size of snapshot files

[Guest]

I have a report that displays jpeg images to the user. The user has an option
to email the reports to themselves. The jpegs are typically 600kb each. The
report is emailed as a snapshot file, and when it (eventually) sends, the
snapshot file is about 10 times as large (6,000 kb) !!

Why does it expand the file size so much, and how can I prevent it from
doing so? Perhaps there is a way to tell access just to attach the jpeg files
to the mail instead of converting to snapshot?

Thanks all.

 

[bob]

Images in Snapshot files are uncompressed, and therefore very much larger than your original jpeg files.


One answer is to generate PDF output, which allows you to use compressed images and to specify the compression
level and resolution. You can then generate either high quality output (eg for printing) or highly compressed
output (eg for emailing) from the same source.

To do this look for a PDF Printer driver that allows you to specify image compression and resolution.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Bob.

Not sure how to progress what you suggest.

I get the feeling this is complicated and way over my head. I've visited
cutepdf and trawled through some 'access pdf' searches on these forums, but I
can't find anything that goes in baby steps. There also seem to be many,
often conflicting, suggestions on solution.

Do you know where I can get definitive easy to follow step-by-step
instructions for a 5 year old?

 

[bob]

It should be straightforward:

1) Download and install a PDF Printer driver.
2) Print your report to the virtual printer.
3) Experiment with different compression and resolution settings until you are happy with the size vs quality.

There are various suitable PDF printer products available, some free, some commercial. Some allow configuration
of compression and resolution, some do not.

CutePDF
PDF995
PrimoPDF
PDFWriter
Adobe Acrobat (full product required, not just the free reader)
Win2PDF
PDF Factory

Steve Arbaugh's PDF and Mail Class:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/attac-cg/

Stephen Lebans has another PDF solution (free) at:
http://www.lebans.com/reporttopdf.htm