[Fsf-friends] Re: PDF issues

Ramanraj K ramanraj@md4.vsnl.net.in
Wed Sep 29 16:57:12 IST 2004


Tathagata Banerjee wrote:
  > On Saturday 25 September 2004 15:26, Nagarjuna wrote:
  >
  >>Last saturday in the FSF group meeting at Mumbai we discussed the
  >>possibility of cleaning up the pdf files, which are actually made
  >>using non-free software.  Sayamindu said he will take care of this and
  >>will send the files back.  Then the book will be uplaoded at FSF site.
  >>
  >>Nagarjuna
  >
  > i have doubts whether 'cleansing' the pdf-s in this way will be a
meaningful
  > exercise. no amount of cleansing can delete the truth that the
files were
  > created using non-free software. all we can hope to achieve is hide
that
  > truth from the public. i understand the importance of maintaining a
clean
  > image, but i think it will be more honest and more in keeping with
our moral
  > integrity to keep the files as they are, and add an apology for using
  > non-free programs, and an explanation regarding why it was necessary
to use them.

It is not too difficult to see that some of the pdf files are addressed
to authorities believed to be predominantly using non-free software, and
using pdf format could be necessary to enable them to read until
migration to free software takes place, and other formats like TeX or
LaTeX are more widely used.

pdf was non-free in the past, but free these days. Please see
http://www.masternewmedia.org/2002/03/31/creating_pdfs_without_adobe_acrobat_part_ii.htm 



pdfTeX at http://www.tug.org/applications/pdftex/ or like free software
could be used to create pdf files.

GNU TEXMACS http://www.texmacs.org/index.php3 could be a good tool to
create TeX files, and export them to other formats including pdf.

Probably, the pdf files could be left alone, as they are, and could be
published in other formats as well.









More information about the Fsf-friends mailing list