A highly regarded developer, Balesio remains my go-to for every kind of file 'optimization' and its always-free FILEMinimizer Pictures (which, contrary to some comments elsewhere on this thread, I never remember Balesio charging a penny for) an essential element in my image management toolbox. In fact, of all the apps I've ever recommended to friends, FILEMinimizer Pictures has probably had the highest number of commendations, this because there are always going to be friends and relatives who absolutely INSIST on sending me straight out-of-camera (OOC) shots of Wot-We-Did-On-Holiday, regardless of the fact that, in the days when I had a slo-oo-w Internet connection, the massive file sizes of those pictures either jammed up my POP3 client until it stalled, or the connection failed, or I had to wait from Tuesday breakfast to Saturday lunch to figure out just what it was that an out-of-focus Uncle Bert and Auntie Maisie were doing in Brighton in the rain.

FILEMinimizer Pictures stops all that nonsense by stripping out up to 90% of the data in an image file whilst still allowing that image to appear on a computer monitor without visible degradation. Anyone and everyone who emails images to anyone else really ought to get this free app and use it -- if only out of basic courtesy to others.

That out of the way then, today's giveaway (which doesn't include FILEPicture Minimizer, because that's a standalone freebie) does exactly what it says it will do and does it well. That said, however, this Office version doesn't include the pdf 'optimizer', which to be honest, I find the most useful of all, because when sharing doc / docx files via email -- bearing in mind that no, not everyone wants to go to the hassle of chasing links to shared Cloud storage and then having to DL from there -- document conversion to pdf is, to me, an absolute must. PDF compression is only included in the full FILEMinimizer Suite, which is the one I have, though it can be obtained as a standalone from Balesio by going here:

http://www.balesio.com/fileminimizerpdf/eng/index.php

Be warned though, that as a standalone, it is expensive, in which case you may wish to consider either the various online PDF compression sites (though processing can be a bit time consuming) or try the fairly limited number of freeware apps that are out there, including one which I personally haven't tried but apparently has had some good reports:

http://www.freepdfcompressor.com/

There's also the fact that Balesio is currently running a 50% discount promotion on the full suite which is infinitely better value than opting for the PDF minimizer alone; for more info, go here (note: this link is UK oriented):

http://www.balesio.com/fileminimizer/eng/order.php?req=pdf

One crucial point I should make here is directed at anyone who has an earlier, giveaway copy of Balesio's FILEMinimizer Suite, which cannot be re-installed. I've heard several cases of folks installing a giveaway FILEMinimizer Office only to then discover that the installation has wiped out their pre-existing FILEMinimizer Suite. Whether that's still the case today, I've no idea, but if I did have the Suite (as a giveaway) already installed on this computer, then I'd stay well clear of installing today's Office giveaway.

In conclusion, then: if, for whatever reason, you need to reduce the amount of space taken up by Office material, then today's GOTD is a first-rate opportunity from a first-rank European developer. If you don't, then please, for the sake of yourself and all those who insist on filling your inbox with OOC shots of wholly unnecessary size, go get Balesio's completely free FILEMinimizer Pictures right now:

http://www.balesio.com/fileminimizerpictures/eng/download.php

Big thanks to Balesio and, as ever, to GOTD.

MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+33)

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Sherri My post pointed out that many people want only. . . simplicity. They're not interested in downloadable share links (nor am I: my time is valuable) and a zip is something which some of them may well think is sewn into a garment. Ease-of use and an absence of need to know anything at all about clouds and zips likely characterizes an estimated 80% of the world's computer users who are non-technical. You carry on with your affinity for downloadable shares or zip attachments but don't lecture everyone else on what they should do just because they don't share your views.

<b>Sherri</b> My post pointed out that many people want only. . . <i>simplicity.</i> They're not interested in downloadable share links (nor am I: my time is valuable) and a zip is something which some of them may well think is sewn into a garment. Ease-of use and an absence of need to know anything at all about clouds and zips likely characterizes an estimated 80% of the world's computer users who are non-technical. You carry on with your affinity for downloadable shares or zip attachments but don't lecture everyone else on what they should do just because they don't share your views.
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MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+16)

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I have made in Word 2013 a DOCX with 3 pictures in it:
[file-size 879Kb]
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/GOTD-201602-16.docx
And after compressing [file-size 433Kb]:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/GOTD-201602-16%28FILEminimizer%29.docx
One of the pictures is original 3,63Mb

The file-size is smaller, a bit. Not 50% or more.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Compressie.png

There are differences in the pictures of this doc's:
I opened both in Word and zoomed in to 250%:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Verschil1.png
and
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Verschil2.png

Also a PPT: 3.560Mb -> 2.249 Mb
Screen-dumps of both:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Shot1.png
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Shot2.png
Almost identical, but zoomed in to 400%:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/FILEminimizerOffice70_20160216/Verschil3-400%25.png

Ootje  –  8 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+24)

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Installed on Windows 7 x64 OK, but I chose custom install, and un ticked the associations with Word etc. as I wished to test it and not have problems un installing.
You can drag and drop files into a box, but it is very specific to the appropriate files, word documents etc as indicated "on the box", it will not accept pictures, PDF,s etc. I checked on the web site, and they do have a version that apparently works with all files, but that is £63.
If the version given could compress pictures it would have been very useful, but my word and spread sheet files are only small anyway, so thanks GOTD and Balesio, but I do not need this.

Brian Hughes  –  8 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+20)

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Brian Hughes
Balesio have now turned into FREEware their "FILEminimizer Pictures," which I've used for years, with good results.
http://balesio.com/fileminimizerpictures/eng/index.php

<b>Brian Hughes</b> Balesio have now turned into FREEware their "FILEminimizer Pictures," which I've used for years, with good results. http://balesio.com/fileminimizerpictures/eng/index.php
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Ioannis  –  8 years ago  –  Vond je deze reactie nuttig? ja | nee (+14)

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