How to use vector graphics in your reports and presentations

Andrew Maier (amaier@ualberta.ca)

Sila “Praise” Luckanachai (luckanac@ualberta.ca)

You will need to use the OpenOffice.org programs to do your exporting to pdf format.

It can be downloaded from here:

http://www.openoffice.org/download/other.html

Try this link for the windows version or this link for the linux version

Creating Scalable Vector Graphics

The goal here is to create a drawing or schematic and save it in the “.svg” scalable vector graphic format. You can use any program you know of that will output this type from a schematic. However, I chose to use Google Docs Drawings.

To do it in google docs simply navigate to drive.google.com and sign in with your ualberta email.

Click Create -> Drawing.

Edit your diagram using the built in tools.

When finished, click File-> Download As...-> Scalable Vector Graphics.

Using OpenOffice.org with Scalable Vector Graphics

Now create your report or presentation using the open office programs (ie Writer or Impress).

Simply import your .svg file into your document Insert -> Picture -> From File... and choose your .svg drawing.

Then export the file as a pdf when complete File -> Export As PDF

You now have a pdf document that uses scalable vector graphics!

Note this is especially useful for the design project poster as they are printed on large paper.