Document Formats
We frequently post resources in multiple formats (pdf, doc, ppt, etc). Which ones should you use, and why? Here is a quick reference for the most popular file types.
PDF -- Portable Document Format
Use this format if you like printing out forms and applications so you can write on them and then mail them in. If you prefer to type into the forms on your computer, check to see if there is a Word document available for download.
This format is used mainly when the author wants to preserve the formatting of the document. It can sometimes contain editable fields (places you can type text into), but that is not usually the case for the documents on this website. This is also a way that someone can make a document readable by anyone, especially in the case that other people may not have access to the program the document was created with. There are many free readers for pdf files, one of which is the Adobe Reader.
DOC -- Microsoft Word Format
Use this format if you like typing text into fields rather than printing the document and writing on it. If you like to fill out forms by hand, check to see if there is a pdf form available.
Microsoft Word files are popular, but there are many problems with them. Different versions appear differently on different computers, and some versions of Word can not open files created with other versions of Word. However, Word documents are usually easy to open and type into. For applications on our website, you can simply download the Word document, open it and type the information directly into the document. Once you are finished, you can save it and email as and attachment to us. For those who can't afford to buy Microsoft Word, or those who dislike the program, there are several free alternatives, the most poplular being Open Office.
