PDF

An important feature of PDF is that it is Cross Platform. This means that the format represents documents independent of the software, hardware, and the operating system used to create the file. In other words, whichever platform – Windows, Macintosh, or Unix – the PDF document was created in, it can be read in any other platform. PDF is also Navigational (meaning users may include internal or external links, bookmarks, thumbnails, threads, form fields, etc. to expand its usefulness); Ultra-Printable (enabling sharp, color-precise printing on almost all printers); and Ultra-Viewable (allowing users to magnify documents up to 800% without the loss of clarity in text or graphics).

A PDF file consists of eight different types of ‘objects’ – Boolean values, numbers, names, strings, arrays, dictionaries, streams, and the null object. These objects are either ‘direct’ (embedded in another object), or ‘indirect’. The indirect objects are each numbered with an object number and a generation number, and have an index table (called the xref table) at the start of the file giving its byte offset. This allows efficient random access to the file and making small changes without re-writing the entire file.

The main difference between a PDF and other document formats - such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Quark, HTML, etc. - is that a PDF file is not easily editable. In fact, editing and copying of text or graphics is strictly prohibited. This important feature has made Adobe PDF the most trusted and reliable file format for everyone - whether individuals, businesses, or government agencies the world over – for their communication.

Why To Convert DOC To PDF