Cool Tools (free And Cheap)

[Digger88]

Aerials, comp maps, zoning maps, future land use maps, costar graphs/charts/tables, legal descriptions (from deeds), surveys, building sketches, etc.

The primary timesavers are the following:
1. when you use snagit, you select the area that you copy instead of copying 1, 2, or 3+ screens of stuff
2. you can set it so that when a selection is made, it automatically is placed on the clipboard and is ready for pasting into a word doc
3. adding text, arrows, lines, etc. is much easier for exhibits (I like to overlay the zoning description and add an arrow to indicate the subject on PDF zoning maps- see attached)
4. you can record what you see on your screen if you want to show someone how to do something, or record whatever

oh, ok. you cg's use it. i dont put any of that stuff in my reports and i dont do narratives.

 

[NachoPerito]

hmmmm..

It seems like the Snipping Tool and Snagit are very similar, but Snagit can do two things that the Snipping tool can't do

1) record video
2) Better editing tools of the snipped image (For example you can't put an arrow on the image in the Snipping Tool)

 

[Deleted member 152047]

more Free:
Snipping Tool (but maybe I will give Snagit a try since everyone is crazy about it)

It'll pay for itself in the first week. $50 for a permanent license can't be beat.

 

[Flakey]

If you keep digital work files, Snagit really helps. I capture literally everything I look at relative to an appraisal report with Snagit and save to to the file. After I scan my field notes, I'm done. No paper files.

 

[TRESinc]

The primary timesavers are the following:
1. when you use snagit, you select the area that you copy instead of copying 1, 2, or 3+ screens of stuff
2. you can set it so that when a selection is made, it automatically is placed on the clipboard and is ready for pasting into a word doc
3. adding text, arrows, lines, etc. is much easier for exhibits (I like to overlay the zoning description and add an arrow to indicate the subject on PDF zoning maps- see attached)
4. you can record what you see on your screen if you want to show someone how to do something, or record whatever

with the exception of the live view the clipping tool does all of that. i use it every day


-edit-

another great little tool i use if CutePDF. it's a free pdf print driver. so when i use the snipping tool for say an overhead shot instead of saving it as a jpeg i print it to a pdf file.

 

[NC Appraising]

with the exception of the live view the clipping tool does all of that. i use it every day


-edit-

another great little tool i use if CutePDF. it's a free pdf print driver. so when i use the snipping tool for say an overhead shot instead of saving it as a jpeg i print it to a pdf file.

Not sure what system you are using, but Windows 10 has a PDF built-in in the drop down section of the printer. I use to use CutePDF too,

 

[NachoPerito]

For those in the narrative world, I like Wordrake (https://www.wordrake.com/). A freebie that's worth looking at is Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/).

I downloaded WordRake yesterday to take advantage of the free trial for a week. It is making a lot of improvements to my templates.

 

[TRESinc]

Not sure what system you are using, but Windows 10 has a PDF built-in in the drop down section of the printer. I use to use CutePDF too,

i like cutepdf and have been using it for years. i avoid using any microsoft software if at all possible. they seem to give me the most problems and they are the most susceptible to attacks and hacks.

 

[Raven59]

I downloaded WordRake yesterday to take advantage of the free trial for a week. It is making a lot of improvements to my templates.

Word catches issues but WordRake seems to more comprehensive. I did not buy the Outlook version because WordRake would lock up my system occasionally.

 

[RSW]

Snagits scrolling capture is indispensable

Why not use the snipit tool in Windows? It is already there and you don't have to download it. I have used it for years and yes, I use it daily just like some of your use nagit.