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Thread: A page of links to PDF files
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: ED COHEN
Date: Wed, Aug 13 2003 12:35PM
Subject: A page of links to PDF files
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Hello,
Our publication's office is preparing a large report for the Web that will have an HTML table of contents. The TOC will have as many as a dozen chapters.
They say that every link on the page will lead to a PDF file. We'll list the file size of each downloadable, next to each chapter title. A link to download Acrobat Reader will appear on the page.
We are adhering to Section 508 which as you know is silent on PDF issues.
Question: How best to offer the hyperlink to the downloadable and the "PDF logo"?
Options:
1. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF files and place the PDF logo once. Hyperlink each chapter title to the downloadable file.
2. Place the PDF logo next to each link and make the logo a clickable graphic that downloads the file. The graphic's <ALT> would be "Download chapter # / title".
3. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF files. Place the PDF logo
From: Brian Gillies
Date: Wed, Aug 13 2003 2:25PM
Subject: Re: A page of links to PDF files
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Hi Cohen
personally I hate PDF files
the reason being if getting a PDF on the internet it takes ages to get the information required and therefore you will eventually loose customers from the user
The user wants the information yesterday
if the user requires a lot of information then it's going to take forever to download it through the internet
the internet is a vast resource of information
it has to be used to the user's requirements and when they click onto a site they want that information immediately
that's why I always check my website for any photos/graphics for the filesize and how long it would take a user to open up that certain webpage
I hope you don't mind giving you a negative reply - but criticism is the best way to improve a website
cheers
Brian
----- Original Message -----
From: ED COHEN
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 7:34 PM
Subject: A page of links to PDF files
Hello,
Our publication's office is preparing a large report for the Web that will have an HTML table of contents. The TOC will have as many as a dozen chapters.
They say that every link on the page will lead to a PDF file. We'll list the file size of each downloadable, next to each chapter title. A link to download Acrobat Reader will appear on the page.
We are adhering to Section 508 which as you know is silent on PDF issues.
Question: How best to offer the hyperlink to the downloadable and the "PDF logo"?
Options:
1. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF files and place the PDF logo once. Hyperlink each chapter title to the downloadable file.
2. Place the PDF logo next to each link and make the logo a clickable graphic that downloads the file. The graphic's <ALT> would be "Download chapter # / title".
3. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF files. Place the PDF logo next to each chapter title, but hyperlink the chapter title to download the file. Is a null Alt tag apporpropr
From: Cheryl Kirkpatrick
Date: Wed, Aug 13 2003 3:02PM
Subject: Re: A page of links to PDF files
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Ed,
Like Brian, I prefer not to use PDF files but I have found them to be
necessary for me at times. They are the only way that I can get a 400
page publication up in the 15 to 30 minutes that I have to post them. I
usually break the large publications into sections as you described. I
do not use the PDF icon and include this paragraph at the top of the
TOC page with links to Adobe.
The documents below require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. You may
download a free version at
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html. Adobe also provides
an online form you may use to convert these documents to HTML at
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_simple_form.html.
The words "Adobe Acrobat Reader" and "online form" are links to the
Adobe site.
While I don't think this is perfect, it is the best that I can do at
times. I would be interested in any other suggestions that others on the
list have.
--
Cheryl Kirkpatrick
Web Administrator
South Carolina State Library
http://www.state.sc.us/scsl/
Telephone: 803.734.5831
Excellence can be attained if you care more than others think is wise,
risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is
practical, and expect more than others think is possible.
From: jeb
Date: Wed, Aug 13 2003 3:41PM
Subject: RE: A page of links to PDF files
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Ed, You may want to take a look at what we here in Maine wrote regarding
Accessibility Standard. On the official policy (see link below) there are a
couple of paragraphs that deal with PDFs. The general rule is to avoid them.
Here is the link: http://www.state.me.us/CIO/accessibility/webpolicy.html
I would also note that it is in your state's best interest to make sure all
of their communications are accessible to all citizens. Without such a
policy or provision, you will be open to litigation and that costs money.
Maine has, for a number of years, been trying to create a very
citizen-friendly web presence where most, if not all services are provided
on-line. If you follow the concept of Universal Design, you will see that
accessible web design helps all citizens, not just those with disabilities.
It is also much more economical to post publications in HTML on-line than to
do DTP, print on paper and mail them. Your taxpayers might be interested in
this dimension. If you are like most state departments, you probably have
boxes and boxes of publications stuffed in corners around your office that
are just collecting dust. The same information is saved on a few electrons.
Think about it.
jeb
John E. Brandt
Augusta, ME 04330
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
www.jebswebs.com <http://www.jebswebs.com>;
-----Original Message-----
From: ED COHEN [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 2:34 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: A page of links to PDF files
Hello,
Our publication's office is preparing a large report for the Web that will
have an HTML table of contents. The TOC will have as many as a dozen
chapters.
They say that every link on the page will lead to a PDF file. We'll list
the file size of each downloadable, next to each chapter title. A link to
download Acrobat Reader will appear on the page.
We are adhering to Section 508 which as you know is silent on PDF issues.
Question: How best to offer the hyperlink to the downloadable and the "PDF
logo"?
Options:
1. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF
files and place the PDF logo once. Hyperlink each chapter title to the
downloadable file.
2. Place the PDF logo next to each link and make the logo a clickable
graphic that downloads the file. The graphic's <ALT> would be "Download
chapter # / title".
3. State at the top of the page that all the links on that page lead to PDF
files. Place the PDF logo next to each chapter title, but hyperlink the
chapter title to download the file. Is a null Alt tag apporpropriate for
the graphc in this case?
4. Something else?
I'm partial to #2, but they don't like the idea of all those PDF logos.
What do others think?
Thank you,
Ed Cohen
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