Viewing / Printing tif files has become very difficult with Windows 7 & Office 2010

[Guest Skid Rowe]

We are in the process of upgrading from XP Pro w/ Office 2003 to Windows 7 w/ Office 2010. One thing I have noticed is the inability to easily setup / view and/or print tif files in Windows 7 w/ Office 2010.

XP Pro w/ Office 2003 was a breeze using Document Imaging. You can view / print multi-page tif files and select All or pages from: n to: n and our users were comfortable with this process and they use it EVERY day.

With an upgrade to Office 2010 the Microsoft Office Document Imaging app is gone, so my first thought was it must have been incorporated into the operating system and IF you have a scanner connected to your PC it is (kinda'), but if you don't then you're out of luck. I personally use Windows Fax and Scan to convert xlsx files to tif files by using the Fax server function then canceling part-way through (still opens the New Fax windows where i drag the attachment to my desktop), but i wouldn't want our users to have to do this (clunky at best).

I have used the Windows 7 Photo Viewer, but it misses one important function and that is the inability to print only select pages, which leads me to believe that it was not developed / designed for multi-page tif files, but rather, as the name implies, photos.

Problem: I have a 48 page tif file, I need to print page 7, 14, & 26, I have several hundred dollars invested in a operating system and an office suite (I should mention that we have an enterprise agreement), but to print pages 7, 14, & 26 I'll have to buy a 3 party app to do that OR uninstall Office 2010 and install Office 2003 or 2007. A bit confusing to say the least.

I know IrfanView can do this, but I refuse to buy another application to do what we have been doing for SO LONG with office. Office 2003 and 2007 can perform this function - why can't Office 2010. Tif is an industry standard why not suport it?

Any suggestions?

 

Continue reading...