Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Document format (was RE: sample document library: laying the groundwork)

[Andrew Netherton (andrewnetherton]

On 2/14/07, Rodney Elin <crm114 [at] rff.org> wrote:
> Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) has many advantages with it's
> portability and universal features, but the very nature of a PDF file makes
> it impossible to access for anyone with any sort of visual impairment.
>
> PDF is a great format for ensuring that the formatting of a document it
> retained when being transferred between dissimilar systems, but if we want
> to create a document library that is accessible to the greatest number of
> people, then it should be kept at least in a text or word processing format
> IN ADDITION TO any PDF storage.

I can see your point.  If we make a text file available, it will also
make it a lot easier for people to literally cut-and-paste to start
making their own documents.  PDF will be good for reading through the
formatted documents, but text would be best for editing.  I just can't
bring myself to accept any word processing format, however.  See
below.

> A further problem with PDF distribution is that opening a PDF document
> requires installing and loading a separate software package on an
> individual's personal computer. Since PDF is not native to any major
> computer system or OS, it can take time and resources and slow down the
> process of downloading what could otherwise be a simple one or two page text
> (or HTML) document.

MS Word is also a separate software package.  So is OpenOffice.  Just
about everything, save for a text file, requires software.  PDF simply
happens to be the most universal, exactly because it's not native to
anything (but works on everything so far as I'm aware).  I agree that
it's a lot slower than HTML, but I'm simply not prepared to tackle
trying to properly format all these documents in HTML such that they
will appear the same regardless of browser or operating system.
That's a can of worms I don't care to touch at this point.

I think providing text and PDF should satisfy most everyone.  Can
anyone think of a reason why having all documents available in both
formats would not serve someone's needs?

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone - keep it up!  I am taking notes
and drafting the call for submissions.

Andrew Netherton
Laurel Creek Commons (wading right in)
Waterloo, ON, Canada