PDF Documentation

[Syed.Hosain at aeris.net]

Both the Agilent examples are good demonstrations of how to do a
screen-readable PDF. Very nice!

The funniest part of this, though, is that I have the original printed
version (of the AN-91-1 document only, not the second one) before the
concept of PDF formats even existed! :) It was *totally* different in
the look, of course!

Now, I just have to dig it out ... it is hiding somewhere in my garage.
If I get a chance, I will scan it in and put it up somewhere for people
to look as well.

Z

-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Shlomo Perets
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:59 AM
To: kmcdaniel at pavtech.com; framers at frameusers.com
Subject: Re: PDF Documentation

Kelly,

You wrote:

>Quick Survey:
>
>Is it your experience that users view PDF documentation on their
>computer display in preference to printing it for use? ...

Other than personal preferences and the type of content, key factors are
-- the extent to which the PDF is "screen friendly" (typography, layout)
-- on-screen added value offered in the PDF, including effective 
cross-document search and navigation, multimedia, user input mechanisms

Some nice examples of screen-optimized design are:
* 
http://contact.tm.agilent.com/data/static/downloads/eng/Notes/interactiv
e/an-95-1/an-95-1.pdf
* 
http://contact.tm.agilent.com/data/static/downloads/eng/Notes/interactiv
e/an-150-1/hp-am-fm.pdf
(produced 12 years ago, with Acrobat 2!)
[ or see current PDFs at http://ChangeThis.com/archives  ]

On the other hand, 
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/framemaker/pdfs/MIF_Reference.pdf is clearly

print-oriented (even though labelled "Online Manual").


Shlomo Perets

MicroType * FrameMaker training & consulting * FrameMaker-to-Acrobat 
TimeSavers

30 Easy Ways to Improve PDFs with TimeSavers/Assistants: 
http://www.microtype.com/ImprovePDF.html







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