[Trainer-talk] Fwd: Announcing OfficeConvert and EasyEncode - free, open source utilities for common file conversions

[David Andrews]

>
>Now available at
>
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/OfficeConvert.zip
>
>and
>
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/EasyEncode.zip
>
>
>OfficeConvert and EasyEncode are two sets of free, open source 
>utilities under Windows that I have recently developed for 
>conveniently converting files among common formats and 
>encodings.  They can aid the production of alternative formats in 
>order to maximize accessibility for readers with 
>disabilities.  Batch processing is possible, allowing multiple files 
>to be converted with a single command.
>
>These command-line utilities are stand-alone executables, operating 
>in console mode, without a graphical user interface (GUI).  They are 
>distributed as zip archives rather than Windows 
>installers.  Programming knowledge is not required to use them, but 
>basic familiarity with the Windows command prompt is needed.  The 
>utilities may be used either manually at the command line, or 
>programmatically by applications that call them to prepare files in 
>a chain of processing steps.
>
>OfficeConvert is a set of utilities for converting file formats 
>using the COM-based APIs of Microsoft Office applications, including 
>Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.  Many file formats are 
>supported.  Common file extensions may be used to specify the 
>formats desired.  Conversions include going to and from formats used 
>by other office suites, such as the Open Document formats supported 
>by the cross-platform, Open Office suite.
>
>Significant capabilities include conversions to plain 
>text:  doc2txt, xls2txt, and ppt2txt.  The conversion of a 
>PowerPoint presentation extracts text comprehensively, including the 
>outline, notes, comments, and hyperlinks.  Formats of Office 2007 
>and above are supported.  The doc2pdf conversion can be an effective 
>way of creating an accessible, tagged PDF from a well-structured Word document.
>
>EasyEncode is a set of utilities for detecting and converting text 
>files among common encodings.  Four encodings are supported, 
>accounting for most encodings in use today:  UTF-16, UTF-8 with a 
>byte order mark (BOM), UTF-8 without a BOM, and ANSI.  The utilities 
>can smoothen the transition of text files from one operating system 
>to another, where an inconsistent encoding can render a file unreadable.
>
>Character encodings are a complex subject.  EasyEncode does not 
>eliminate a developer's need for knowledge in this area, but once 
>encodings are understood conceptually, the software eases work with them.
>
>The OfficeConvert documentation is also separately available online at
>
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/OfficeConvert.htm
>
>and the EasyEncode documentation is available at
>
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/EasyEncode.htm
>
>
>Jamal
>