Help with Download Documents
Adobe Acrobat PDF Documents
The Adobe Acrobat PDF file format is standard for both PC and Apple Mac computers, and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (or equivalent) software in order to view PDF documents. This software can be downloaded for free from the Adobe web site.
When you click on a 'PDF' file, a single document will be downloaded to your computer, or may open in your web browser window if you have an Adobe Acrobat Reader (or equivalent) plug-in installed. This file will have ".pdf" at the end of its name.
If you have an Adobe Acrobat Reader (or equivalent) plug-in installed in the your web browser software, then 'clicking' on a PDF download document will probably result in it opening in your web browser window. If you would rather download the file to your computer for future use, use your right mouse button (instead of the left) when you 'click' - this should bring up a menu which will allow you to choose "Save Target As..." (or something similar).
ZIP Archive Files
When you click on a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint download, a single 'ZIP' file will be downloaded to your computer. This file contains the actual Microsoft Word (.doc) or PowerPoint (.ppt) documents in a compressed form so that they download more quickly and with less likelihood of corruption.
The ZIP compression method is a standard format for both PC and Apple Mac computers, and the ZIP file needs to be uncompressed (unzipped) before the documents can be used. Many tools are available to do this, and can be found on most computer magazine cover disks. A freeware tool called StuffIt Expander is available to download for both PCs and Macs from SmithMicro Software.
