I was in a predicament.  I needed to email an Adobe PDF file containing sensitive information but had no way of password protecting the data.  To do this I would need a full blown version of Adobe Acrobat, which I didn’t have.  The free and widely used Adobe Reader does not allow users to secure PDF files.  So I went on a search.  There had to be a way and there is!

Follow me!

I was explaining these steps to my wife when I was confronted with the wide-eyed stare often accompanying wild animals at night when they discover oncoming headlights. That’s when I got the idea to formalize these steps using screen shots for those who are visually minded.  Forgive the fact that I am relegated to using Windows 2000, these pics should get you into the ball park.

The first thing you will need to do is open up a new MS Windows document.  Next, click on “insert” from the menu bar and select “Object” from the drop down list. [Below]

An ‘Object’ dialog box will open asking you what you want to insert.  Select Adobe Acrobat Document from the top of the list.  Also check the ‘display as icon‘ box. [See Below]

Click on “OK” and a file browser window will open where you can then navigate to the PDF document you want to insert.  After you have selected your PDF ‘object’ file, you will see the default PDF icon and file name at the top of the Word page.  Now it’s time to Save your new Word Document.

When the “Save As” dialog box opens there will be a drop down list under “Tools” where you will need to choose “Security Options” [See Below]

Another dialog box named “Security” will open and all you have to do is plug in your password for file encryption. [See Below]  After clicking “OK” you will be taken back to the Save As dialog window where you can now create your Word document file name and location.

Now that you have saved your new password protected Word document with the included PDF file, you can attach it to an email and feel confident that prying eyes won’t uncover sensitive data.

You can test this process by emailing yourself the file and making sure the Word Document prompts for a password, followed by double clicking the PDF icon to make sure everything is accessible.

Posted via email from geakz @ posterous

Today's Pet Peeve:

I just realized how much I dislike when people use logo's in their email signature lines.  Anytime they email me a message in Microsoft Outlook, I see a little paper clip icon next to their name.  This little paperclip is what alerts me to a file attachment.  When I go to clear my In Box I usually take a second look at any messages containing attachments to ensure I have saved those files before deleting the email.  I have a vendor who uses a .bmp of their company logo in the signature line and because of this, Outlook marks the message as having an attachment – even though there is no file.

Bah!  If you are guilty of this, stop and desist!  I don't need a graphical representation of your company logo to know who you work for.

Posted via email from geakz @ posterous

Please recite the following 3 phrases repeating each one at least three times in a row.  Practice them daily to do your part in combating the spread of the H1N1 virus.

1) The C.D.C. says sneeze into your sleeve.
2) Happen to have a hankerin’ to have hands handle handles?
3) Remember to religiously rub wrists referencing rigorous rinsing.

Stay healthy this flu season!

Posted via email from geakz @ posterous

You hurt your hand playing soccer? That’s like pulling your hamstring playing chess.

When my wife asked my 4 year old son this morning “What is dad
doing?”, he promptly answered, “He’s ironing his shirt to get the
sprinkles out.”

Posted via email from Geakz @ Posterous

I may be coming late to this party and I might not even stay long, but I just purchased my first Moleskine notebook.  Like many before me, I was pronouncing it 'mol-skin'.  Then I said to thyself, "Self, why dost thou ignore the fact that thyne word endith in an 'e'?  Should not this maketh the vowel long, as in 'eye'?"
 
Mol-skinny?
Mol-Sky-n?

Well I pointed my Shakespearean speaking arse at Google and typed in "define:moleskine".  Man, was I way off base. Turns out it's an Italian word which loosely translated means, "cheap dollar store notebooks are beneath me."  The correct pronunciation is: mol-a-SKEEN-a.  You need to say it like your saying 'Spaghetti-an-ah-MEAT-balls'.  Kind of sing-songy like.

So please, if you are one of the throngs that has been saying mol-skin, stop it now.  That includes you, lady at the bookstore, who I called the other day and who completely ignored my correct pronunciation.  You knew what I was referring to but you didn't ask me why I said it differently, or question the fact that maybe YOU were saying it incorrectly.  You just went right on saying mol-skin all matter-of-factly like.

You say toe-may-toe, I say toe-mah-toe.

Posted via email from Geakz @ Posterous