Hm, I'd test it on my laptop but I uninstalled it after I finished reading all the issues (it takes up a LOT of space, and to keep my system usable, I replaced the slow hard drive with an SSD. Sure made opening the application fast, but I needed the space back for work). My desktop at home where I printed the articles I have on my iPad, is also Windows 7. I don't recall doing anything special to get it to print, outside fo selecting the pages I wanted so I got just the one article I was interested in each time.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Neil:
Thanks for your reply. I'm running an ASUS laptop with Windows 7 so it's not the Apple iPad or tablet problem. I'll give the tech support a call.
Joe
Joe,
Call Kalmbach customer service at 800-533-6644 for technical help.
The disk technology is several years old now. When MR was in the midst of creating the DVDs, Apple announced a new product – the iPad. So the disks are not designed or intended for transfer to iPads and other tablets.
Sincerely,
Neil B.
editor, MR
Neil Besougloff
editor, Model Railroader magazine
Nope. Cute PDF prints anything I want except the MR. It will print from the new MR digital editions.
WHat about printing from other programs? When you install CutePDF, it wants to add an additional open source driver that it needs to operate, if you skip that step, CutePDF will not work - and produce blank PDF files.
Randy:
It's interesting that you have been able to use Cute PDF. I've tried it and what I get is a blank PDF.
I can print just fine. One handy trick - there are many free PDF print drivers, I happen to use Cute PDF. This installs like a printer, but when you print to it, it makes a PDF file. So if I print an article from the DVD set, I end up with a plain old ordinary PDF which I can easily copy to my tablet. I've done so for several construction articles so I can have the article right next to me as I work on it - a full size computer would take up too much room, and the tablet ends up being smaller than a printed magazine.
Yes, the search stinks, but there are several better searches on the internet.
You can zoom pretty big on the DVD magazines, though in an attempt to keep the file sizes down, the scan resolution isn;t insanely high. You can zoom in pretty big, not sure why you'd want to go bigger than I can get it on my screen. 4-5X on the + button over what it shows as the default size, at least on my computer. Any more than that and it gets fuzzy - and also 1 column fills up the entire width of my 23" widescreen monitor. The newer issues zoom more than the older ones - but remember the original MR was much smaller than the 8.5x11 format it has today. There's no magic here, these are just PDF scans of the magazines and the viewer is a stock Adobe program. The files are DRM password protected so you just can;t take the files from the install and open them in another PDF reader.
Was seriously thinking of buying the DVD...not so sure now. I'm not sure I even understand some of the processes mentioned here. I buy the Clever Models downloads that are emailed as a file that I download with Adobe & I can print it at any magnification...Thought this would be the same. Guess I'll keep my 19' of magazines.
I did the full install on my laptop and everything is OK as far as reading goes but I am unable to print. I keep getting an error that says it can't find my network printer. Every other program and internet site prints just fine. Am I missing something?
The non-full text version of the search engine is probably using tags attached to each artical by the company that digitized the content. If there is no tag for "beginner", then the engine won't find it.
Kalmbach is a little behind the times on mobile computing. The mobile version of this website is horrible, and using the "full site" on a mobile device is problematic at best.(not the least of which is that the screen size isn't scalable, so as I write this on my tablet, I can barely see what I'm typing, and after posting will usually have to go back and edit just to remove typos). If you can figure out how to download individual issues or articles, sticking them in the cloud (Dropbox or Google Docs, for instance) might help you read them on the go.
But really, the biggest advantage of the DVD's is not having to store some 19 linear feet of paper magazines.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
These are password encrypted PDFs. When you install the program it gives you the choice to download all or some of the magazines to your desktop. If I remember correctly, if you don't download an issue(s) on installation, adding the issue to your favorites will trigger a pop-up box that asks you if you want to download that issue, but I might be wrong.
I was having trouble accessing and printing articles when I first installed the program, so I called Customer Service and one of the things they had me do is right click on the short cut to the program and click on "open program as administrator". Fixed my issues in a jiffy.
Plain and simple, Kalmbach has always stated that this program was not intended for mobile platforms, so you may be out of luck with your smartphone. I have no experience with the newer Windows tablets, but would assume if you cannot attach your device to a DVD drive, you won't be enjoying it on your portable device.
You are absolutely right, the search engine is HORRIBLE! I also recommend DSchmitt's suggestion of using the search engine on the MR website. It is much more thorough.
Finally, if you find that a search result brings up a page that has nothing to do with your search topic, turn a few pages forward and you should find what you are looking for. There seems to be a disconnect between some issue PDFs and the search engine that I have never gotten a satisfactory resolution to, but the work around will get you to the searched for information most of the time.
I know that you probably will still be upset, but I always kind of looked at it like mining. Do a little digging and the nugget you find might just well be the effort! The DVD really is a goldmine in my opinion.
Hope you find a satisfactory resolution to your concerns.
Chris Ballinger
Modeling the Clementon Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in HO scale
I do not think they are downloadable pdf. The files and program are downloadable to your computer, but the files, which probably are pdf are locked up in some way so that the the program ts required to open them. Hard copies can be printed but they will most likely not be the actual size of the original page. Just close. They cannot be modified or saved. When I want to use a page in another program, I do a "print screen" and open it in a photo editing program. Some resolution is lost but if necessary (like for plans) I can make adjustments to proper scale
There are problems with the Search. The regular search often misses articles and the "full text" search often finds too many non-revelent items. So I also use the Magazine search on this site, which usually finds what I am looking for, as well as several other on-line search engines. No search engine is perfect.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
dj-l-ectric,
In Your situation, it is best to get in touch with CS (Customer Service) call them...not e-mail. The call is free:
https://secure.kalmbach.com/customer/help.aspx?siteid=14&pubcode=mrr
Take Care!
Frank
Is anyone else having trouble using the MR 75 Year Magazine DVDs? I am having several issues I can't find a solution for. Any help on solving these problems would be greatly appreciated.
(1) I was told by a rep at MR before I purchased them that they were all PDF files and the drawings and plans were all downloadable and scalable and I can't figure up how to download them and they seem to be bitmapped images and not scaleable.
(2) When I search for things it won't bring up what I am searching for (Example I tried searching for beginner's primer or how to articles on building kits and I can't find any (I get page after page of ads for kits but no articles or if I do get articles they are all about scratchbuilding...I know MR has run quite a number of these beginners articles over the years but I can't find them.
(3) Again I was told they were all in downloadable PDF files but I can't find a way to down load individual articles so I can transfer them to my lap top or smartphone to read while I am on the road.
(4) When I print pages out the print comes out in a gray color rather than black and it is hard to read.
(5) It would have been really nice if they had put a category search so you could just go to a category on all the articles on scenery or weathering or track laying or layout plans or product review, etc.....and it would have been really nice if the ads were not inluded in the general search but had their own search button, don't know why they linked it to the article text.
Can anyone help me with these issues because at this point I am feeling quite upset with the series and feel like I wasted my money on the purchase (as well as having been mislead by the rep I spoke to at the magazine before buying it).