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

[Stuart Joseph (stuart]

Andrew,

Andrew Netherton wrote:
> 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.
> >     
Firefox, the Internet Browser that use, has a plug in that will open PDF 
files within the browser, it also gives you the choice of downloading it 
or reading it as HTML.
> 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.
>   
And very time consuming.
> 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?
>   
I think that would work, but I don't know of anyone that doesn't have 
some sort of Word Processor installed on their computer.

If folks are going to send you Text documents of their papers, I would 
suggest asking them to save them as RTF files. this will preserve the 
formating and can be read by any word processor or notepad.

--
Stuart Joseph, 802-463-1954
Project Director
Caer Coburn, a traditional village based upon  and intentional communities
Rockingham, Vermont, USA
http://www.caercoburn.org