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Online Formats : pdf vs. html
When articles are available online, you often have a choice between file types: .pdf and .html. There are some important differences between these file types.
A .pdf file needs a particular application (program) to view it. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, you won't be able to open these files. Adobe is a free software, which you can download from the web. There's a good chance you already have it on your machine. If you're using a campus workstation, you do have Adobe loaded. Be sure you have version 7.0 or later, since some files can't be opened with earlier versions. You can download the Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.
The advantage of .pdf files is that the page you see on your computer is identical to the printed page which was published in the original journal. The page numbers are the same; the charts and graphs are identical and in the same position. It's almost like a photograph of the page. This is helpful for citing pages in your paper, and it may be necessary for reading the article in context.
The disadvantage of .pdf files is that they are large files which may take some time to download. It's also difficult to cut and paste from them. When you're printing or saving them, be sure to use the icon within the Adobe program, rather than the one on your Windows menu.
Adobe documents may pose accessibility difficulties for screen readers, but the full Adobe version provides a text reading option. See the Freedom Scientific page for information about using JAWS or MAGic with .pdf files.
Universities usually look for .pdf access to articles, because they are more accurate and reliable.
If you're having trouble opening .pdf files on your computer, it could be caused by a setting on your computer or browser. Check this Help Page from Adobe for suggestions.
.html
An .html file is very easy for your computer to read, because that's the standard format for all webpages. Any browser can read them (Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.), so you don't need additional software. They also download quickly.
When articles are originally published in printed journals, however, they are NOT published in .html format. That means that somehow the printed page needs to be transformed into .html so that your computer can read it. This is either done by a person typing it into a computer, or by an automated system. Either one can make mistakes, so there's more chance of experiencing typing mistakes or missing sections of text. Also, the graphs, charts, and images will need to be added separately, and they may be added as links or put at the end of the article. They may not appear at all.
Accessibility devices should not have a problem reading these pages.
How to Choose
Which format you choose depends upon what you need the article for. If the original format, images, and paging are important, choose .pdf. If you only want to get to the text of the article and load it quickly, choose the .html.
Top of page.
Last Modified:
June 22, 2011
Maintained by
, Thomas J. Bata Library.