About the pdf file format

Content

Pdf stands for Portable Document Format and it is a type of cross platform file format developed by Adobe.

Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is a free software for viewing and printing pdf files. Anyone who is trying to open a pdf file will need some type of pdf reader to be able to view the file. Adobe Reader 6.0 is the latest version of the software.

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Professional) is a software that enables you to convert any electronic or paper document to a reliable pdf file for exchange and review with colleagues and customers.

Pdf is cross platform, navigational, ultra-printable, ultra-viewable and smaller than other conventional document formats.

Cross platform

A cross-platform file format that represents documents independent of the software, hardware, and the operating system used to create the file. In simple words, you can read a pdf document in Windows that was created on a Macintosh that you downloaded from a Web site running Unix.

Navigational

Objects built into the pdf file format allow users and creators to expand the usefulness of a publication. Such items include: Internal and external links, bookmarks, thumbnails of each page, article threads, form fields, buttons for navigation, notes to annotate information, views to allow a user to magnify or reduce a page to fit within the user's computer screen.

Ultra-printable

Pdf files are based on the PostScript language imaging model. This enables sharp, color-precise printing on almost all printers.

Ultra-viewable

On screen pdf files have a precise color match regardless of the monitor used. Pdf files allow the user to magnify documents up to 800% without the loss of clarity in text or graphics.

Smaller

Pdf files can be optimized to reduce their file sizes. Pdf files for example can be 1/5 of the size of their HTML counterparts.