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Re: Acrobat links

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Jan 15, 2014 1:39PM

Kurtis wrote: " My first thought was: why does it have to be PDF? "

There are many reasons why PDF is preferred by government agencies,
corporations, and other entities. Here are a few:

1. It sort of locks the document from being changed (yes, I know there are
ways to get inside, but I'm talking about average users not hackers). For
regulations, legislation, procedures, manuals, archival documents, etc.,
this feature is essential for large organizations.

2. Although this is webAIM and we're concerned about accessibility, the
overwhelming majority of users of documents like this are fully sighted
(estimate is over 90% and probably close to 100%). Visual presentation is
critical for them to comprehend and use the document. More than 100 years'
worth of studies are available that prove sighted people do indeed judge
books by the appearance of the book's cover. The advertising industry spends
billions every year testing ways to visually present a product and its
advertising so that consumers will buy the product.

3. PDF can create a snapshot of critical documents like this that can be
archived. For governments, they are required to maintain an electronic paper
trail or history of regulations, procedures, etc. for reference in the
future. Corporations also want this feature from time to time.

4. One single PDF can be made of a whole collection of documents that makes
it very convenient for storage and reference. IT manages only one file.
Users access only one file yet have all the pieces they need.

HTML and native Word files don't provide these features and benefits either
quick enough, cheaply enough, or at all.

Kurtis wrote: " My second was: maybe PDF Open Parameters[1]? "
Can't control the landing on the exact page or text location, only opens the
PDF document itself.

-Bevi Chagnon
PubCom.com - Trainers, Consultants, Designers, and Developers.
Print, Web, Acrobat, XML, eBooks, and U.S. Federal Section 508
Accessibility.
508 Workshop: www.workshop.pubcom.com
US Federal Training: www.gpo.gov/customers/theinstitute.htm