Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with software and free

Splitting a PDF by bookmark

Ritchie — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:17:08 -0800

I'm looking for some inexpensive/free solution to splitting a PDF by bookmark (first level bookmark), and using the bookmark names for the filenames of the split PDF. I've done some research already and discovered 2 products that are almost good enough: PDF Split-Merge and PDF Split and Merge.

The only drawback to PDF Split-Merge is that it costs USD$20-30 per user, and I have about 12 users to roll it out to. (That may sound like nothing, but my IT department runs on a literal shoestring. The other day we each got given a roll of duct-tape so each of us can repair the disintegrating carpet in our respective cubicles.)

The only drawback to PDF Split and Merge (which is free and open-source), is that when it splits the PDF, it doesn't use the bookmark names as filenames. Instead you get generic filenames with an appended counter based on page number.

I've done some scripting, so I'm open to hearing about, for example, Perl modules that help with this. My searches on CPAN have led me to PDF::Core and PDF::Parse, which don't really seem to be built for this.

Managing projects with no resources

cereselle — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:55:03 -0800

I would like to use project management software to track medium- to long-term library public services projects. I need it to be a) free, b) web-based, and c) hosted. Am I SOL? Unfortunately, my workplace does not have any PM software at all, and while I've pointed them to several open-source alternatives, I highly doubt (based on experience) that anything will be approved and installed before at least a year. We users have no admin rights, so cannot install anything on our machines. Likewise, we have no budget to pay for a hosted system.

I am particularly interested in open workspaces and assignable tasks and milestones. (Opengoo is my favorite so far.) I fiddled around with Google Sites, but I am not a designer, and lacking a template, I'm finding it slow going.

Advice and solutions are much appreciated. If there's no hope, well, I'd like to know that too.

Need Alternative to Text Editing

bleucube — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:01:55 -0800

Need a Ultra Edit Windows Free Alternative for a Not For Profit Organization. Meaning "free for non-commercial use" doesn't apply to us. Thanks! Looking for something that can do line numbers, sorting, find and replace and all the other useful stuff Ultra Edit has.

Free furniture/room layout software?

JPDD — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:27:33 -0800

I'm looking for free OS X or Windows software that will allow me to draw a room and furniture to scale and move things around to find the best layout. Extra points for simplicity and ease of use.

Opensource Wiki Software

spinko — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:43:48 -0800

Open source Wiki software! I'm looking to setup an open source wiki service very similar to wikipedia.org (but slightly different). However I know there is open source software available to download... ...

I'm looking for:

1) Totally open editing (if registered)
2) Report if abused content
3) Upload images for the wiki post
4) SEO friendly i.e. www.wikipedia.org/post_name

Php, SQL, etc

Very simple, I like the way wowwiki.com is run. I know they use opensource but I dont know which one.

Cheers if you can help.

Free Stupid Spreadsheet?

eccnineten — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:11:10 -0800

Please recommend a free and very stupid spreadsheet for Mac. Microsoft Office? Not free.
google Docs? can't handle this large a spreadsheet without long delays.
OpenOffice? Works poorly on the Mac, no native port.
NeoOffice? You can't turn off autocorrect. Says you can, doesn't work.

I'm looking for a free spreadsheet program that can handle no less than (and likely many more than) 100,000 cells and won't change what I type. When I type in 6-7 (as in, the information in question can be found on pages 6-7) I do not want it to change it to the date 6/7/08.

There must be a free rock-stupid spreadsheet program for Mac out there that I can type data into. A spreadsheet stupider than me. And that's stupid!

Free CSV to TAB?

Oneirokritikos — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:19:35 -0800

Converting CSV to TAB: is there a free software for this? I'm a non- programmer type, and i only know the real expensive soft CSV2TAB. Any free alternatives? It's for a file where each of 4.000 lines contains two terms separated by a comma, which I'd like replaced by a tab.
thanks !

I am looking for a free download accelerator/manager for Mac.

anthropoid — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:24:12 -0800

I am looking for a free download accelerator/manager for Mac. I recently made the switch from Windows to Mac and need a download accelerator/manager. My internet connection stops momentarily every once and a while and is killing my downloads.

I love DAP, but I am not ready to spend the $30 for the Mac version and I was wondering if there are any decent, free download managers for Mac.

Already checked out this listing of download managers for Mac via this AskMeFi thread, but did not find what I was looking for.

Any ideas?

Bridging the OSS cross-platform gap.

I EAT TAPAS — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:01:16 -0800

Firefox seems like the odd man out, being a GUI application that is not just open-source but also compiles and runs on Windows, Mac OS and Linux -- consistently and equally well. What other GUI-based applications that are like this; being open-source and that support all three platforms natively? Note that I'm curious about OSS GUI apps like Firefox that compile into multiple platform-specific binaries that can run in a stock install of the OS. I realize there are ways around this -- X11 implementations and Cygwin for Windows, emulators like WINE for Linux and Mac OS, web applications that require a web server and separate browser, or VMs like VMWare and Parallels that assist with cross-platform operation. I'm looking for apps that have the magic "built-in".

Free software for kids aged 3 to 7?

Mom — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:42:34 -0800

Free software recommendations for kids aged 3 to 7. Fun and /or educational. We donated some pcs to a HeadStart program, and it would be nice to recommend some good games for an child development environment.

Video Editing Software Challenge

snsranch — Sat, 05 May 2007 19:54:28 -0800

Video Editing Filter: Does anyone know of free or almost free software that is even just a little better than Windows Movie Maker? Movie Maker was fine when I made a movie from stills after my last AskMe, but for actual vid editing, it kinda sucks. I'm not looking for any special effects, just the ability to capture multiple clips and actually cut them to shreds and splice them back as I see fit. The ability to add audio would be cool too.

I imagine, though, that given the tool to properly cut up the vid I could use Movie Maker for the audio.

If it's apparent that I just don't know what I'm doing, advice there would be nice too!

Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!

Are there any essays or studies naming and analyzing the concept of 'freedom' as developed on the internet?

Lockeownzj00 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:56:34 -0800

Are there any essays or studies naming and analyzing the concept of 'freedom' as developed on the internet? What I mean to say is, there seems to be a strain of ideology that is prevalent amongst serious Internet users: in this highly utopic fashion, it says that things "should" be free. Software "should" be free, operating systems "should" be free, filesharing "should" be free, music "should" be free*. My question is:

What is the source of this? Why are people so easily motivated to become part of it? How does it differ from political ideologies which are so similar and yet so reviled (communism/anarchism)? How has it inoculated itself and separated itself from the bad stigma of aforementioned ideologies?

I know there have been sociological studies on "da internet" before, but I'm looking for something particularly on this topic. If you've any ideas yourself, feel free to contribute.

*not that i disagree with any of this. i'd number myself with them. which is precisely why i want to know why i think this way.

Help Migrate Data from Ancient Machine

chitlin — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:56:34 -0800

Help me transfer selected files from a computer running DOS to an XP machine via a parallel cable, and let's see if we can do it for free. One of the partners at my company has been using a DOS based machine since 1992 for some number crunching(that, incidentally, also has Windows 3.1, if that's any help at all).

The only files I will need off of the old machine are several thousand ASCII files (space-delimited text files), so the file sizes will be small.

The machine has a CD-ROM, but no ethernet or USB. I am hesitant to pull the hard drive out and put it in the new machine because I will probably get fired if the data is lost! It's pretty important stuff.

I have a Laplink parallel cable and I would like to know what software I may need on both machines to handle this. Is there any kind of DOS utility that will work like InterLnk or something?

Home Budget Software

snsranch — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 17:57:53 -0800

I'm looking for free or invexpensive Home Budget Software. I've seen the previous AskMe and have searched download.com. jgnash? Ace Money? It would be helpful if you describe what you use and why. What I need is something simple. A mindless device that I can use to track and plan spending/savings. I've tried MS Money and didn't like it. Thanks in advance.

Free LAN Software Recommendations?

raydexter — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 12:26:09 -0800

Any free 2000/XP networking software the hive mind can recommend? Having just got the home lan working, I'm looking for networking software that people find cool, handy and maybe even innovative. Oh, and it's got to be free.

Thanks!

Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004 is now FREE - Does it work from MCE 2002?

Jhaus — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:38:32 -0800

Seeing that it's now free, can Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004 work with Windows Media Center Edition 2002 - sp2 as the host OS? I know that the guide says it is only compatible with XP Professional and Windows 2000, but I was wondering if anyone has had success with it this way (I recall hearing that MCE was the same as XP Pro just dressed a little differently)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

P.S. Why would my new HP m7470n have come shipped with MCE 2002 and not MCE 2005?

Software for nothing and graphics for free

twine42 — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 07:52:45 -0800

Does anyone know where I can get a free (legal) copy of Paint Shop Pro? I need a copy of Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, but I need a legal version with no cost.

Jasc used to ship a 2 generations old version of the software free on magazine covers. Does anyone know where I can get a relatively modern one from?

Please... don't suggest GIMP...

Where can I find timeline software?

Amizu — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:17:55 -0800

Can anyone recommend good timeline creating software (preferably free)? I need to find some software that will allow me to quickly type in events that happened on particular dates to generate a timeline. (Scenario - I am interviewing a person who has already submitted a story and I need to put it all in time perspective and then compare the written testimony with later oral testimony. I need to do this several times a day with high accuracy - timeline software would help me keep everything straight.)

Has TaxCut adopted AOL's marketing scheme?

clearlynuts — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 13:23:58 -0800

I received an unsolicited copy of TaxCut in the mail. Has anyone else? Am I just lucky, or is something up? I've used TaxCut for the last few years after TurboTax let me down. I buy the software every year because you can always find a store that's selling the software for the same price as the rebate you get. I hate rebates, though, that you have to mail in. It seems to me that if TaxCut is going to end up rebating my money, then why even sell it to me in the first place. Just give it to me free.

Well, a few weeks ago a copy of TaxCut Deluxe and State ended up in my mailbox. It was't the normal paper box with the jewl case inside. It was the plastic CD-ROM case. It did say "Welcome Back" on the front as part of the label - if I had a scanner, I'd include a picture. It appears to be legitimate software. I can't find any charges on any of my credit cards, so I didn't accidentially buy it. So, has TaxCut finally come around to my way of thinking?

Has anyone else received a free copy of the software? Is it because of yearly loyalty? I couldn't find anything on the TaxCut site.

Any such thing as a free DVD/CD writing software?

sublivious — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:56:38 -0800

Any such thing as a free DVD/CD writing software for Windows? What I'd really like is an application that works a lot like Nero in its CD/DVD burning functions but free. It should be easy to use, have the ability to burn DVD movies, data DVDs, data CDs, Audio CDs, and Dual Layer support would be a plus. Also it should support newish drives with support for the latest drives always getting attention.

I believe DVD Decrypter could do this, but it's been acquired by Macrovision Europe and distribution has been ended. So far I've found ImgBurn (which apparently is by the folks that brought us DVD Decrypter), DeepBurner (the free version doesn't do DVD video), and CDBurnerXP Pro (may not do DVD video nor support the drive in question). None of them meet my requirements.

Defensive patents for free and open source software

a007r — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 09:27:25 -0800

Defensive patents for free and open source software: can I bind a specific type of license with a patent ? I started recently to develop a piece of open source software for the average Linux desktop user. However, I seek your help on an issue that has been lurking my mind for a few months now. Let me explain the situation first.

each day as a linux user makes me more and more paranoid towards any proprietary software corporation, that includes Microsoft and Apple.

I believe I have created a concept of software that is somewhat revolutionary.

I do not want this concept to be included into a proprietary Operating System, unless I do it myself maybe, but that's unlikely. Call me selfish if you want ;)

I do not want Microsoft or Apple to slap me in the face with patenting my own idea and passing it as theirs.

I am not a lawyer, and I'm Canadian. I have no affinities with the US legal system.

I usually hate software patents, but I have the feeling that using one would be the only thing I could do to protect myself and my ideals. That patent would need to be filed in the US of course.

Now the real question: is it possible to "bind a patent to a license" ? My idea would be that I would create a patent that would force someone using it to release the said software with its source code, so, from a legal standpoint, if Microsoft was to clone my concept into their software, they would have to make it open source, and then I could worry less.

I know that this sounds really weird and that if I asked slashdot, I would likely get flamed just for the idea of patenting F/OSS. I don't know if this idea is realistic at all, or if I am just in need for a therapy. Could you help me know a little bit more about the "system" without needing to hire a lawyer just to explain me that?

gardening software previously discussed?

radiosilents — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 17:47:40 -0800

sometime in the last week or so, there was a thread on the blue that (i seem to recall) had something to do with growing vegetables... or horticulture... or something. and in the comments i'm nearly sure i saw a link to some sort of software that would let you mess with the pH levels in your soil, lighting levels, etc... like a "sim-'growing things'" kind of software. i looked at the homepage, was intrigued, saw that it was "a labor of love" for the people who made it... and forgot to bookmark it. i recall that they mentioned that it was a hundreds-of-man-hours project, this software.

now, four days later, i can't even figure out which thread it was in. i'd really, really like to know, if anyone has even the vaguest clue what i'm talking about.

scatterbrained these days, i swear. i wish i had more info. i apologize.

Does anyone know of a development tool vendor that provides free training (not online, but in person) , please share ?

jaydedx — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:10:25 -0800

Does anyone know of a software development tool vendor that provides free training (not online, but in person) , please share ? It doesnt matter what kind of software development tool vendor it is. Any will do.

Free / open statistical software

ROU_Xenophobe — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 22:21:00 -0800

Help me find free and/or open-source statistical software. I'm teaching the fresh-faced young grad students an intro quant course -- the one where you start with "Here's our friend, the probability!" and work your way up through basic multiple regression.

Naturally, some of them want software to run their numbers at home, and don't necessarily want to pay the moderate cost for one of the school's Stata licenses. I could point them at R, but the first time they have to query an object they'd either run away screaming or lynch me. I could point them at gretl, but it's very GUI-oriented (yeah, I know there's a console), and I don't want them to get into the bad habit of dragging and clicking instead of building a solid history of commands that they can refer to later. Especially I don't want to have to deal with them in two years when they can't remember how they arrived at a particular set of results.

So, to what should I point them? I don't want to give them a fright, but I also would prefer something that's more command-line oriented than gretl. Something like Stata6, but free, and I don't care if it won't do fancy-schmancy stuff.

I assume they'll be running Wintel machines.

Superior free software?

pealco — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 23:18:27 -0800

What examples are there of consumer-grade open source software whose quality surpasses that of closed source, proprietary software? I am a part of Florida Free Culture, a chapter of FreeCulture.org at the University of Florida. We're planning a project where students bring their laptops in, we rid them of spyware and viruses, and install free alternatives to programs they often use. The biggest example of this kind of software is Mozilla Firefox.

I am looking for other examples of open source and free (as in speech) software that are better than their closed-source counterparts. I'd appreciate examples for any operating system, but most students use Microsoft Windows.