batch

Get it straight

Not infrequently we see friends and family members sharing photos online that are sideways, often with the disclaimer, "Sorry, I don't know how to rotate it." If you're one of these orientation-challenged people--or if you're just looking for an easy way to rotate many photos at once--try Batch JPEG Rotator. This simple program doesn't do much, but it does make it extremely easy to rotate your digital images.

The program's interface is sleek and intuitive. A large open work area dominates the interface, with a menu down the side giving users access to … Read more

The Word is Help

Compiled HTML Help (CHM) files are frequently used in Windows applications. Batchwork's Batch CHM to Word Converter converts CHM files to Microsoft Word documents singly or in batches. To that end, it integrates a file-specific search feature; drag-and-drop functionality; and the ability to pause, save, and resume conversion jobs in project files using a proprietary format (.batch-doc2chm) in a single, simple interface.

This is a compact tool that downloads, installs, and sets up quickly. The interface is intentionally simple and efficient, with an integrated file menu/toolbar, Source and Target fields, Search and Convert buttons, and main file display. … Read more

Spotty performance

As its name would suggest, Konverter does indeed give users the ability to convert their files to a wide variety of different file formats, and it does so with ease. But its other included features didn't quite measure up.

The program's simple, self-explanatory main interface features drop-down menus lining the top of the window, as well as frequently used commands. We started by testing the Convert option. The program offers an impressive list of file format options, including PNG, PTIFF, SGI, and more. We selected a JPEG file and, using the Convert menu, opted to convert it to … Read more

Preview: Batch resize images

For users that require the ability to batch process images in order to change their sizes, this quick tip will show you how to do just that using Mac OS X's Preview application. Users can also batch rotate and flip their images if needed.… Read more

Intuitive image converter

Advanced Batch Image to PDF Converter is an easy-to-use tool that converts images into PDF files. It's not the most beautiful or sophisticated program, but it works well, offering just the right number of features.

The program's interface is plain but intuitive, with each step of the process helpfully numbered. You select the images to convert, choose the output directory, and select document properties and image scaling. The program quickly converts the selected images to PDFs and stores them in the designated directory. We liked that users can choose portrait or landscape orientation, and we found it especially … Read more

Plug-in for Useful File Utilities

Batch Replacer for MS Word is a plug-in for the Useful File Utilities program that allows users to complete find-and-replace tasks in multiple documents at once. The plug-in works but is not particularly easy to use.

We previously reviewed Useful File Utilities on its own and came to the conclusion that it was a mediocre file management tool, more complicated than it really needed to be and without any notable features. Batch Replacer for MS Word adds an extra bit of functionality, but fits in with the general feel of the program, which is that it's not very user-friendly. … Read more

Plug-in for Useful File Utilities

Batch Replacer for MS Excel is a plug-in for the Useful File Utilities program that allows users to complete find-and-replace tasks in multiple documents at once. The plug-in works but is not particularly easy to use.

We previously reviewed Useful File Utilities on its own and came to the conclusion that it was a mediocre file management tool, more complicated than it really needed to be and without any notable features. Batch Replacer for MS Excel adds an extra bit of functionality, but fits in with the general feel of the program, which is that it's not very easy … Read more

Convert Excel files

Batch XLSX to XLS Converter provides a simple tool for converting Excel file types. The program's layout is basic enough for any skill level to have success with.

The program's interface struck us as drastically different from other converters we'd tested. It was so basic--only containing a few commands--that we found experimenting for a few seconds was more helpful than reading the instructional Help file. The program avoided the pitfalls of other converters by not allowing us multiple options for conversion. We liked that XLS files were converted to XLSX files and vice versa, with no opportunities … Read more

File renamer

Aoao Batch Rename provides a smooth way to rename an infinite number of files at once. With its functions broken down to the most basic components, users of any skill level will be able to utilize it.

The program's interface felt delightfully simple to us. What few commands there were felt intuitive, which was handy since there was no Help file. We simply picked a handful of files from our collection and entered the name we'd like to see them called into the appropriate field. There were also serial-number-assigning tools that were east to understand. We appreciated that … Read more

In-depth photo editor

PhotoLine provides a wealth of tools for editing photographs. While there is a great deal of options, the program seems to be aimed at users with a lot of prior image altering knowledge.

The program's interface kept us guessing when we started since it was cluttered with icons for editing tools and various windows with technical information. A visit to the Help file's definitions clarified a lot, but we still needed to experiment, especially to understand the more technical aspects. The program offered a great deal of editing options, from ones that fix small facial blemishes to cropping … Read more