Looking for a Stand Alone PDF File Size Shrinker

altomic on 02/02/2017 - 14:42

hi,

I work in a government department.

I can't install any progs on my work station -no admin privileges.

management will not approve the cost of any licensing e.g. acrobat.

for security reasons I can not use web based pdf shrinking sites.

I frequently (5 times a day minimum) have to ask the IT dept to shrink pdf files as our outgoing data management program is limited to 20mg for all files. - this is time consuming as I can't do any work until they get back to me with the reduced file size- which sounds great but I have a heavy work load and can't do any other work until the file size reduction occurs.

is there a way to put a stand alone pdf shrinking program on a USB stick? (one that doesn't need installation - like utorrent)

thanks

Computing

Comments

boomramada on 02/02/2017 - 14:56

So you work for gov department which dosen't like to install application due to security reason, but you can execute application via USB stick?
That is a major security FAIL :)
Management will not approve the cost of any licensing?? Seriously?

but, try this https://sourceforge.net/projects/nikkhokkho/ not sure how good it is, I just googled it:)
Kiminoth on 02/02/2017 - 15:07

Pity you can't use web-based apps, https://smallpdf.com/ is amazing.

http://portableapps.com/apps is normally fantastic for these kind of things (usb run applications), however I couldn't find a specific pdf compressor app.

However you could try converting the pdf to a .doc, compressing the images in it, and then printing it back into a pdf.
Euphemistic on 02/02/2017 - 15:27

What does the IT dept use? Why not hit them up for an upgrade on your computer to service your needs. 5 times a day would seem like it has a reasonable business case.
aoeueoa on 02/02/2017 - 15:45

What is making the PDF So large? Can you possibly do other things first like JPG compression for the images etc?
- altomic on 02/02/2017 - 16:32
  
  PDF files have to be scanned at a certain size to comply with the Records Keeping Act. also they can be of considerable volume. - don't have those options on our computers.
  - Tidgy on 05/02/2017 - 21:47
    
    You have to scan at a cetain size yet you're allowed to reduce the pdf size which largely consists of reducing the image quality? (Especially since scanned files should be basically entirely images unless there's some OCR postprocessing going on) What's the point of scanning it at high quality then reducing it to lower quality? Are the different copies being used for different systems? If so can you scan one at a lower quality? Acrobat pro defaults for reducing size seem to be 150dpi for colour/grayscale and 300dpi for monochrome w/ jpeg compression.
    
    I'm also not surprised they won't approve acrobat licensing - acrobat pro licenses can run at around ~$600. Maybe you'd have better luck asking for something cheaper, I don't know about any cheap pdf software for just reducing size but Nuance Power PDF is a fraction of the price of acrobat at $150.
    
    If you need something free I haven't tested these but here's some free software found on whirlpool. Maybe one of the pdf splitting tools can split your files to under 20MB each. If not maybe you can get one of the pdf printers installed then you can 'print' the doc to a new and either reduce the quality in the print settings or just print selected pages and split the doc up that way.
    - altomic on 05/02/2017 - 21:57
      
      I work for a government department. we have to keep a copy of records/document at a certain size thanks to the Public Records Act (QLD) 2002. we can make a copy of the original scanned document. it's the copy that doesn't require any specific DPI. but getting the original shrunk where I'm looking for a solution
      
      again, I can't install anything on my work PC. hence a stand alone program on a USB stick is a solution. using a USB is not an issue.
    - Tidgy on 05/02/2017 - 22:56
      
      If the size limitation is for each file then this tool from the whirlpool page I linked is portable and can split pdfs so you could have multiple parts for the file.
      
      Other than that ask your IT if they can install a PDF printer for you. They're common enough tools that they probably already have one that they use. Then you may be able to fiddle with the settings to get it to reduce the size/quality.
    - alvian on 06/02/2017 - 16:10
      
      @altomic: What I don't understand is that since there is no issue using an USB stick, so why can't you copy the big PDFs to an USB stick, convert them elsewhere (BYOD), and copy them back? Or even copy and convert the PDFs using your smartphone via USB mass storage mode?
    - altomic on 06/02/2017 - 16:19
      
      @alvian: why can't you copy the big PDFs to an USB stick, convert them elsewhere (BYOD), and copy them back?
      
      I've asked about a stand alone PC (not hooked up to the network) and the IT dept have said we can't have a separate machine. the issue is that any acrobat licenses for the department have to be assigned to a user. a standard alone PC with a acrobat assigned to someone (and that someone logged on to the stand alone) but used by other users would be a violation of the IT/User policy. I've asked and the department modernisation officer has asked as well. same response.
      
      Or even copy and convert the PDFs using your smartphone via USB mass storage mode?
      
      hey, that might work. I could bring in an old android tablet/phone…..hmmm. cool idea. thanks
    - altomic on 06/02/2017 - 16:27
      
      @Tidgy: most pdf printers that I have tried at home only reduce the pdf files by 5 or 10%. I really need something that will shrink files by 25% or so.
    - alvian on 06/02/2017 - 16:49
      
      @altomic:
      
      IT dept have said we can't have a separate machine
      
      BYOD = Bring your own device. The IT guys says The Department cannot have a standalone PC, but is there anybody stopping you from bringing in your own laptop? You can then run any of the solutions mentioned here on your own laptop without these stupid restrictions.
      
      This is the same idea as using your own smartphone. With a laptop you simply have more options to choose.
Diji1 on 02/02/2017 - 16:33

-1

So you want to know how to put documents on a USB stick at a gummint department that takes security very seriously.
- altomic on 02/02/2017 - 16:34
  
  no, I want a stand alone pdf shrinking program that can be set up on a USB stick.
holdenmg on 02/02/2017 - 20:15

If you have Microsoft Word installed you can Open your *.pdf and follow 2. Using Microsoft Word of:
http://techpp.com/2015/08/31/reduce-pdf-file-size/
Save the opened *.pdf using "Save As” and “Optimize for” to the Desktop.
- alvian on 02/02/2017 - 22:21
  
  Management will not approve the cost of any licensing. The department probably has no Microsoft Office software and everyone is using LibreOffice on USB sticks. :-P
  - altomic on 06/02/2017 - 16:26
    
    we use MS office 2010 but word doesn't open PDFs.
Randxyz123 on 02/02/2017 - 21:58

management will not approve the cost of any licensing e.g. acrobat.

WHY? Seriously why?

You say you need the IT dept to shrink it for you… Is that protocol? You can't be penalised for not doing work during that time if that is the way your manager wants you to do it… Or have you been asked to research ways of doing this?

I'd be talking to your department head something isn't right here.

If you haven't already tried it, you could possibly use Microsoft word.

I can almost guarantee that running a program off a USB stick will flag you in their security software
- altomic on 02/02/2017 - 22:06
  
  do you know know a program that will shrink PDF documents and run from a USB stick?
  - Randxyz123 on 02/02/2017 - 22:10
    
    Did you read my post?
    - altomic on 02/02/2017 - 22:19
      
      did you read mine?

Looking for a Stand Alone PDF File Size Shrinker

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