hooked and sold. Using this tool, we are now converting many of the text reports that are distributed to PDF, and publishing then on our Intranet where they can be accessed by users using the free Adobe Reader. The user can then reap the benefits of PDF, being able to scale the screen image on the screen, search for text, and print a scaled version to their attached PC printer.

One of the biggest uses that we have currently, is the suite of Day End reports that are generated by our Management Information system every night. These are around 6 inches thick each night, and were printed on green bar paper on a high speed line printer. The amount of storage that these reports required deemed that we could only keep a certain amount before the older ones were discarded to reclaim storage space. Now with txt2pdf, we can save electronic versions of the reports indefinitely, as they are of small size, users can view and search the reports from their desk without making a trip to the records storage room, and we have been able to retire the aging high speed line printer and cancel our maintenance contract. Not only a huge cost saving for a tiny investment, but a major change in efficient access and use of the information.

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