PDF page numbers and Bates numbering explained
Page numbers are not as simple as they look: covers, roman numerals, ranges and legal Bates stamps all behave differently. Here is how to get them right.
· 6 min read
Guides
Longer pieces about the things our tools do, written to explain the trade-offs rather than to sell you something. Every guide is original and specific to the tools on this site.
8 articles · no newsletter, no pop-ups, no reading-time padding
PDF
Privacy
Is it safe to upload files to free online converters?
The honest answer is "sometimes, and you usually cannot tell". This is how to read a privacy policy for the details that matter, and when not to upload at all.
· 7 min read
Privacy
What your photos reveal about you, and how to strip it
A photo taken at home can carry the exact coordinates of your house. This explains EXIF data, what each field holds, and the simplest ways to remove it.
· 8 min read
Files
How to share large files without paying for cloud storage
Before you buy more storage, try shrinking the files. This covers what actually reduces size, how to split archives, and when a link is the wrong answer.
· 7 min read
Files
ZIP vs 7z vs RAR: which archive format should you actually use?
ZIP wins on compatibility, 7z wins on size, RAR wins on almost nothing. Here is the trade-off in plain terms, with guidance for sending files to other people.
· 6 min read
Files
How to create a ZIP file on any device
Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and Android all ship a ZIP tool, but they hide it in different places. Here is where, plus the browser fallback when you have nothing.
· 8 min read
Images
How to compress images for the web without ruining them
Format choice matters more than the quality slider. This covers WebP and AVIF, why PNG is wrong for photos, and how to hit an exact target file size.
· 9 min read
PDF
How to merge PDFs without uploading them anywhere
Most free PDF mergers upload your files first. This explains how to combine documents entirely on your own machine, and why the difference matters for contracts and invoices.
· 7 min read
What these guides are for
Most “how to” articles about file formats are written to rank rather than to help, and they rarely tell you the part that matters: when the obvious approach is the wrong one. These guides try to do the opposite. Where a format has a real limitation, it is stated. Where a technique only works in some situations, that is explained rather than glossed over.
They are also written to be useful independently of the tools. If you read the guide on compressing images and decide to use desktop software instead, the guidance about format choice and target file size still applies, because it is about how the formats work rather than about this particular website.