Core_Computer Studies : What is PDF?

In this course, if you have ever checked out the timetable online you would have encountered a PDF file. It is an extremely handy file format which is increasingly being used.

PDF files are not graphic image files but a cross platform format which is one of the reasons they are becoming increasingly popular. Many people simply group PDF file form along side graphic file formats because one of their uses is as a means of displaying images on the Web or on other computers. PDFs are created by the Acrobat program and come with a world of possibilities.

Acrobat is an Adobe product. In this course we also use other Adobe products such as Photoshop,and Illustrator. Acrobat comes in two versions, Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Writer. The reader can open, display and print PDF documents and is free software that can be found online. The writer software, which is purchased, can translate PostScript documents into PDF documents. All Acrobat documents start out as files created by other programs. Those files are converted to or saved as PDF and assembled in Acrobat. These files can then be read by any computer with the free reader software.

PDF files, are not image files as PDF files can also contain electronic document search and navigation features such as hypertext links and an electronic table of contents.

These notes are written for students who undertake the Core Computer course at School of Art, Australian National University. Students of the course should feel free to contact any member of staff with comments questions and general suggestions..

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