TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: HTML v. PDF From:"Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:12:44 -0800
In my case, it depends on how I'm using it. If I just want to take a quick
look online and don't expect to want to save, I'd choose HTML. But if it's
a doc that I want to download to able to view offline later, I'd prefer PDF,
especially if I know there's a printed version of the same doc out in the
world that I might have to reference someday. But I always download
the PDF and read it locally, I never read PDFs online. Given a choice,
what I'd most prefer would be HTML with a link that says "click here to
download a PDF of this document."
Flash is the one format I really dislike for all purposes.
Gene Kim-Eng
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Hunter" <leeghunter -at- gmail -dot- com>
> The responses from the PDF experts sound much like the responses from
> Flash experts whenever Neilsen dumps on Flash (i.e. blaming inexpert
> creators for the bad rap). But this doesn't change the fact that a
> significant number of users have developed a genuine distaste for PDF
> (and Flash). Given the choice of an HTML and PDF version of a file I
> will always choose HTML. if for no other reason than I feel I know
> what I'm going to get with HTML (i.e. it won't be a honking big file
> that lacks browsing format and features). You might have done all the
> right things with the PDF but given the choice, I'd still click the
> HTML file. If PDF is the only option, I sometimes won't bother opening
> it.
WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT - EDIT AND REVIEW, REDEFINED
Accelerate the document lifecycle with full online discussions and unique feedback-management capabilities. Unlimited, efficient reviews for Word
and FrameMaker authors. Live, online demo: http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.