How to Edit Ez-Pages in Zen Cart E-Commerce System
This tutorial shows you how to edit the content on the static ezpages of your zen cart e-commerce website.
Tags: zen cart
Category: How to
Save the Earth; Embrace the PDF – Find Uses for the PDF
Save the Earth; Embrace the PDF – Part 2
So now that you know how to save files as PDFs, it’s time to learn what to do with this new found knowledge. Whether you put it to use in your home or your office, I’m certain there is something you can digitally print to save money, time, and space.
Most people laugh in disbelief when they hear that I started out and ran my business successfully for two years without a printer. I did. It’s true. I’ve always been the type of person to denounce a need of such technologies mainly because I was too lazy to go out and purchase one, but my resistance here paid off, because I soon found the next best thing… the PDF.
Things that most people print – invoices, contracts, proposals, receipts, project documents – I saved on my computer and accessed digitally only whenever I needed them. I sent invoices to my clients (and still do today) via email and a pdf attachment. My clients can review the invoice, get the total due, write the check, save the invoice into a business expenses folder on their computer and drop the check in the mail (or pay online). It’s a win-win situation. The client got an invoice for his or her records and my business didn’t spend a penny. No paper, no envelopes, no stamps, no trips to the post office. When you send out 20+ invoices a month, all of those things add up.
Sure, there were definitely times when I needed to print something to have a hard copy or to sign and send back to a client, and those were the times when a printer would have come in handy. Instead, I just made a quick trip down to Kinkos with my jump drive in hand. I probably did that 4-5 times a year.
But I’m digressing here. I’m not saying that you should dump your printer. No, not at all. I just want you to start to think of new ways to send information without using paper. Make it a game and take it one step at a time.
Think of all of the things you send out of your office to clients, customers, business associates, and vendors. Is there something you can digitize? The following are some ideas:
- Invoices, contracts, proposals
- Project notes
- Receipts from online purchases or bills payments.
- Posters and other promotional items
- Manuals and how-to tutorials
The PDF isn’t the end of printing, because there are still many things that should be printed and people out there who have to print EVERYTHING. But using pdfs for everyday documents limits overall paper consumption and shifts the burden of paying for the printing to the person or party wanting it.
Follow the “Save the Earth; Embrace the PDF” series:
Save the Earth; Embrace the PDF – How to Save Files as a PDF
The pdf (portable document format) has become one of the most popular formats for distributing files on the internet – invoices, press releases, brochures, etc. Like a printed document, the receiver of the pdf will view the document as the creator composed and doesn’t have to own the same program the creator has to view the content. Unlike paper, though, a pdf doesn’t waste paper and resources. It’s digital and can be distributed by email and throughout the web. It can be saved into a file folder for storage or popped on a jump drive for distribution. You can save money on printing and shipping and that’s why I’m devoting an entire week to pdf tips and tricks!
First things first, how do you create a pdf? If you are a mac user, then all of your printing functions and file programs have had a native “save as pdf” option under the file menu since 2004. The following videos show you how to save a file as a pdf on your computer. The video is of a word document, but the process is the same across the board.
If you are running Microsoft Office 2007 or better on a pc and don’t have the pdf add-on, you can get it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&displaylang=en and the video shows you how to save a word document as pdf using your new option.
If you don’t currently have the ability to create a pdf, it’s ok. There are many options out there to help. The first thing you need to do is download adobe reader for free by visiting get.adobe.com/reader. This download will enable you to view, print and collaborate on pdf files. This pdf converter link will show you a list of other pdf converters available for pc users.
Bottom line, being using the pdf instead of traditional print can save you $$ on printing and shipping costs and possible make the Earth a little happier too.
Follow the “Save the Earth; Embrace the PDF” series:
