Specific "How to" Questions:
  1. How do I open up a folder to choose my files from?
    • Simply click and drag a folder over the source folder area then let go. This will open the folder within the source folder area so that you may use the files within.
    • Use the "Browse source folder" option in the FILE menu, which brings up a window allowing you to serach the directory tree of your computer. Once a folder is selected and OK is clicked the folder is opened in the source folder area.

    • There is also a folder drop down list slightly above the souce area. This drop down list allows you to quickly scroll through your computers file directory to locate the folder you wish to open, when you finally select the folder it displays its contents within the source area.


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  2. How do I clear what I've done in the target file and start a new file?

    To close a file and begin working on an empty project from having opened a previously existing file, or having just saved a new file. Click on FILE→New target file... this will close the document that currently is being used and clear out the contents of the target file area.


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  3. How do I change the settings for Collate?

    By going to FILE→Preferences opens the menu shown below.

    The option menu contains the setting for the default source folder that is displayed when Collate first loads, as well as an option to open images in their default applications. Below those options are the settings both for PDF and TIFF formats.

    For PDF's the color/gray drop down list contains the quality settings that the PDF will be saved with. By adjusting these you are able to save on file size by sacrificing quality. For the black/white drop down list you are able to specify the type of compression that you wish to save the PDF using, which potentially can save on file size while at the same time not reducing the quality of the document.

    The same principals are used for the TIFF quality settings. One recommended setting is changing the compression for color/gray to "lossless (LZW)". This setting will save you a very significant amount of file size while not sacrificing the quality of the images being saved.
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  4. How can I check to see how big my target file will be when saved?

    When creating a PDF or TIFF the target area can soon be sworming with pages. Since the file hasn't been created yet, it becomes anyone's guess what the file size could be. Thankfully Collate has an option just for such a case. By going to the FILE→Check target file size... Collate gives you the option to determine the file size of both TIFF and PDF formats, that way you have a good grasp on how large or small you want to make the file.


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  5. How do I change the way I view the file listings?

    Collate comes with three standard view settings, two of which show accurate thumbnails, while the third shows page icons only. It's simple to switch between the three views, simply click the icons shown below. The figures below are an illustration of what each option changes:

     Large Icons  Icons
     List  Details

    You'll find that while editing PDF or TIFF files, while in detail view that your editing speed is drastically increased. At times when previewing the page's thumbnail isn't needed, this is the best view to select. When files or pages are added in detail mode Collate doesn't require the time needed to open, refresh, and display page thumbnail icons for each and every page. This increases your productivity but limiting you to standard default icons.
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  6. How do I make sure my folder is displaying everything within?

    There may come a time when you will be using a source folder that isnt located directly on your computer, or maybe using a folder that you are also continually adding files to while using Collate. When files are added to a folder that is currently being used as a source folder the contents of the source folder are not continually updated. So, say if your source folder is currently from a networked computer, and someone adds a file you wish to use. You will need to refresh the contents in order to see if that file has been added or not. To do this, locate the "Refresh View" button from the listing above the work area and click it so that the folder will be refreshed.

    Refresh View
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  7. How do I open my files to see the individual pages from the source folder?
    • If the file is located outside of the source folder simply by clicking on the file then dragging it over the source area and letting go. The file will be opened so that its contents are populated within the source area.
    • If the file is located within the source folder simply select the file and click the "Open pages" button located on the side of the source folder area. This will open the file so that the contents are now shown in the source area, or if there was only one page it will instead open the file with the default image editor.

      Open pages

    • Simply by double clicking the file, Collate will open the file and show its contents within the source folder.


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  8. Why does Collate exit without saving or why do some PDF pages not appear?
    • We are aware of this limitation on a select few PDF formats.  To bypass this issue, please save your file to a Tiff and then save that Tiff as a PDF file.


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