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Are you For or Against PDF? Depending on your perspective, PDF (Portable Document Format) can be a blessing or a source of frustration. So, why do Web site owners use PDF? PDF is revolutionary. Using Acrobat Reader, anyone can view and print PFD files, regardless of the computer or operating system used. And, there are more good points:Accessibility Anyone can view or print PDF files without purchasing a software. Acrobat Reader is required but can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet. When a PDF file is opened, everyone sees an identically formatted document. The elements including fonts, links, colours, graphics, special characters remain intact. Your corporate identity is preserved with the same logo, fonts, colours, graphics. Combination and reduction of files Different types of files e.g. spreadsheets and documents can be combined into a single compact file. What you see is what you get. The breaks, margins, rich graphics keep their original format and position. It’s ideal for desktop publishers and printers. Cost savings It is cheaper to transfer bits on the internet than printing and distributing reams of paper. Your document can be protected from unauthorised access or alterations. Valuable for e-books! Converting files to PDF format is easy. Considering all the above benefits, PDF has to be a winner. Then, why do Web users object to PDF? For web users, PDF translates to extra time and effort and lack of flexibility. These are the objections: Although free, Acrobat Reader still needs to be downloaded and updated regularly. PDF files take longer to download than their HTML counterpart. When no information is provided on the contents of the file, you have to guess if the extra mouse clicks and time to download are worth it. Unfamiliar interface You need to learn to navigate using a totally different interface. The URL does not appear at the bottom of the page as on HTML pages. To track back a file, you must manually note the URL. As PDF is a published format, you cannot alter the file’s contents and layout. Working with PDF, the objectionable winner Cues for web site ownersCues for web surfers Understanding how to work with PDF can reduce your frustration. You can save the document but you cannot bookmark it. To save a PDF file, right click the link (instead of left-clicking to open the file). Choose from the menu, "save link as", "save target as" or any similar saving option available on your program. By using the Text Select Tool in the Acrobat Reader, you can select and copy text in the PDF file and paste into your word processing document. You will lose the original format but in return you will be able to edit the text. To copy and paste graphics, use Graphics Select Tool. See your Acrobat Reader’s Help menu for more tips. Conclusion Jakob Nielsen, the guru in web site usability, believes that PDF makes usability approximately 300% worse compared to HTML pages. Although objectionable for some web users, PDF plays a valuable role especially
when accessibility, file size, document format, and security are critical
issues. Use PDF with discernment.
Free resources © Henriette Martel
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