SUMMARY: Regarding the question, to allow or to not allow printing of PDF files?

[James Bauman <James -dot- Bauman -at- SAFETY-KLEEN -dot- COM>]

From: James Bauman on 11/06/97 10:58 AM


To:   TECHWR-L @ LISTSERV.OKSTATE.EDU
cc:
Subject:  SUMMARY: Regarding the question, to allow or to not allow
      printing of PDF files?

On Oct. 30th, I posted the above question. The responses  were
unanimous-----users, whoever they are, should have the option of printing
the online files.  Some of the main points brought out by techwhirlers were
the following:

     If users are prevented from printing, they will get frustrated and
     make repeated attempts to do something they can't do.  In the worse
     case scenario as one respondent wrote, if printing is not allowed, "
     you will only convince die-hard paper users not to read your
     documentation at all."

     It's a good idea to place a header upon the online documentation that
     states in the hard copy, "Controlled Document----Uncontrolled when
     Printed."  Then users will see the paper version as one for
     "reference" and the online version  as the "authority."

     The better the online manual is constructed and the more user-friendly
     it is, the less likely some users will have the urge to print.

 I want to thank everyone who responded to my question.

 Jim Bauman
 IS Technical Publications
 Safety-Kleen Corp.

mailto:jbauman -at- safety-kleen -dot- com

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