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DocMorph: Electronic Document Conversion

 
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What problems does NLM DocMorph Solve?
Who Uses DocMorph?
What is the difference between DocMorph and MyMorph?
Do I need to register separately for DocMorph and MyMorph?
Why does it take a long time to upload and download files?
What happens to files that are uploaded to DocMorph?
Is my information safe?
What is TIFF?
What is PDF?


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What problems does NLM DocMorph solve?
DocMorph makes it easier to exchange, use, and distribute electronic information by enabling users to convert more than 50 types of files into alternative formats: PDF, TIFF, and text.  For example, DocMorph easily converts scanned images (e.g., TIFF files) into PDF format. DocMorph's ability to handle color, grayscale, and monochrome images, means that many types of documents may be converted to PDF.

DocMorph is increasingly being used to convert PDF files to black and white TIFF format.  This is useful for library document delivery services using commercial systems that require scanned images to be in the TIFF, rather than PDF, format.  Since more electronic publications are in the PDF format, DocMorph (or MyMorph) is highly useful for this pre-delivery conversion to TIFF.


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Who Uses DocMorph?
DocMorph has more than 19,000 registered users: librarians, researchers, students, and the general public.


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What is the difference between DocMorph and MyMorph?
DocMorph is a Web Site that provides five functions for file conversion with your browser.  MyMorph is a software program that runs on your computer and replaces your browser for three of DocMorph's functions: conversion of files to PDF, multipage TIFF, or text.  MyMorph uses the DocMorph Web Site during file conversion, and runs in batch mode to allow you to convert hundreds of files at a time to one of these three formats.


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Do I need to register separately for DocMorph and MyMorph?
DocMorph and MyMorph require separate user registrations.  If you want to use only MyMorph, then you do not need to register for DocMorph. Both registrations are free.  While DocMorph registration is done through this web site (click on the registration link), MyMorph registration is done through MyMorph the first time it runs.


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Why does it take a long time to upload and download files?
File upload and download times may range from a few seconds to twenty minutes or more depending on the speed of your connection and the size of your files. After the conversion is completed, DocMorph will give resulting file sizes so that you have an indication of how long the download may take.


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What happens to files that are uploaded to DocMorph?

The results are made available for one hour after the files that have been uploaded are processed. After one hour, the files are automatically removed from DocMorph.


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Is my information safe?

The files you submit to DocMorph either via your browser or via MyMorph are normally not seen by anyone except you.  If your job fails to run, then the submitted file(s) may be kept for awhile at NLM until the problem is resolved, then they are deleted.  Because the information sent from your computer to DocMorph is not encrypted, it is not safe to send information of a sensitive nature, since it could be intercepted anywhere while in transit.


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What is TIFF?

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format. DocMorph handles nearly all types of TIFF files, except for some old types of TIFF  JPEG files. TIFF files may be submitted as single page or multi-page TIFF. Images may be black and white, grayscale, color, uncompressed, or compressed using LZW, Group 3 or Group 4 algorithms. DocMorph also handles PackBits compression.


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What is PDF?

PDF is an abbreviation for Portable Document Format.



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U.S. National Library of Medicine , 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
National Institutes of Health , Department of Health & Human Services
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Site last updated: October 9, 2007