Since Zümmer is a report intensive application, using a PDF output device is probably the best option for printing. Of the many PDF options available, Adobe Acrobat PDF provides the best printer preference features.
The post: Streamlining the Printing Process with Adobe Acrobat details the procedures for setting up the best printing configuration found to work with Zümmer by assigning 1) an Output folder and 2) disabling the ability to view Adobe PDF results.
To date, another PDF Printer device with these features has not been found. In addition to the Printing Preference options, Adobe Acrobat allows for combining multiple PDFs into one PDF file with multiple options including bookmarking. The following steps for report combination assume:
1) Adobe Acrobat PDF is the default printer and;
2) the Adobe Acrobat PDF Printing Preferences are in accordance the topic detailing the streamlining the printing process.
Step 1: Select the Zümmer Reports to print.
In the figure below, Zümmer Analysis Reports:
a) #01 thru #47;
b) Analysis Charts 1 & 2;
c) Analysis Statistics 1 & 2;
d) Predecessor Successor Report and;
e) Project Settings
…are selected to Print for Project ID: VS2-BL4-UP13.
For this exercise, the “Include Summary” option is checked which adds the Analysis Summary Schedule report to the list. A total of 54 reports will be printed for this series.
Step 2: View the resulting output PDF files and remove all blank reports.
In the illustration below, all reports have been printed and are display by “Date Modified” in the PDF Port folder view. For this illustration, only the last 16 Analysis Reports are displayed, however, all 54 reports are contained in the PDF Port Folder.
Note: During the printing process for this exercise, the total time to print all 54 reports was under 3 minutes. Of course, results will vary depending on many factors, however, the results achieved is typical for a standard Zümmer report series.
Next, click on the “Size” column header so that the smallest reports are on the top as shown below.
In the illustration above, an additional 6 reports not shown are reporting at 6 KB in size. Most likely, the smallest PDF file sizes indicates that there were no results that satisfied the Report’s criteria. Depending on your PC and software application configuration, zero result reports may have a different size. You can verify empty reports, by opening the first report and observing if any results are displayed.
In this configuration, a 6 KB file size indicates zero results. Therefore, all reports with a file size of 6 KB can be safely deleted. Since the file size of the remaining reports (shown below) are greater than 6 KB, they contain data and therefore will be combined into the final report.
Step 3: Combine the remaining Analysis Reports.
Next, Select All (Ctrl-A) highlights the remaining Analysis Reports, then Right-Click to display the “Combine supported files in Acrobat…” option.
In the Adobe Acrobat Combine Files window shown below, all the Analysis Reports default to sorting alphabetically by name. Note that in this exercise, report “00 summary schedule analysis” is at the top. Each of the named reports in the combined list will become a Bookmark Panel in the combined PDF file.
Next, click on the “Combine Files” shown above. The result is a combined PDF file named “Binder1.pdf” as shown below:
Step 4: Setting Properties and renaming the Binder1.pdf file.
From the File option above, select Properties to display the Document Properties window. Then select the Page layout: option – Bookmarks Panel and Page as shown below.
Since this is schedule analysis for Project “TS2-BL4-UP13″, select File, Save As, then enter a File name such as:
VS2-BL4-UP13 – Thyme Street Building 2 – Schedule Analysis – DD 01-May19.pdf
Finally close the file, then re-open the file to display the combined PDF file in the format shown below.
The left column displays the automated named Bookmarks while the right panel displays Page 1. Clicking on the Bookmark line item causes the right panel to display the first page of the selected report.
A combined and bookmarked PDF file in this format adds an elegant and professional grade touch to your Zümmer report deliverables.
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