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Different Types of Documents
Web pages (HTML documents) can be read by any web browser and are thus the common format for web-delivered documents. However most people don't know how to write a HTML file, and it is unsuitable for many types of documents. Some word processors can "Save As" a HTML file, but the text formatting will often be poorly reproduced.
Compatibility Problems
When a document is written in a particular word processor (e.g. MS-Word) and
then saved, it will be saved in the natural file format of that specific word
processor. Other word processor programs may not be able to read it. Many students
may be unable to read documents that are only provided in a specific format.
Some lecturers have
found that even the MS-Word documents they produce can't be read by all their
students, as the students have earlier versions of Word.
However, Adobe Acrobat files retain the original document formatting and can be read on any platform using
the free Acrobat Reader.
Important Considerations
Some formats (e.g. Acrobat) are more widely readable than others, and file
sizes (and hence download times) will also vary. For large files, you should
state the size, especially if bigger than a floppy disk (1.4 Mb). Powerpoint
files can be saved as PDF using three or six slides
per page to save paper, to vastly reduce their size and to assist their
use in lectures.
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