#PDF file conversion to other formats

[prokopetz]

Hi, Mr Prokopetz, I'm a big fan. Apologies if you've answered this before, but I was wondering what software you use to create the pdf and epub layouts of your ttrpgs, and whether you'd recommend it to a hobbyist who wants to try putting together something more professional than a gdoc for their own ttrpg?

My workflow is unfortunately not terribly accessible unless you have a fair amount of technical know-how.

In brief, I write all of my games in Notepad++ as HTML documents, taking care to use only the subset of HTML5 tags which are supported by most popular EPUB readers. I then use Calibre (or, more, precisely, the command-line utility that comes with Calibre, though you can get mostly the same results via the GUI) to bundle the HTML document as an EPUB3 file. I typically distribute both the HTML and EPUB versions (the former in a zipfile with all of the fonts and images and such) because web browsers tend to have much better screen-reader support than EPUB apps do.

The PDF, meanwhile, is generated from the same master HTML document using CSS paged media extensions – the layout is all generated automatically based on rules specified in a big, gnarly CSS file, and is never touched by human hands. There are a number of software packages which can do this sort of CSS-driven HTML-to-PDF conversion, some of them free or open source; I use a commercial product called Prince because, to the best of my knowledge, it's the only such software which has out-of-the-box support for PDF/UA semantic tagging (i.e., the stuff you need to do in order to make your PDFs screen-reader friendly), but you have more options if you're willing to tag your PDFs manually. (I am not.)

As for whether I'd recommend doing it this way? Like I said, unless you're a proper gearhead, not really; it's super efficient once you get it all set up – the only version of the game I actually maintain is the master HTML document, and generating updated versions of all the other formats is a one-click affair – but it's really only feasible for me because I already knew how to all that workflow automation stuff for unrelated reasons. I can't imagine teaching yourself all that from scratch just to write elfgames!

[talenlee]

Dev Pile 2025-06 — Starter Kit

Making dev piles is a new experience for the blog in that they are explicitly deliberately timely. Where most of the work on this blog is thrown weeks, sometimes months in advance if it doesn’t fit neatly in a single spot, I am trying to make sure I write any given Dev Pile article covering the ‘week before’ the article goes up. This is a new kind of work for me, and it’s necessitated working ahead.

The week this article is being ‘written in’ is the week after Cancon. I had a plan for this week: I was going to spend the week writing an article developing the game dev I did, at cancon, in the dull periods at the table between the sales. Thing is, this year, that did not happen – Cancon was pretty much completely constant, so much so that the first day I didn’t even notice I never pulled out my notebook and what notes did get taken during the whole event were surface, or sketching out some minor ideas.

Therefore instead of a single intense focus here, this is going to be something of a hello and hey, here’s how to get started article about game making, tools, and prototyping.

Who Can Make Games?

You can make games. I can make games. Anyone who wants to can make games. The access you have to industrial scale production equipment to make the game you’re designing into something that looks like conventional product is a little more attainable than you may think, thanks to modern tools.

The core of you making games is this: Can you explain a set of rules to another player that let them understand how to play the game?

Great, then you’ve made a game. The next step is working out how to make that game the kind of game you want it to be. And to paraphrase what Adam Savage once said, the difference between doing game development and screwing around is just writing things down.

Tools

First things first, if you have a tool you like for any of the stated purposes, then you should use the tool you like. The tools I describe here should all be free, but that can make them less convenient in ways you may not like.

To write rulebooks, I use LibreOffice. This is a text editor in the same vein as Pages and Word, and much like Google Docs. We’ve pretty much solved ‘writing in a document for a computer user to read’ as a format, and that format has been kinda the same for thirty years. Notably, a formal editor like this lets you do tables and give texts formatting entries like heading styles, which means you don’t have to work to translate that stuff to a website like a wordpress content management system. Under the hood, these two things know how to talk to one another.

Notepad is a valuable tool as well for when you need ‘scrap’ text – no formatting, just some numbers or the like, but literally anything will do here.

Almost inevitably any given game design I have will need a spreadsheet. Sometimes a spreadsheet lets me present a skeleton of a game, with say, a sheet of 52 entries that just indicate the information on a card’s face. That means I use LibreCalc, but I only started using that seven months ago, when I learned about the IFS function. The version of Excel I was using from 2007 didn’t have this ‘new’ functionality, and I found that very useful. You may ask: How often do you need ‘IFS’ in game development and the answer is never. There are definitely thihngs I can use spreadsheets for, but these functions are not super necessary.

To do visual editing I use GIMP, pronounced ‘noo-imp,’ because gimp is a silly word to use in everyday conversation and it has worn its welcome out in my tongue. GIMP is a program that takes some getting used to, but the heart of what it is is a powerful photoshop-level program that puts almost everything it has directly under your control, including warp tools, healing tools, stamp tools and other simple filters. I will usually use GIMP to generate a template file or example for how a card should look, and then, when I want to put those cards into a file to make a pdf for printing, I turn to…

Scribus! Scribus is my layout and DTP program that I avoid using in every situation I can. I dislike Scribus interface a lot, and as a result, I route around it – I try to make sure that if I’m doing something in a design that Scribus ‘could’ do, I will ensure that Scribus is the only thing that can do it, and if something else can do it, I’ll do it that way. This is a combination of familiarity and convenience: Scribus is by no means a bad program, I’m sure, but I don’t like using it and it feels very easy to break things, which means when I do use it, I’m probably using it ‘wrong,’ and a Scribus expert would want to correct my technique.

For making simple slideshow videos, where I just show a thing, talk about it, and move on, I use the program OBS, which you can use for rules tutorials or explainers. OBS has its own ability to do slides – which you can make in a slideshow program like Google Slides or powerpoint or Prezi if you like – and then you talk over it, advancing the slides in OBS. It’s a very powerful, very flexible tool, but I can understand if it’s a bit overwhelming to start with.

If you want to record audio for your game, which is a cool thing to do, I use Audacity. It’s a simple audio program if you’re just using it for its basic functions, but it can be great if (for example) you want to record audio diaries of your creation process.

Also, mixed in with this is, cardboard, paper, scissors and glue. Playing cards need a standardised form so you can make a ‘blank’ deck of cards by taking an ordinary deck of cards and putting large, white, laundry stickers on each face, ‘wiping’ it so you can write what you want on the face.

Art Though?

I use free art where I can. There’s a lot of art assets, paid and free over on itch.io, which you can definitely use to make your game work look more interesting than base. And of course…

Bandaid tearing off time,

There are free image generators that you can use if you are comfortable with that. My advice is that you should only ever use generators for ‘zero value’ forms of media; that is, nothing you intend to sell and nothing you intend to use as identifying for yourself; don’t use a generator for a logo for your identity or brand, for example, because that’s uncopyrightable and then someone can just copy it. Even if they don’t, the fact they can undermines the copyright value of designing your own logo and title.

But yeah, image generators are available online. When I need an image for an example, the one I recommend using is dezgo, because it doesn’t require a login, doesn’t require you to pay money, and all it asks of you is time to let it finish working. You’re not going to get timely bulk media out of it, but that means, in my mind, that any artwork it generates is going to be worth scrutinising and editing to make it more appropriate to your needs. This is part of a greater conversation, but for now, the important thing is that if you’re going to use generative tools you need to make sure you recognise what they’re bad at and what they’re bad for.

Getting Started?

Alright, you have some tools to make what you have in mind more possible. What I recommend you do, and I will delve more into this later in the week, is make a prototype, and then, once you have the prototype, look at it seriously.

You���re going to have to get your head around the question what do I like without asking the followup question why at first. What is it about your prototype that satisfies you? What would you change if you could? Why isn’t it satisfying to you, what about it makes you concerned. Are there things you haven’t thought about because of biases you have? Is it a game you can’t play with one hand?

The point is the prototype marks the point you start finding out. You don’t need a perfect game to prototype – indeed, I have a lot of very ugly games as prototypes and I think those ugly prototypes work really well as a place to start working out what to do next.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[in-case-of-grace]

ONESIX HYPERFIX(ED)

A free 2+ player hyperfixating TTRPG I made, and goofed up, now fixed!

You are having a normal, mundane conversation together— which is exactly the problem, it isn’t about your hyperfixation!

You can get the PDF version on the itch page (and donate if you're so inclined), or download the image version below!

Now the elephant in the room, how did I goof up? So, you'll notice how the above image is kinda split into two halves. That top half was the original game.

I uh...accidentally opened my half letter format in Publisher when I first made ONESIX HYPERFIX. So it wasn't great for printing as a single pager, like at all.

I had also upped my layout game for it, and I couldn't simple scale it up to fit a full letter!

So, I made the layout vertical, and added a second "page" full of optional frame and hyperfixation tables. Not only does this mean you can uh...actually print the thing now, it should also help you enjoy ONESIX HYPERFIX for longer, and enable you to have more fun with it!

I also took the opportunity to clean up some minor design flaws that had been bothering me for a bit, and made all the tables have rounded corners (as I finally figured how to do so)!

The original half letter format is still included as optional files, for those with sharp objects and a dream.

I won't repeat this mistake in the future, and I apologize to my A4-using friends for the close margins here, unfortunately that couldn't be resolved easily. My other single pagers are properly formatted for both letter and A4 paper, as will my future games!

[pookie-mulder]

Converting plain text fics to .epub

Hey guys! As I’ve entered the wonderful world of The X-Files fandom, I’ve encountered many wonderful old-school fics that are hard to read because they’ve been shared in plain text (.txt) format. I’m sure some of you know already how to convert them to easily-readable epubs, but I thought I’d share how I do it just in case anyone has been suffering through terrible formatting.

Basic tutorial under the cut!

The first thing you need to do is download Calibre. It’s a life-changing desktop app that allows you to edit ebooks.

Once you’ve got Calibre all set up, go ahead and download the fic you want to convert. I’ll show you here with the legendary Tempest, found on Gossamer.

Gossamer has a handy download button, but not all of the old-school fanfic sites do. However, you can still download them as txt files using your browser. It’s different for every browser, but generally it’s under “file” and “export as” or “download page” or something.

Anyway, as you can see, once you download it as a .txt file, it messes up the formatting, making it incredibly annoying to read.

To fix this, you’re going to drag and drop the file into Calibre to add it to your library. Select it, then click “Convert books” at the top. There are a lot of settings you can change, but most of the time, you won’t need to mess with any of them. Just choose “epub” as your output format (top right), click OK, and you’re good!

(This process also works for other file formats like pdfs.)

Once it’s done converting, double click on the title to preview the book and make sure it looks good. If it still has issues, you can try converting it again with heuristic processing turned on (it’s located on the left side of the conversion screen). The conversion process isn’t perfect, but it will take care of the most egregious formatting errors.

Next, click on “edit metadata” at the top and locate the original txt file under the list of formats at the top right. Select it, then click the little green recycling icon to delete it. You can also change the title, author, cover, and series info while you’re at it.

Finally, go back to your library, click “save to disk” at the top, and choose “save only epub format to a single folder” to save the epub file to your computer. From there, you can import it into your ebook app of choice. I use iBooks, so all I have to do is open the file on my computer and it automatically adds it to the library on my phone and laptop.

That’s it! Now you have a readable ebook.

Let me know if you want me to add pictures of the process! I can’t guarantee I know the answers to any questions, but I’d be happy to try to help if you need it.

There’s also a Calibre plugin that allows you to combine multiple epubs into a single file. This is super helpful for fics with chapters uploaded separately. If anyone wants to know how to do that, let me know!

[helloarchivist]

there is a lot of really bad stuff and a lot of really weird stuff to think about in regards to the tiktok ban being upheld, and they're all worthwhile conversations to have, but there is also a small part of my brain that is like. going to find it really genuinely interesting to watch people who have become fluent in the rules of that particular app's algorithm like. learn how to talk again.

it genuinely feels like an emergent subdialect, the way people kind of fluidly and flawlessly self-censor in that format. usually if you're gonna say one word when you mean another, there's a pause, or a little wink and a nod, or a moment of looking sheepish as you say the word you know isn't correct, but a LOT of the people who regularly contribute to the creative/conversational space there don't do any of those things anymore. they say grape and pdf-file and unalived schmuishide and all of these silly, obnoxious self-censorship words because, for the most part, they learned that using actual serious terminology there would, at best, make it impossible to get their videos seen, and at worse get them suspended or banned.

and now all that conditioning is going to be made quickly obsolete, and they're going to be released back into creator spaces that, while still subject to their own algorithmic--or social--restrictions, are nothing like tiktok's reliance on babytalk and suggestive misspeak.

much like any other thing you started saying or doing ironically only to eventually back yourself into dialect acquisition, I think it's going to be hard for folks, to kind of break their mouths out of the bindings of tiktok's version of simlish.

[zytes]

Question from someone just starting with creating and then posting art to Tumblr, do you think I should be watermarking my pieces?

I’ve always disliked watermarks as they naturally tend to dissuade people from interacting with art in a natural manner; it depends very heavily on the size and placement of the mark, obviously. BUT, often times an artist will overzealously obscure their work with identification and it has a somewhat repulsive effect on the average viewer - a wall has been erected between the viewer and the art, in a sense. Watermarks, to me, exist to prevent very specific situations from unfolding with your work - almost all of those reasons seem to be financially motivated, like preventing strangers from printing your art out at home or reposting without attribution. Situations that could affect your ability to profit off of your work.

Admittedly, much of my perception about this issue was inspired by an article included in the book “Context” by Cory Doctorow, wherein he writes about how he’s benefitted from “thinking like a dandelion”, which is an idea that was inspired by conversation the author had with Neil Gaiman — I’ll try and summarize the parts of the point that are more relevant to visual arts; since portions of the allegory refer more specifically to certain qualities of written media.

He begins with, “Mammals worry about what happens to each and every one of their offspring, but dandelions only care that every crack in every sidewalk has dandelions growing out of it. The former is a good strategy for situations in which reproduction is expensive, but the latter works best when reproduction is practically free — as on the Internet.”

So how do you “think like a dandelion” then?

“Your work needs to be easily copied, to anywhere whence it might find its way into the right hands. That means that the nimble text-file, HTML file, and PDF (the preferred triumvirate of formats) should be distributed without formality — no logins, no e-mail address collections, and with a license that allows your fans to reproduce the work on their own in order to share it with more potential fans. Remember, copying is a cost-center — insisting that all copies must be downloaded from your site and only your site is insisting that you — and only you — will bear the cost of making those copies. Sure, having a single, central repository for your works makes it easier to count copies and figure out where they’re going, but remember: dandelions don’t keep track of their seeds. Once you get past the vanity of knowing exactly how many copies have been made, and find the zen of knowing that the copying will take care of itself, you’ll attain dandelionesque contentment.”

The rest of the allegory more specifically applies to written work, but I’ll link it here for the sake of posterity. Essentially: every wall or pre-requisite that you establish before allowing a fresh set of eyes to fall upon your work actually may deter people from engaging with the work and sharing it with others. Signatures, subtle watermarks that are “baked” into the work, or maybe like.. a well-placed QR code that links people back to you — all of those would be my suggestion for someone who wants to leave a lasting, linking thread between a given work and it’s artist. If the right person sees your art and connects with it, there SHOULD be a way for them to follow that thread back to you and discover more; but if you over-prioritize demonstrating ownership over your work, you’re likely to drive those coveted genuine connections away.

On the other hand, if your primary goal is to sell prints or other products, brazenly watermarking your work will protect your bottom line from the kind of low-level art-scraping that drives all those shady redbubble shops and etsy stores that sell stolen works on cheap t-shirts and hankies. For me, art is a primarily social interest in which I prioritize the sharing of culture and ideas. I don’t want financial factors to take precedence and alter how/why I created something; it feels like I’d have to take much of myself out of my art in order to make it palatable for consumer spaces.

You should determine your priorities and then strive to make art that fulfills those priorities without compromise. I think you’ll find that self-satisfaction manifests readily at different points in the midst of that process.

[moonlit-tulip]

What's your favorite ebook-compatible reading software? Firefox EPUBReader isn't great, but I'm not what, if anything, works better.

Very short answer: for EPUBs, on Windows I use and recommend the Calibre reader, and on iOS I use Marvin but it's dying and no longer downloadable so my fallback recommendation is the native Apple Books app; for PDFs, on Windows I use Sumatra, and on iOS I use GoodReader; for CBZs, I use CDisplayEx on Windows and YACReader on iOS; and I don't use other platforms very often, so I can't speak as authoritatively about those, although Calibre's reader is cross-platform for Windows/Mac/Linux, and YACReader for Windows/Mac/Linux/iOS/Android, so they can serve as at least a minimum baseline of quality against which alternatives can be compared for those platforms.

Longer answer:

First off, I will say: yeah, Firefox EPUBReader isn't great. Neither, really, are most ebook readers. I have yet to find a single one that I'm fully satisfied with. I have an in-progress project to make one that I'm fully satisfied with, but it's been slow, probably isn't going to hit 1.0.0 release before next year at current rates, and isn't going to be actually definitively the best reader on the market for probably months or years post-release even assuming I succeed in my plans to keep up its development. So, for now, selection-of-ebook-readers tends to be very much a matter of choosing the best among a variety of imperfect options.

Formats-wise, there are a lot of ebook formats, but I'm going to collapse my answers down to focusing on just three, for simplicity. Namely: EPUB, PDF, and CBZ.

EPUB is the best representative of the general "reflowable-text ebook designed to display well on a wide variety of screens" genre. Other formats of similar nature exist—Kindle's MOBI and AZW3 formats, for instance (the latter of which is, in essence, just an EPUB in a proprietary Amazon wrapper)—but conversion between formats-in-this-broad-genre is generally pretty easy and not excessively lossy, so you're generally safe to convert to EPUB as needed if you've got different formats-in-this-genre and a reader that doesn't support those formats directly. (And it's rare for a program made by anyone other than Amazon to work for non-EPUB formats-in-this-genre and not for EPUBs.)

PDF is a pretty unique / distinctive format without any widely-used alternatives I'm aware of, unless you count AZW4 (which is a PDF in a proprietary Amazon wrapper). It's the best format I'm aware of for representations of books with rigid non-reflowable text-formatting, as with e.g. TTRPG rulebooks which do complicated things with their art-inserts and sidebars.

And CBZ serves here as a stand-in for the general category of "bunch of images in an archive file of some sort, ordered by filename", which is a common format for comics. CBZ is zip-based, CBR is RAR-based, CB7 is 7-zip-based, et cetera; but they're easy to convert between one another just by extracting one and then re-archiving it in one's preferred format, and CBZ is the most commonly distributed and the most commonly supported by readers, so it's the one I'm going to focus on.

With those prefaces out of the way, here are my comprehensive answers by (platform, format) pair:

Browser, EPUB

I'm unaware of any good currently-available browser-based readers for any of the big ebook formats. I've tried out EPUBReader for Firefox, as well as some other smaller Firefox-based reader extensions, and none of them have impressed me. I haven't tested any Chrome-based readers particularly extensively, but based on some superficial testing I don't have the sense that options are particularly great there either.

This state of affairs feels intuitively wrong to me. The browser is, in a significant sense, the natural home for EPUB-like reflowable-text ebooks, to a greater degree than it's the natural home for a great many of the other things people manage to warp it into being used for; after all, EPUBs are underlyingly made of HTML-file-trees. My own reader-in-progress will be browser-based. But nonetheless, for now, my advice for browser-based readers boils down to "don't use them unless you really need to".

If you do have to use one, EPUBReader is the best extension-based one I've encountered. I have yet to find a good non-extension-based website-based one, but am currently actively in the market for such a thing for slightly-high-context reasons I'll put in the tags.

Browser, PDF

Firefox and Chrome both have built-in PDF readers which are, like, basically functional and fine, even if not actively notably-good. I'm unaware of any browser-based PDF-reading options better than those two.

Browser, CBZ

If there exist any good options here, I'm not aware of them.

Windows, EPUB

Calibre's reader is, unfortunately, the best on the market right now. It doesn't have a very good scrolled display mode, which is a mark against it by my standards, and it's a bit slow to open books and has a general sense of background-clunkiness to its UI, but in terms of the quality with which it displays its content in paginated mode—including relatively-uncommon sorts of content that most readers get wrong, like vertical text—it's pretty unparalleled, and moreover it's got a generally wider range of features and UI-customization options than most readers offer. So overall it's my top recommendation on most axes, despite my issues with it.

There's also Sigil. I very emphatically don't actually recommend Sigil as a reader for most purposes—it's marketed as an EPUB editor, lacks various features one would want in a reader, and has a much higher-clutter UI than one would generally want in a reader—but its preview pane's display engine is even more powerful than Calibre's for certain purposes—it can successfully handle EPUBs which contain video content, for instance, which Calibre falls down on—so it can be a useful backup to have on hand for cases where Calibre's display-capabilities break down.

Windows, PDF

I use SumatraPDF and think it's pretty good. It's very much built for reading, rather than editing / formfilling / etc.; it's fast-to-launch, fast-to-load-pages, not too hard to configure to look nice on most PDFs, and generally lightweight in its UI.

When I need to do fancier things, I fall back on Adobe Reader, which is much more clunky on pretty much every axis for purposes of reading but which supports form-filling and suchlike pretty comprehensively.

(But I haven't explored this field in huge amounts of depth; plausibly there exist better options that I'm unaware of, particularly on the Adobe-reader-ish side of things. (I'd be a bit more surprised if there were something better than SumatraPDF within its niche, for Windows, and very interested in hearing about any such thing if it does exist.))

Windows, CBZ

My usual CBZ-reader for day-to-day use—which I also use for PDF-based comics, since it has various features which are better than SumatraPDF for the comic-reading use case in particular—is an ancient one called CDisplayEx which, despite its age, still manages to be a solid contender for best in its field; it's reasonably performant, it has most of the features I need (good handling of spreads, a toggle for left-to-right versus right-to-left reading, a good set of options for setting how the pages are fit into the monitor, the ability to force it forward by just one page when it's otherwise in two-page mode, et cetera), and in general it's a solid functional bit of software, at least by the standards of its field.

The reason I describe CDisplayEx as only "a solid contender for" best in its field, though, is: recently I had cause to try out YACReader, a reader I tried years ago on Windows and dismissed at the time, on Linux; and it was actually really good, like basically as good as CDisplayEx is on Windows. I haven't tried the more recent versions of YACReader on Windows directly, yet; but it seems pretty plausible that my issues with the older version are now resolved, that the modern Windows version is comparable to the Linux version, and therefore that it's on basically the same level as CDisplayEx quality-wise.

Mac, EPUB/PDF/CBZ

I don't use Mac often enough to have opinions here beyond "start with whatever cross-platform thing is good elsewhere, as a baseline, and go on from there". Don't settle for any EPUB reader on Mac worse than the Calibre one, since Calibre works on Mac. (I've heard vague good things about Apple's native one; maybe it's actually a viable option?) Don't settle for any CBZ reader on Mac worse than YACReader, since YACReader works on Mac. Et cetera. (For PDFs I don't have any advice on what to use even as baseline, unfortunately; for whatever reason, PDF readers, or at least the better ones, seem to tend not to be natively cross-platform.)

Linux, EPUB

For the most part, my advice is the same as Windows: just go with the Calibre reader (and maybe use Sigil as a backup for edge cases). However, if you, like me, prefer scrolled EPUB-reading over paginated EPUB-reading, I'd also suggest checking out Foliate; while it's less powerful than the Calibre reader overall, with fewer features and more propensity towards breaking in edge cases, it's basically functional for normal books lacking unusual/tricky formatting, and, unlike Calibre, it has an actually-good scrolled display mode.

Linux, PDF

I have yet to find any options I'm fully satisfied with here, for the "fast launch and fast rendering and functional lightweight UI" niche that I use SumatraPDF for on Windows. Among the less-good-but-still-functional options I've tried out: SumatraPDF launched via Wine takes a while to start up, but once launched it has the usual nice SumatraPDF featureset. Zathura with the MuPDF backend is very pleasantly-fast, but has a somewhat-unintuitive keyboard-centric control scheme and is hard to configure. And qpdfview offers a nice general-purpose PDF-reading UI, including being quick to launch, but its rendering backend is slower than either Sumatra's or Zathura's so it's less good for paging quickly through large/heavy PDFs.

Linux, CBZ

YACReader, as mentioned previously in the Windows section, is pretty definitively the best option I've found here, and its Linux version is a solid ~equal to CDisplayEx's Windows version. Like CDisplayEx, it's also better than more traditional PDF readers for reading PDF-based comics.

iOS/iPadOS, EPUB

My current main reading app is Marvin. However, it hasn't been updated in years, and is no longer available on the app store, so I'm currently in the process of getting ready to migrate elsewhere in anticipation of Marvin's likely permanent breakage some time in the next few years. Thus I will omit detailed discussion of Marvin and instead discuss the various other at-least-vaguely-comparably-good options on the market.

For general-purpose reading, including scrolled reading if that's your thing, Apple's first-party Books app turns out to be surprisingly good. It's not the best in terms of customization of display-style, but it's basically solidly functional, moreso than the vast majority of the apps on the market.

For reading of books with vertical text in particular, meanwhile, I use Yomu, which is literally the only reader I've encountered to date on any platform which has what I'd consider to be a sensible and high-quality way of handling scrolled reading of vertical-text-containing books. While I don't recommend it for more general purposes, due to awkward handling of EPUBs' tables of contents (namely, kind of ignoring them and doing its own alternate table-of-contents thing it thinks is better), it is extremely good for that particular niche, as well as being more generally solid-aside-from-the-TOC-thing.

iOS/iPadOS, PDF

I use GoodReader. I don't know if it's the best in the market, but it's very solidly good enough for everything I've tried to do with it thus far. It's fast; its UI is good at getting out of my way, while still packing in all the features I want as options when I go looking for them (most frequently switching between two-page-with-front-cover and two-page-without-front-cover display for a given book); also in theory it has a bunch of fancy PDF-editing features for good measure, although in practice I never use those and can't comment on their quality. But, as a reader, it's very solidly good enough for me, and I wish I could get a reader like it for desktop.

iOS/iPadOS, CBZ

YACReader has an iOS version; following the death of my former favorite comic reader for iOS (ComicRack), it's very solidly the best option I'm aware of on the market. (And honestly would be pretty competitive even if ComicRack were still around.) I recommend it here as I do on Linux.

Android, EPUB/PDF/CBZ

It's been years since I've had an Android device, and accordingly have very little substantial advice here. (I'm expecting to move back to Android for my next phone-and-maybe-also-tablet, out of general preferring-open-hardware-and-software-when-practical feelings, but it'll plausibly be a while, because Apple is much better at long-lasting hardware and software than any Android manufacturers I'm aware of.) For EPUB, I recall Moon+ reader was the best option I could find back circa 2015ish, but that's long enough ago that plausibly things have changed substantially at this point. For CBZ, both YACReader and CDisplayEx have Android versions, although I haven't tried either and so can't comment on their quality. For PDF, you're on your own; I have no memories or insights there.

Conclusion

...and that's it. If there are other major platforms on which ebook-reader software can be chosen, I'm failing to think of them currently, and this is what I've got for all platforms I have managed to think of.

In the future... well, I hope my own reader-in-development (slated for 1.0.0 release as a Firefox extension with only EPUB support, with ambitions of eventually expanding to cover other platforms and other formats) will one day join this recommendation-pile, but it's currently not yet in anything resembling a recommendable form. And I hope that there are lots of good reader-development projects in progress that I currently don't know about; but, if there are, I currently don't know about them.

So, overall, this is all I've got! I hope it's helpful.

[usnewss18]

TheToolx.com: Simplify Your Everyday Tasks with Free and Powerful Online Tools...

In today's rapidly evolving digital age, efficiency and convenience are paramount. Whether you're a professional working on time-sensitive projects or someone managing daily tasks, having quick access to reliable online tools can significantly improve your productivity. TheToolx.com is here to meet these needs, offering a diverse array of essential tools that can simplify many of your everyday tasks. From file conversion to image editing and much more, this platform serves as a one-stop solution for individuals, businesses, and digital enthusiasts.

Details:

Domain Registered: September 2024

Based in: India                

Available in: 7 Languages          

Site Type:  Private               

Founder: Nilesh Kumar  

Industry:  Software        

URL: www.themoviesz.com

What is TheToolx.com?

TheToolx.com is an innovative website that provides a collection of free and easy-to-use tools for various purposes. The platform aims to cater to users from different backgrounds by offering solutions for their everyday needs. Whether you’re calculating numbers, removing image backgrounds, or checking your internet speed, TheToolx.com ensures you get accurate results in seconds.

The site is user-friendly, requiring no sign-ups or lengthy downloads. Just visit, choose the tool you need, and start using it instantly. It’s that simple!

A Wide Range of Tools for Every Need

One of the standout features of TheToolx.com is its extensive selection of tools that cater to diverse needs. The platform covers several categories, making it useful for a variety of tasks. Some of the most popular tools on the site include:

Image Background Remover: Whether you're designing marketing materials or editing photos for social media, this tool allows you to remove the background of any image in seconds. It’s especially handy for e-commerce businesses, graphic designers, and anyone working with images regularly.

Video Downloader: With this tool, users can easily download videos from various websites. It’s perfect for those who want to save videos for offline viewing or use in projects without dealing with complicated software.

File Converter: TheToolx.com provides a fast and efficient file conversion tool that allows users to convert documents, images, videos, and audio files into multiple formats. Whether you need to change a PDF into Word format or a video file into MP4, this tool can handle it all.

Internet Speed Checker: A slow internet connection can be frustrating. The internet speed checker tool quickly measures your download and upload speeds, helping you diagnose network issues or ensure you’re getting the internet speed you’re paying for.

Calculator: For anyone in need of quick math, this online calculator is simple and effective. It’s perfect for solving basic arithmetic problems or performing more complex calculations.

These are just a few examples of the tools available at TheToolx.com, but the platform continues to expand its offerings to cater to a wider audience. Each tool is designed to provide fast and reliable results, making it easier for users to complete tasks in less time.

Who Can Use TheToolx.com?

TheToolx.com caters to a diverse audience, including:

Students: For solving math problems, researching, or editing images.

Professionals: For handling tasks like document editing or managing online projects.

Content Creators: For downloading videos, removing image backgrounds, and more.

Everyday Users: For anyone needing quick solutions to routine tasks.

User-Friendly Experience

One of the main reasons TheToolx.com has garnered such a strong following is its ease of use. The platform is designed with the user in mind, ensuring that even those with limited technical knowledge can navigate it with ease. Each tool is clearly labeled, and instructions are concise and easy to follow. Whether you’re converting files, editing images, or performing any other task, you can get started quickly without any complex setup or learning curve.

Why Choose TheToolx.com?

Free and Accessible: Unlike many other online tools that require a subscription or offer limited free features, TheToolx.com is entirely free to use. There are no hidden fees or premium memberships—just reliable tools available to everyone.

No Downloads or Installations: Because TheToolx.com is a web-based platform, there’s no need to download or install any software on your device. This saves valuable time and ensures your device’s storage isn’t cluttered with unnecessary files.

Regular Updates: The platform is constantly evolving, with new tools and features being added regularly. This means that users can always count on having access to the latest and most effective online tools.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Whether you're using a PC, Mac, or mobile device, TheToolx.com works seamlessly across all platforms. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for people on the go who need to get things done from any device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TheToolx.com is an essential resource for anyone looking for efficient and user-friendly online tools. With its wide variety of free tools, intuitive interface, and commitment to keeping things simple, it has become a go-to platform for people worldwide. Whether you're a student, professional, or business owner, TheToolx.com offers something for everyone. It’s the ultimate solution for simplifying your digital tasks and boosting productivity, all at no cost and with no hassle. Try it today, and discover how it can streamline your work and save you valuable time.

[deafauthor]

Hello writers,

Besides Audible and Audiobooks, have you had your books converted to speech/voice? If so, what company did you use?

If not, have you thought about using AI text-to-speech software over using a live narrator? How does one turn the audio file into an audiobook and release it to the wild?

-- So, with that in mind, I asked Co-Pilot this same questions - here's what it said: "Converting Books to Audiobooks Using AI Text-to-Speech Software" There are several tools and platforms that allow you to convert your books or other written content into audiobooks using AI-driven text-to-speech technology. Here are some options:

1) Narakeet: Narakeet offers an online service that can transform your Word documents, EPUB files, or PDFs into audio recordings using lifelike text-to-speech voice generators. You can choose from a variety of voices in over 100 languages. Simply upload your book chapters, select a voice, and let Narakeet generate the audio for you. You’ll receive an MP3, WAV, or M4A file. This is a great option if you want a quick and efficient way to create audiobooks without hiring voice artists.

2. TTSReader: TTSReader allows you to upload EPUB files and converts them into spoken audio. It’s particularly useful for turning ebooks into audiobooks. You can find thousands of free EPUB books on sites like Project Gutenberg. After conversion, you’ll have an MP3 or WAV file ready for distribution.

3) Speechki: Speechki is an AI audiobook generator with a wide range of voices available in over 80 languages. It provides realistic text-to-speech voiceovers and can transform any text into high-quality audio content. You can use it to create audiobooks, podcasts, and more.

4) http://VEED.IO: http://VEED.IO offers an audiobook maker that uses AI text-to-speech technology. Select a suitable voice, paste your text, and let the AI read it aloud. It’s perfect for self-published authors.

"How to Release Your Audiobook" Once you’ve created your audiobook, the next step is to release it to the world. Here’s a brief guide:

1) Editing and Quality Assurance: Make sure your audio is error-free. Listen carefully for glitches, background noise, or any issues. Correct any mistakes and ensure the overall quality meets professional standards.

2) Choose a Distribution Platform: Platforms like Audible, ACX (Amazon’s audiobook platform), and Findaway Voices allow you to distribute your audiobook. Research their requirements, terms, and royalty rates. Choose the one that aligns with your goals.

3) Format Your Files: Most platforms accept specific audio formats (usually MP3 or WAV). Make sure your audiobook files meet their technical specifications.

4) Upload and Publish: Follow the platform’s instructions to upload your audiobook. Provide metadata (title, author, description, cover art) and set your pricing.

5) Promote Your Audiobook: Leverage your existing fan base, social media, and email newsletters to spread the word. Consider running promotions or offering free review copies to gain initial traction.

6) Monitor Sales and Reviews: Keep an eye on sales and reviews. Engage with listeners and gather feedback. -- https://ttsreader.com/ https://speechki.org/ https://www.veed.io/ https://www.narakeet.com/ https://murf.ai/ https://elevenlabs.io/ https://speechify.com/

-- And I also checked out with Reddit here: https://www.reddit.com/r/audiobooks/comments/168y02a/best_programwebsite_for_texttospeech_audiobook/

Feedbacks are appreciated

[petrichor-musings]

Had to do this in pdf format because I couldn't figure out how to preserve the special formatting with tumblr or AO3. There's probably a way to do this with a work skin, but we're bad at those. Hopefully the link works. Enjoy!!

-Emi

(plaintext below cut)

The parents were despondent when you told them their son had magical proclivities. For years, they'd hoped the strange incidences in & around their house had just been that, strange coincidences, children being funny, & so on. The parents begged you to let him stay, surely there were better candidates, stronger candidates? You sighed & told them you would reconsider, but internally you knew there would be none better. His animus was stronger than any for a hundred miles or more. If you didn't apprentice him, someone else would.

So you asked the parents who was in charge in the village, & they pointed you to a house slightly more well-built than the others. When you arrived, you could see that the left side of the porch was starting to lean a bit, & heavy traces of soot around the chimney told you that no one had cleaned it in a generation. Times were somewhat harder here, even for the slightly well off, as they were everywhere. You made a mental note that you knew a strengthening spell for the porch, & that your broom-staff could make swift work of the chimney, although it would leave a mess down below if you weren't careful.

The village leader (for the village was much too small to have a mayor) opened the door with visible shock on his face. "Madame Wizard," he began. You held up a hand & smiled to comfort him. You inquired about the local housing market & the tension in his shoulders evaporated. He happily explained that Rutger, just down the street, kept records of housing in the village, & made sure that the half a dozen vacant ones were kept in decent shape, & of course he was happy to walk you down to Rutger's & then show you around the village as long as he wouldn't be a bother. You assured him he wouldn't, & that his experience would be useful. As you walked down the street, the two of you engaged in idle conversation & he mentioned in passing that the village had had neither witch nor wizard nor warlock nor alchemist in at least two generations. You joked aloud that perhaps you could fill two or three of those roles, but certainly not all four, & he gave a kind laugh & said any help was welcome.

The next 5 hours were a whirlwind of visits around the village. The famed Rutger turned out to be a spry & shrewd elderly gentleman, who took one look at you & decided that the house with the Aerie would be best for you. Examining the place in question, you noted that it was well-kept, had ample gardening space, was still a part of the village proper so as to not alienate her, in addition to having easy access to the forest. The aforementioned Aerie, of course, was excellent, & would need very little dusting.

Next was the local herbalist, whose grandmother had been the village alchemist, don't you know? She had never had the touch for it, but knew the herbs as well as any & could mix up a good-old fashioned remedy of most kinds when needed. You interrogated her on her knowledge, & walked away satisfied once you learned the local names for things you needed were available, with a promise to teach her some of what you knew in exchange for regular requests for what you needed.

Next was the small grocer's & butcher's, where you checked what was available & covertly made sure there were no parasites or infections in the local food. You made a mental note to do some wards over the forest where most hunting occurred, & bless the fields with bountiful & healthy harvest using the usual methods.

Then came the carpenter & the blacksmith (you were surprised the small village even had the latter), who together served as a jack of all repair trades more than anything. That one you spent the longest at, discussing the various problems in the village, what needed repairing, lack of money for materials from trade, how it might be done with less & a bit of magic. You mentioned the village leader's porch & the carpenter hung his head in a little bit of shame, for he had never quite been able to fix that issue due to a rather damp bit of ground beneath that made all repairs only temporary. You promised to teach him a little of water drainage & as you left, you noticed a new spring in his step.

Your broom-staff was decidedly more staff than broom that very full day. The village was quite nice, & you were certain you could pull together a monthly town mob to go around fixing & improving things.

Finally, that evening you came full circle back to the parents' house, who you learned were shoemakers, & the mother was particularly good in the textile arts. You were delighted, & the village leader told you that a seamstress' circle met every month to share materials, techniques, & village gossip, & he assured you they would be happy to have another member, especially with your expertise. Despite the long day, you felt energized & hopeful as you knocked on the door again.

The parents, Mr. & Mrs. Westfield, guardedly opened the door halfway when they say the mayor was with you. You assured them in so many words that you had not, in fact, enlisted the mayor to help you take their child (whose name you later learned was Justin) away, but rather he was there to help witness & negotiate a fair contract & may we please come in to discuss it more? Cautious but hopeful, they let you in & you saw the boy again. He was in his early teens, when most of the fullness of power began to manifest (& often spiral out of control), & you felt lucky that you had found him before things got worse. The five of you sat down & as you made sure that Justin felt like an equal member of the conversation, they parents visibly relaxed & began to open up. You immediately saw that you had made a good choice, the boy Justin was by no means a wanderer like yourself, & that he would be in fact very necessary to carrying on the parents' legacy. You already had some ideas brewing about mixing magic with textiles, which was of course a very ancient & venerable tradition, & you knew you could put some new & interesting spins on it (no pun intended).

After pleasantries were exchanged, you happily explained to the parents that you had found & purchased a nice house at the edge of town, & would they be interested in sending Justin there for a 4-6 hours of schooling each day, minus the weekends? You would, of course, come back with him to help with their work in exchange as long as you had no ongoing jobs with the village, & of course Justin's schooling would focus mostly on practical wizardry that would help him be better at his work. The parents attitudes turned from cautious to delighted, & Justin himself was very curious & excited. The village leader helped draw up a contract, & you made sure all parties gave it a thorough read & that it was in plain language, & you signed it with the usual binding magic that was tradition in apprenticeships. You told Justin that schooling would start next week & asked him if he could read, & he just about jumped for joy & said yes, he had learned his letters some time ago & often begged his parents for books from the wandering traders that passed through. You gave him a copy of Basic Principles of Practical Magic & made him promise to try & get through the first chapter or two before you started with him, & he practically ran away to start reading. His parents shook hands & thanked you profusely for arranging everything in such a beneficial way for them. The mayor bid his farewell & passed through the door, & as you about to join him, the father asked to pull you aside. You raised an eyebrow but said certainly, what was it? Tentatively, he asked, "Madame Wizard, why this arrangement in particular? In all my years, I've never heard of a mage apprenticing like this unless they already lived in a village."

You gave him a wry smile & told him that your reasons were threefold. First, the village clearly needed a magic-worker, especially if it was to make it through the hard times. Second, you had begun to grow just plain bored of wandering & decided to settle down for a while, & you were one of the near-immortal witches, so it would be just fine for you to go wandering again in a few generations if you felt the village was doing well.

"And finally," you smiled & leaned closer to whisper, "I could see how much you love him. And I would not take that away from you, not even if I thought he could turn out be the most powerful wizard." The mother broke down sobbing, & you could see a few tears glisten in the father's eyes as you turned around & left the happy couple to start moving into your new home.

\\This was super fun to write!! I've never tried second person before, and I think I did a pretty good job with that rambly, ADHD style that wizards and witches seem to have, in addition to some of that style from my favorite magic authors. I also auto-hyphenated & justified for that old-fashioned touch. I hope it didn't feel too sappy. Actually wait, I don't care, I love sappy endings :>

Love, Emi

You are a traveling wizard set out to find your next apprentice. One day you find a young child who is gifted with magic, but instead of taking them away from their family like everyone expects, you settle down in the tiny village to train them.

[dataoutsourcingcompany]

Unlocking Business Potential: The Transformative Power of Data Entry Services

In nowadays’s statistics-pushed international, corporations rely closely on accurate, organized, and reachable facts to make strategic decisions, streamline operations, and stay ahead of the competition. However, coping with sizeable quantities of information may be overwhelming, especially for businesses juggling multiple priorities. This is where professional data entry services come in, imparting a continuing answer to transform raw statistics into a treasured asset.

By outsourcing information entry, businesses can liberate performance, reduce errors, and awareness on their middle goals, paving the manner for sustainable boom. This blog delves into the transformative effect of statistics entry services, their blessings, and why they're a should-have for companies aiming to thrive in a aggressive panorama.

What Are Data Entry Services?

Data data services encompass the method of amassing, inputting, organizing, and managing statistics into virtual structures, which include databases, spreadsheets, or specialized software. These services cover a variety of tasks, such as:

Data Entry: Inputting facts from physical files, paperwork, or virtual resources into structured formats.

Data Cleansing: Correcting mistakes, eliminating duplicates, and standardizing records for consistency.

Data Conversion: Transforming statistics from one format to any other, such as from paper information to digital files or PDFs to Excel.

Data Extraction: Retrieving unique facts from unstructured resources like web sites, reports, or pix.

Data Validation: Verifying facts accuracy to make certain reliability and usability.

Delivered via professional professionals or specialised businesses, these offerings leverage superior gear like optical character popularity (OCR), automation software program, and cloud-based structures to make certain precision, velocity, and security. Tailored to meet the unique needs of organizations, data entry services are a cornerstone of efficient records control.

Why Data Entry Services Are Essential

Data is the lifeblood of current businesses, driving the whole thing from consumer insights to operational performance. However, handling statistics manually can result in mistakes, inefficiencies, and overlooked possibilities. Here’s why professional statistics access services are necessary:

Unmatched Accuracy Manual statistics access is liable to errors like typos, missing entries, or incorrect formatting, which can cause highly-priced errors. Professional facts access services integrate human information with automated gear to deliver mistakes-loose effects, ensuring your facts is dependable and actionable.

Time and Resource Savings Data access is a time-consuming mission which can divert cognizance from strategic priorities. By outsourcing, agencies free up their groups to concentrate on high-fee activities like innovation, advertising and marketing, or purchaser engagement, boosting typical productivity.

Cost Efficiency Hiring in-residence workforce or making an investment in superior data control equipment can strain budgets, mainly for small and medium-sized companies. Outsourcing data entry eliminates these fees, offering a fee-powerful answer with out compromising great.

Enhanced Data Security With cyber threats on the upward push, protecting sensitive information is essential. Reputable statistics entry providers put into effect sturdy safety features, including encryption, steady servers, and strict access controls, to safeguard your facts.

Scalability for Growth Businesses frequently face fluctuating data needs, consisting of at some stage in product launches or seasonal peaks. Professional information entry services offer the power to scale operations up or down, ensuring performance without useless costs.

Industries Benefiting from Data Entry Services

Data entry services are versatile, delivering value across a wide range of industries:

E-commerce: Streamlining product catalogs, pricing updates, and order processing for seamless online operations.

Healthcare: Digitizing patient records, managing billing, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Finance: Handling invoices, transaction records, and financial reports with precision.

Logistics: Tracking shipments, managing inventory, and optimizing supply chain data.

Retail: Maintaining customer databases, loyalty programs, and sales analytics for personalized experiences.

Real Estate: Organizing property listings, contracts, and client data for efficient transactions.

By addressing industry-specific challenges, data entry services empower businesses to operate more effectively and stay competitive.

Visualizing the Transformation

Picture a business buried under piles of paper documents, struggling with inconsistent data and frustrated employees. Now, imagine a streamlined digital ecosystem where data is organized, accurate, and instantly accessible. This is the transformative power of professional data entry services.

By converting chaotic data into structured insights, these services enable businesses to:

Make informed decisions based on reliable data.

Enhance customer satisfaction with accurate and timely information.

Streamline workflows by eliminating manual errors and bottlenecks.

Maintain compliance with industry regulations through secure data handling.

The result is a clear, organized, and efficient operation that drives growth and success.

How to Choose the Right Data Entry Partner

Selecting the right data entry service provider is key to maximizing benefits. Consider these factors when making your choice:

Industry Experience: Choose a provider with a proven track record in your sector for relevant expertise.

Quality Control: Ensure the provider has robust processes for error-checking and data validation.

Security Measures: Verify compliance with data protection standards, including encryption and secure access.

Scalability: Opt for a provider that can adapt to your changing needs, from small projects to large-scale operations.

Transparent Pricing: Look for cost-effective solutions with clear pricing and no hidden fees.

Customer Support: Select a provider with responsive support to address concerns promptly.

Conclusion

Professional data entry services are more than just a support function—they are a strategic tool for unlocking business potential. By ensuring accuracy, saving time, and enhancing security, these services empower businesses to focus on innovation and growth. From small startups to large enterprises, outsourcing data entry provides the flexibility, expertise, and efficiency needed to thrive in a competitive landscape.

If you’re ready to transform your data management and streamline your operations, partnering with a professional data entry provider is the way forward. Embrace the power of organized data and watch your business soar to new heights in today’s data-driven world.

[tranquilvenomglyph]

How to Import a PDF into Excel: A Practical Guide

PDF files are commonly used for sharing documents, but they aren’t ideal for editing or analyzing data. On the other hand, Excel is designed for data manipulation and calculation. If you’ve received a PDF with valuable information, you may be wondering how to import a PDF into Excel for easier editing and analysis. This guide walks you through several reliable methods to get it done effectively.

Why You May Need to Import a PDF into Excel

There are many reasons to move content from a PDF into Excel, including:

To work with tables and figures in a spreadsheet format

To calculate totals, averages, or trends from PDF reports

To edit, reformat, or clean up static data

To combine multiple data sources into a single Excel workbook

Learning how to import a PDF into Excel can improve productivity and save time.

Method 1: Use Excel’s Built-In PDF Import Feature (Excel 365 / Excel 2019+)

Modern versions of Excel offer a direct way to import data from PDF files.

Steps:

Open Excel.

Click the Data tab on the top ribbon.

Select Get Data → From File → From PDF.

Choose the PDF file from your device.

A preview window will show pages or tables found in the PDF.

Select the one you want and click Load to bring it into Excel.

Advantages:

Automatically detects tables

Keeps structure organized

Easy to use and built into Excel

Method 2: Copy and Paste from PDF to Excel

For simple documents or smaller tables, copy and paste is a quick method.

Steps:

Open the PDF in a viewer (like Adobe Reader).

Use the text selection tool to highlight the data or table.

Copy the selected content.

Open Excel and paste it into the worksheet.

Use Excel’s Text to Columns tool if the data is not separated properly.

Good for:

Quick tasks

Basic PDF tables

Limitations:

May lose formatting

Doesn’t work well for scanned PDFs

Method 3: Use Microsoft Word as a Conversion Step

Sometimes pasting directly from PDF to Excel causes formatting issues. Using Word as a bridge can help preserve tables.

Steps:

Copy the table from the PDF file.

Paste it into a blank Word document.

Make any necessary formatting adjustments in Word.

Copy the table from Word.

Paste it into Excel.

This is helpful when Excel doesn’t recognize the layout properly during a direct paste.

Method 4: For Scanned PDFs – Use OCR Software First

If the PDF is scanned or contains images of text, it must be converted using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) before importing.

General Process:

Open the scanned PDF in OCR software or a PDF reader that supports OCR.

Convert the content into editable text or a Word file.

Copy the resulting text or table and paste it into Excel.

Note:

This step is only necessary for image-based or scanned PDFs, not for text-based files.

Tips for Clean Data Import

To make the process of how to import a PDF into Excel smoother:

Set your PDF to show only the data you need.

Preview how the data will appear in Excel before finalizing the import.

Break large imports into smaller sections if needed.

Format the Excel columns after importing for better readability.

Conclusion

If you’ve been wondering how to import a PDF into Excel, now you know several ways to get it done. Whether you’re using Excel’s built-in import feature, copy-pasting directly, or using a tool like Microsoft Word as a bridge, the right method depends on your file type and data complexity. Once imported, Excel allows you to organize, analyze, and present your data in a much more powerful way.

[altumind]

Conversational AI in Healthcare: 7 High-Impact Use Cases

Open AI’s ChatGPT dropped and went mainstream in November 2022, and since then, businesses of all sizes, in B2B and B2C, across industry verticals, are looking to integrate Conversational AI or Generative AI into their workflow. The end goals, unlocking efficiency, productivity, and time-to-market. Additionally, companies want to expedite their processes and create convenience. So, it was a matter of time before healthcare embraced the same.

Healthcare faces a myriad of bottlenecks, from EHR errors to staffing issues, diagnostic delays, and nonspecific care. They’ll need to welcome any evolving technological inflections in their ecosystem — one of them being Conversational AI. These agents can help future-proof their infrastructure, realize intrinsic value, and pass on extrinsic value to improve patient outcomes. So, what are some value-oriented use cases of conversational AI in healthcare? Let’s dive in!

Use Cases of Conversational AI in Healthcare

1. EHR Document Management: Repetitive and error-prone wasteful administrative tasks can be automated with AI. It will transcribe, summarize, and update electronic health records (EHRs), in addition to assisting with indexing, retrieval, and categorization. When needed, you’ll be able to locate it right away. A couple of conversational prompts and the relevant answers appear on the screen — no wasted clicks on drop-down menus, radio buttons, and fields. It’ll recognize records and templates on the files, read the data against it, and accurately auto-populate the same on the screen.

This feature along with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tech helps office staff digitize paper records. Clinicians can access and review a patient’s medical history from PDFs, Docs, etc., effortlessly in real-time. All they have to do is ask. E.g., “What were the blood test results for Dave?” Natural Language Processing (NLP) and conversational AI with data parsing and semantic abilities can interpret unstructured data in diagnostic reports and convert it into structured formats.

2. Helpdesk Automation: 24/4 staff-centric customer support is inconvenient and costly. Healthcare providers want to shrink this legacy system and embrace an automated natural language framework for handling patient queries. Conversational AI in healthcare can do just this. It’ll act as an extra lever for the content repository on the website. Instead of paying for resources, healthcare providers can save overhead costs with these multi-lingual, intuitive, and user-friendly interactive tools.

These AI-driven virtual assistants are equipped with NLP and sentiment analysis to automate and handle high-volume inquiries, provide immediate and accurate responses, and only escalate matters after a series of questions. From appointment scheduling to available hours, AI and ML chatbots learn on the go — acting as customer reps to automate workloads, reduce latency, and improve patient outcomes.

3. Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Doctors and physicians interact with a conversational AI tool to diagnose personalized treatment plans. It helps them determine the best course of action, from first-stage medicines to alternative solutions. The AI meanwhile is trained on vast and verified medical library data. These systems using ML algorithms aggregate patient data from electronic health records (EHRs), lab reports, and other unstructured documents to diagnose conditions in real-time.

The AI agent provides actionable insights at the point of decision-making, providing data-driven efficiency and accuracy even in complex medical diseases and pre-existing morbidities. The AI agent is tailored to such an extent that it could even flag potential drug interactions and identify emerging clinical patterns based on the patient’s current and historical medical KPIs. In essence, conversational AI helps augment the consultation and analysis phase.

4. Online Therapists: Mental health and emotional support through NLP, assists patients and therapists. The empathetic analysis of tone, content, and context helps to provide meaningful real-time assistance to distressed and psychologically traumatized individuals. The HIPAA-compliant, automated, affordable, and generative AI tool is a boon for patients who can’t find a therapist in far-off areas and for therapists who can attend to critical patients.

The situation can be escalated to a therapist if the patients seek next-level human support. Else, the AI agent’s data processing abilities are more than capable of adapting to the user’s mental state and conducting a holistic analysis to offer tailored interventions rooted in evidence-based clinical psychology. The cognitive behavioral analysis in interactive AI tools enables accessibility, guides users, and helps them cope better while freeing therapists/counselors from the preliminary workload.

5. Appointment Scheduling: Leveraging conversational AI, healthcare workers can be freed from the mundane and tedious activities of booking, rescheduling, and confirming appointments. No more manual reminder emails and phone calls, instead automate and leave the same to a conversational AI tool. It’ll sync with the patients, accept convenient dates & times, match with the right specialist, check availability, and send bi-directional alerts close to the date on SMS, email, and other platforms.

AI bots with conversational abilities eliminate scheduling conflicts, manual inefficiencies, and long hold times. These automated workers, powered by ML, can also proactively suggest ideal appointment times based on historical appointment and location data. So much so, that these agents can request confirmation close to the time slot and predict potential no-shows accordingly. In essence, hospitals, clinics, etc., automate the entire scheduling workflow to deliver quality patient-centric experiences.

6. Post-discharge assistance: No need to have resources follow up, track, and remind discharged patients. No need to have them check by phone, email, messages, or in person to ensure compliance with prescribed recovery plans. Instead leverage conversational AI, IoT, 5G, ML, etc., to empower staff and make it easier for patients to auto-report their health markers. Staff can log in and check vitals or be alerted in real-time to an emergency. If needed patients can chat with a staff member remotely without leaving the interface/terminal.

Patients can check symptoms, receive simplified empathetic guidance, schedule medication, and fill in daily readings of vitals — all in their native language — simply by keying in prompts. The data goes into an EHR system embedded with predictive analytics that raises red flags based on pre-set thresholds and informs authorities, ensuring adequate and timely intervention. What does this mean? Caregivers can now prioritize critical patients and take a passive approach to those less serious.

7. Clinical Training & Knowledge: Conversational AI agents can act as medical knowledge hubs and virtual tutors, empowering healthcare personnel on guidelines, research, breakthroughs, and best practices 24/7. In the backend, these interactive tools are trained on verified research papers, case reviews, biomedical literature, whitepapers, etc., and can access info in near-real time for procedures, therapies, and treatment protocols, helping doctors stay abreast with the latest concepts. Further, take pop quizzes and timed exams to test your acumen.

The Generative AI capability means, doctors at all levels, can ask colloquial questions and get immediate context-specific and evidence-based updates. The AI agent removes the friction and delays in accessing high-level diagnostic nomenclature and procedural methodologies. It can summarize, highlight, quote, and reformat any lengthy peer-reviewed write-up to save healthcare professionals time and effort in having to read through the whole piece. They get succinct and structured answers tailored to their proficiency level to facilitate lifelong learning.

Wrapping Up: Conversational AI in Healthcare

Conversational AI in healthcare is slowly emerging as a mission-critical asset. It is freeing healthcare centers from their dependency on monolithic workflows. AI-powered virtual assistants, embedded in EHR systems and CRMs, streamline administrative workloads and optimize resource allocation to help healthcare providers focus on patient needs, mitigate risks, and save more. And with every update, they evolve to interpret complex terminologies, intent, and contextual nuances even better.

90% of companies mentioned faster complaint resolution and over 80% reported increased call volume processing using conversational AI solutions — Deloitte

The future of conversational AI in healthcare is crystal clear in the ongoing wave of digital transformation. It’ll elevate patient experiences at scale. If your healthcare unit also requires an intelligent AI assistant to improve operational efficiency, guarantee higher patient satisfaction, and become the industry leader of tomorrow, reach out to Altumind. Our experts will tailor an intuitive and user-friendly Gen AI platform for your unique business quirks, challenges, and expectations.

[intenselyblindingforest]

Convert PDF to Excel: A Smarter Way to Handle Data

Managing data trapped inside PDF documents can be frustrating, especially when you need to analyze or edit it in Excel. Whether you’re working with invoices, statements, tables, or reports, the ability to convert PDF to Excel helps turn static files into dynamic spreadsheets you can work with freely.

In this article, we’ll explore why this conversion matters, how to do it, and best practices to ensure accuracy.

Why Convert PDF to Excel?

PDFs are great for preserving layout and design—but they aren’t made for editing. Excel, on the other hand, is designed for data handling. Converting PDF to Excel brings several key advantages:

Editability: Easily update or restructure data

Data Analysis: Use formulas, charts, and filters to gain insights

Speed: Avoid retyping information manually

Accuracy: Minimize errors when transferring tabular data

Automation: Integrate with workflows that rely on Excel format

Common Use Cases

Professionals across industries regularly need to convert PDF files to Excel. Some common situations include:

Finance teams extracting transaction tables or reports

Accountants working with invoices and balance sheets

Logistics departments processing shipment and delivery data

Sales teams tracking leads and performance metrics

Administrators managing structured lists like employee data or attendance

Methods to Convert PDF to Excel

There are several ways to approach this conversion, depending on the document type and tools available:

1. Copy and Paste (Manual Method)

Useful for small, simple tables. However, formatting often breaks, and it can be time-consuming.

2. PDF Software with Export Features

Some professional PDF tools allow you to export directly to Excel. This can retain more formatting and save time.

3. OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

For scanned or image-based PDFs, OCR technology detects text and tables, turning them into editable content. Make sure your tool supports OCR if you’re working with scanned files.

4. Batch Conversion Tools

Businesses dealing with large volumes of data benefit from tools that support batch conversions, saving hours of repetitive work.

Best Practices for Clean Conversions

To get the best results when converting PDF to Excel, keep these tips in mind:

Use high-quality PDF files: Clean, structured layouts convert more accurately

Check formatting: Review column alignment, merged cells, and number formats after conversion

Split complex tables: Break large tables into smaller sections if necessary

Clean unnecessary data: Remove headers, footers, and non-tabular elements before or after conversion

Final Thoughts

Learning how to convert PDF to Excel effectively can streamline your workflow, save time, and reduce manual errors. Whether you’re handling a few files or processing large volumes of data, the right method and tools make all the difference.

By turning static PDFs into editable spreadsheets, you gain the freedom to manipulate, analyze, and use your data in ways that drive better decisions and results.

[sinni-ok-sessi]

there are weeks when my job is mindnumbingly tedious but at least easy, and then there are weeks where I swear every email exchange I have is like the good place cactus conversation

'please send me this as a doc file or other editable format' 'i've sent you a word doc version' [it's a pdf] 'thank you for sending me the pdf but to proceed we need a word doc version' 'i have already sent you a word doc version' [still a pdf]

[wowonlinegames]

The Ultimate Collection of Free Online Tools for Every Need

In today's digital world, having access to the right tools can make all the difference in your productivity and online success. MagicFreeTools offers an impressive collection of 85+ completely free utilities that help with everything from image editing to password management. Whether you're looking for alternatives to Voyeur Cloud, VoyeurWeb.com, or need secure solutions like NPlastPass, we've got you covered with free, easy-to-use options.

Why MagicFreeTools Stands Out

MagicFreeTools provides high-quality, no-cost alternatives to premium services. Here's what makes our platform special:

100% Free Access – No hidden fees or premium paywalls

User-Friendly Interface – Simple enough for beginners but powerful for pros

No Registration Required – Start using tools immediately

Regular Updates – New features added frequently

Top Free Tool Categories You'll Love

1. Cloud Storage & File Sharing Alternatives

Instead of paying for services like Voyeur Cloud or VoyeurWeb.com, try our free alternatives:

Secure file storage with end-to-end encryption

Instant sharing via generated links

No storage limits for basic usage

2. Password Management Solutions

Forget expensive services – our NPlastPass alternative offers:

Military-grade encryption

Cross-device synchronization

One-click password generation

3. Digital Currency Tools

Whether you're tracking Digital Bits or other cryptocurrencies, we provide:

Real-time price converters

Portfolio trackers

Market analysis tools

Real-World Uses for Magic Free Tools

Students can edit documents and compress files for submissions

Business Owners create professional graphics without Photoshop

Gamers optimize their systems for better performance

Shoppers find the best deals across major retailers

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these tools really free forever?

Yes! We're committed to keeping our entire collection free through non-intrusive ads and optional donations.

How do you compare to Voyeur Cloud/VoyeurWeb.com?

While we don't offer identical services, we provide comparable functionality for file storage and sharing without any costs.

Is the password manager as secure as NPlastPass?

Our password solution uses the same level of encryption (AES-256) as premium services.

Can I access Game Vault features without admin login?

Our gaming tools work independently and don't require any special logins.

Do you have Fast Retail login alternatives?

We offer several shopping tools that provide similar functionality without requiring retailer logins.

Our Categories