(last edited on April 29, 2014 at 1:28 am)
Reader Robert K. Brown sent me a version of The Printable CEO he had meticulously recreated in PowerPoint. It’s uncannily faithful to the original layout. Robert notes that the colors don’t print quite the same, so downloaders may want to tweak them…because it’s editable!
This is not a slide presentation, nor is it interactive; it’s just easy to edit the PowerPoint slide for printing. If you used the Excel version in the past and wished it looked more like the PDF, then give the PowerPoint version a try.
I’m particularly impressed by his clever use of PowerPoint. I don’t ordinarily use it because I’ve got Macromedia Flash and make custom presentations as part of my work. However, PowerPoint has come a long way, and while it doesn’t offer the advanced capabilities of Flash, it’s probably safe to say that it’s the standard graphics application for business. I didn’t even think of it when making that original Excel editable version of the PCEO. An important lesson! I’ve thought that maybe I should learn how to make cool Word templates too; we designer types get caught up in using our fancy tools that require fancy technology to make everything just perfect and eschew “everyday” tools like Microsoft Office. This doesn’t have to be the case. I should really look more into the Office Suite to see what it can do.
Thanks Robert! You rock!
» Download PowerPoint Version
» PCEO-CGT01-RPK-PowerPoint.zip
scanned with Norton Anti-Virus 2005
Why Not Release Source?
I’m sometimes asked why I don’t release the original Illustrator CS2 files to the public. Here’s my reasoning:
- It goes against my instinct about releasing source files from being in the design business, though this might not apply here. The print designers I know are pretty careful about what they release, and if source files are involved they charge a hefty premium. Since I’m not making any money off of this, maybe it’s a moot point.
- However, there may come a time that I do want to make something out of this, and therefore I want to maintain control over the appearance of the forms. So holding on to source is like a promise to myself that I’ll do something cool with them later.
- In the meantime, it’s kind of fun to think of other ways to distribute the PCEO concept using other media, the way Robert has. My thinking is to make a Flash version, but no one has really cried out for this so it remains on the back burner.
- For those of you out there thinking, “Hey, I have Illustrator CS2! I could use the source files!”, did you know you can import PDF files directly into the program? Well, you can. It won’t be as easy as editing the actual source since the graphics get broken down into vectors, but hey…you have Illustrator CS2…you already know how to deal with that!
- Or you can always hire me to make some quick modifications. I have reasonable rates ;-)
I’m really curious about how people choose their own priorities, so if you feel like sharing, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment. C’mon, it’ll be fun! It will help guide future development too!
6 Comments
Hi. You’re probably already familiar with Doug Johnston’s DIY Planner site (http://www.diyplanner.com/). I remember when he first released his pack of templates, he got emails from people wanting the source and telling him they were going to put their company logo on their copies (but not credit him). He wrote a post on it but I can’t find it on his site (http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/).
However, I did find the post he did on using Creative Commons, so I wonder if you’ve thought of something like that. (http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2004/12/13/cc-license/)
All best—meb
Thanks for the heads-up Mike! I think I remember the post that you were talking about… I can’t find it either. In any case, I probably will adapt one of the Creative Commons licenses…the handy “cartoon explanation” tipped the scales. I love cartoons! :-)
It’s a little odd that there is no U.S. jurisdiction yet listed on the Creative Commons site…hopefully that will pop up soon.
RE: “My thinking is to make a Flash version, but no one has really cried out for this so it remains on the back burner.”
I’m crying out for this now. Although I assume that any future Flash versions will be in swf with the source fla not included. That’s ok.
I’m using the Pocketmod “version” of the PCEO right now, hence the interest in Flash (Pocketmod (www.pocketmod.com) is Flash-based.
Hey Kevin—you’re the first person to actually say “yeah, I want it!”, so that helps move the project to the front burner :-) What would you like to see?
I’m thinking of something that allows you to customize a form for printing out of the browser. This is similar to pocket mod I think, but I haven’t played with it that much.
Um, I’m not a developer, so I don’t know if my comment will be deleted on sight since I don’t have a URL, nonetheless, finding your site tonight was exciting enough for me to print out everything I could, and show them to my husband (who IS a programmer) and announce, “I love these forms so much, I have the cold, excited, feeling, in the pit of my stomach!!” He replied, “I feel scared.” However, I digress.
I want a flash version of ALL OF IT! I’m trying out the goal tracker flash and so far, I’m liking it a lot. :)
Great site.
I just made a customized version of the Concrete Goals Tracker for my handspun thread business using the PP file, and I just want to encourage anyone who is not very techie to give it a try – took me no time at all, and I love the result. Thanks again David!