Using PDF Format

A PDF on PDF Homework Sample (scanned and converted)
The Portable Document Format (PDF) allows you to distribute paperless handouts, reports, catalogues, brochures, proceedings, or any document that can be printed in Postscipt (e.g., printed to 'file'). It can include text and graphics with the ability to add audio, video, and user input. You can read PDF files alone through the application Acrobat Reader or through a web browser window via a plug-in. Both programs are free. It is a fast, efficient, and cost effective way to distribute small and large documents electronically on-line, on-disc, or on CD-ROM. PDF has become "industry standard" for the Web. For example, NSF fasttrack proposals must be in PDF.

On-line PDF distribution allows for web site enhancement, wide access, and updating documents that change on a regular basis. Multimedia capacity, printing capacity, archivial capacity, and its utility with graphic applications makes PDF a notable and primarily web-based application.


PDF is Postscript dependent (so Adobe holds a lock on it), but its characteristics include:

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© 1998, Robby Robson, All Rights Reserved. Contact: robby@orst.edu for information and permission requests.

Last Modified: 11/27/2024 23:32:21