DocuLathe

DocuLathe is a high-performance Windows desktop utility engineered for effortless single-file and batch conversions. Designed with an expandable, format-agnostic architecture, DocuLathe currently provides fast, high-fidelity conversion of Microsoft Publisher (.pub) files to PDF (.pdf), with additional document transformations (including PDF to Word, Word to PDF, and image conversion) coming soon.

Whether you need to convert a single legacy publication or process thousands of files nested across complex folder hierarchies, DocuLathe handles the entire workflow offline, securely, and with zero telemetry.

KEY FEATURES

• High-Fidelity Conversion: Automatically uses Microsoft Publisher COM Interop when Publisher is installed for 100% layout and font preservation. If Publisher is absent, DocuLathe seamlessly routes through an integrated headless LibreOffice engine.
• Batch & Folder Processing: Drag and drop individual files, multi-file selections, or entire directory trees. DocuLathe can recursively scan subfolders and preserve your original folder structure in the output directory.
• Pre-Flight Validation: Instantly detects zero-byte files, corrupt binary headers, and password-protected files upon drop, flagging them in the queue without interrupting batch execution.
• Advanced PDF Export Controls: Adjust output quality presets (Minimum Size, Standard, High Quality Print, Commercial Press), specify custom page ranges, enforce ISO 19005-1 (PDF/A) archival compliance, and configure bleed and crop marks globally or on a per-file basis.
• Modern Fluent Interface: Features a clean, dark-mode-native Windows 11 Fluent design with live taskbar progress indicators and non-blocking background workers.
• Windows Shell Integration: Convert documents with a single click directly from Windows Explorer using the right-click context menu.
• Complete Privacy: 100% local processing. Files never leave your workstation or network.

Operating System:

Windows 10 (version 1809 or higher, 64-bit)
Windows 11 (64-bit)
Windows Server 2019 / 2022 (64-bit)

Hardware:

Processor: 1.0 GHz or faster 64-bit (x64) processor
Memory (RAM): 512 MB minimum (150 MB baseline runtime footprint)
Storage: 100 MB free disk space for base application (~450 MB if installing the optional headless LibreOffice fallback engine)
Display: 1024 x 768 minimum resolution

Software Dependencies:

.NET 8.0 Desktop Runtime (x64) (included with self-contained builds)
Conversion Engine (one of the following):
Microsoft Publisher (installed and activated as part of Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365), OR
LibreOffice (standard system installation or downloaded via DocuLathe's built-in one-click engine downloader / installer package).

DocuLathe is distributed as an enterprise-ready installer (DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe) supporting interactive GUI installs, unattended scripted rollouts, per-user installations, and centralized mass deployment across fleets of workstations.

MANUAL INSTALLATION (INTERACTIVE GUI)

1. Download DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe.
2. Double-click the installer. If prompted by Windows User Account Control (UAC), click "Yes".
3. Choose whether to install for "All Users" (System-Wide, recommended) or "Current User Only" (no administrative rights required).
4. Select optional tasks (Desktop Shortcut, Windows Explorer Right-Click Context Menu, and optional Standalone LibreOffice Fallback Engine download).
5. Click "Install" to complete setup.

COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS & SWITCHES

Core Installer Flags: /VERYSILENT Installs completely in the background with no wizard, dialogs, or progress windows. /SILENT Installs quietly, displaying only a small status/progress bar without user prompts.

/SUPPRESSMSGBOXES Automatically suppresses any message boxes, selecting default responses. Always pair with /VERYSILENT.

/NORESTART Prevents the system from restarting after installation under all circumstances.

/ALLUSERS Installs system-wide to "%ProgramFiles%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe" and registers context menus in HKLM. Requires administrative rights.

/CURRENTUSER Installs on a per-user basis to "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe" and registers context menus in HKCU. Does not require admin rights.

/DIR="" Overrides the default installation directory.

/LOG="" Writes a verbose installation log to the specified file (useful for deployment auditing and troubleshooting).

/TASKS to define exactly which optional features are enabled:

desktopicon Creates a desktop shortcut.

contextmenu Adds the "Convert to PDF with DocuLathe" option to Windows Explorer right-click menus for supported files and folders.

provisionfallback Automatically downloads and configures the standalone headless LibreOffice engine during installation. Ideal for machines without Microsoft Publisher.

Syntax: /TASKS=",," (Enables only the listed tasks) /MERGETASKS="!" (Keeps default tasks but disables a specific task with a leading exclamation mark)

COMMAND LINE INSTALLATION EXAMPLES

Example A: Standard Silent System-Wide Install (Machines with MS Publisher) Installs DocuLathe for all users with the desktop icon and right-click context menu:

DocuLathe-Setup-1.3.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu"

Example B: Silent System-Wide Install with Automated LibreOffice Download Installs DocuLathe for all users, registers context menus, and downloads the standalone fallback engine so conversion works out-of-the-box on machines without Office:

DocuLathe-Setup-1.3.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu,provisionfallback"

Example C: Minimal Silent Install (No Context Menu, No Desktop Icon) Installs only the core conversion software silently for all users:

DocuLathe-Setup-1.3.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS=""

Example D: Silent Per-User Install (No Administrative Rights Required) Installs into the logged-in user's profile:

DocuLathe-Setup-1.3.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /CURRENTUSER /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu"

ENTERPRISE DEPLOYMENT (INTUNE, SCCM, GPO)

MICROSOFT INTUNE (ENDPOINT MANAGER)

1. Package DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe into an .intunewin package using the Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool (IntuneWinAppUtil.exe).
2. Add the app in Intune as a Windows app (Win32).
3. Configure the commands:

• Install command: DocuLathe-Setup-1.3.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu,provisionfallback"
• Uninstall command: "%ProgramFiles%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART
• Install behavior: System
• Device restart behavior: App install may finish without restart

1. Detection Rules:

• Rule format: Manually configure detection rules
• Rule type: File
• Path: C:\Program Files\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe
• File or folder: DocuLathe.exe
• Detection method: File or folder exists (or String (version) equals 1.3.0)

MICROSOFT SCCM / MECM

1. Create a new Application in Software Library > Application Management > Applications.
2. Manually specify the application details:

• Name: DocuLathe
• Publisher: Big G Softwares
• Version: x.x.x

1. Add a Deployment Type using "Script Installer":

• Installation program: DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu,provisionfallback"
• Uninstall program: "%ProgramFiles%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART
• Installation behavior: Install for system
• Logon requirement: Whether or not a user is logged on

1. Detection Method:

• Setting Type: File System
• Path: %ProgramFiles%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe
• File: DocuLathe.exe
• Operator: Greater than or equal to x.x.x.x

GROUP POLICY (GPO)

Because DocuLathe is offered as an exe only at this time, you can deploy it through Active Directory Group Policy using a Computer Startup Script (PowerShell or Batch):

1. Place DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe on a network share accessible by domain computers (Read permissions for "Domain Computers").
2. Create a GPO linked to your target Organizational Unit (OU).
3. Under Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Scripts (Startup/Shutdown) > Startup, add a batch file:

@echo off if not exist "C:\Program Files\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe\DocuLathe.exe" ( "\your-server\share\DocuLathe-Setup-x.x.x-x64.exe" /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /ALLUSERS /TASKS="desktopicon,contextmenu,provisionfallback" )

UNINSTALLATION

Manual Uninstallation: Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Control Panel > Programs and Features), locate "DocuLathe", and click "Uninstall".

Silent Command Line Uninstallation (System-Wide Install): "%ProgramFiles%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART

Silent Command Line Uninstallation (Per-User Install): "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART

Optional Clean-up: User settings, logs, and downloaded engines are preserved during uninstallation in case of reinstallation. To completely purge all application data after uninstalling, remove:

• System/Roaming config: "%AppData%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe"
• Local engine cache & logs: "%LocalAppData%\Big G Softwares\DocuLathe"