|
MULTIMEDIA SIG: |
PDF INFORMATION I have found the Create Adobe site online and will research it there but just thought I would ask the great brain as well. Thanks for your thoughts. No, I don't remember how much Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional cost. But I create pdf files all the time when I need to email info to people. Putting PDF files on your web site is the same as any other file. Just up load them to the server. When someone requests a file, their computer will either automatically load Adobe Reader to display the file or complain that it can't be found. Adobe Reader is a free download. If everything is set up correctly, reading PDF files is quire transparent to the end user. The advantage of PDF files is the creator can send files that are exactly like the files on the home computer. The end user does not need any drivers or special fonts. Also if you type in other languages and scripts, they are automatically displayed on the target computer without problems. If you want to see an example of multiple character sets, look at the web site: So, the link looked like this: Couldn't be easier! BTW: Serifs desk top publishing program Page Plus can publish as a PDF and decodes PDF files imported in to it. Fantastic program. All the features of PageMaker plus some for way less money and intuitive in use. One of my main programs. http://www.serif.com If putting PDFs on you website - yes it's easy and just requires the file to be with all your webpages, with a webpage containing a link to it (the same for any type of file to see/download - Word docs, sound files, or other webpages, etc.). BUT as Tim J says, do warn people that it's a PDF file and preferably quote the file size too - that way people can choose to save the file to their computer rather than opening it directly in their browser which can take ages, especially if its a large file, or even crash browsers if they are overloaded. If possible, always give people a choice for accessing the same content - webpage or PDF - because plain webpages are far better for viewing on screen; PDFs are really for printing out. Making a PDF of an existing document is way easier than reformatting as HTML for the content provider, but it is also significantly harder work (and less pleasant) for the reader. Suddenly stumbling into a PDF file is an obnoxious experience, and in general people spend less time at sites that open pdfs in their browsers, especially unannounced. PDFs are good for printing, but are harder to read online than text in a word processer, text editor, or HTML. Notice that none of the online magazines are PDF. That's because nobody would read them that way. It is harder to cut and paste from a PDF-- this can be a reason to use it, I guess, it's less likely to get ripped off. On the other hand, by the same token, the content will not register with any search engine; this is a serious drawback. Why do I care? Well I don't really, a button was pushed because I have an ongoing argument with my food coop. They make a newsletter and put a pdf of it on the web. Why? Nobody's going to read it there. Because that way they can say "we have it on the web." They seem to think it's odd that I have an opinion at all about it. Sigh. Using PDFs is one of the top ten mistakes in webdesign, according to this guy, who actually does usability studies (i.e. watches people visiting websites, sees what they do, and asks them about it afterwards) on web design. I like his ideas, and his pages are very easy to read, though bare. He gets a *lot* of hits. Here are the links, again. To secure the data is not a reason. PDF files cam be disassembled, both text and graphics can be extracted in the free PDF viewer. Here are two detailed articles about PDF, written by the 'guru' of web usability : Jakob Nielsen Here are two detailed articles about PDF, written by the 'guru' of web usability : Jakob Nielsen" The comments are a bit dated. Google now indexes PDF files. Google has an option to display PDF files as HTML files. For my monthly Librarian's Lobby column, I just switched to using PDF files. PDF files display illustrations much better that HTML files. The PDF files look much better on the screen than HTML files, people can print them and have exactly what I intended, they are easier and faster to produce, and the number of downloads is no different than when they were posted in HTML format. Don't use .pdf form for everything. Use it for the rare times when you need people to get something in an exact format like a poster or a specialized newsletter. I did send a sample of my booking contracts to this list, for example, when I wanted you to see my layout. Google does index .pdf files and even gives folks an option in the search results to view the file as a .pdf or .html file. It's an interesting feature. In some cases, like Dianne's "Story Biz" 400 page manual, we offer it for download from storytellingproducts.com in a .pdf format. It gives people an option to save a bunch of money, use one less tree and have it in a searchable format on their computers. They can download it and then print only what they want while still having access to the rest. And, when we gave away one of Dianne's manuals for free a few months ago, there was no practical way to get that book to folks other than in the .pdf form we had. We talk about .pdf files in our "WebTales" Telecourse. Come participate in that if you'd like. It's just $3.95 and there's one Tuesday morning if you'd like. Response: I have NEVER had a problem. Yes you need the correct (actually usually latest version) of the reader program which is FREE. What about that price don't you like? It is good for anything you want the viewer to be able to print and use. Printing HTM files doesn't always work right because of document width. Even the ref you specified says don't use for viewing. They are for printing. Plus the references are pretty out of date and sounds like someone with an ax to grind. They did mention problems sometime with older MACs. Used properly that are great. I really don't know why anyone would use one just the view on screen. You are correct, Acrobat reader is free, and there are free PDF creators too. For me, the discussion should only be about when do I use PDF, and not "should I use PDF" - because it truely is an interesting alternative to HTML in many cases. You should also try out "Flash paper", the newest hype from Macromedia. But with the recent takeover by Adobe, I doubt this format will ever reach the same popularity as PDF. It has some arguments tough : the Flash plug-in needed to read the format is standard in many browser (you don't need to install it seperately), as opposed to PDF. On the same subject, don't put those, "Click here to Enter" on your front page as a Splash Page. Didn't they just click to get there? Have some respect for your viewers. If you want a splash page then make it automatic. |
|
|
For more information, call 707-996-1996
|
e-mail: jackie@story-lovers.com or jeff@jeffgere.com
|