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Technical document formats- PDF vs HTML
by Leon William Digital Marketing SpecialistTechnical documents are never like normal files. They differ in numerous aspects and hence proper care must be there while deciding the format of technical files.
As of now, technical document arrives normally in two formats-PDF and HTML. PDF has its content bundled into single files containing complete description of document. It is completely liberated of any particular OS, software or hardware. HTML on the other hand functions as a slackly organized container offering relatively more flexibility when it comes to content collaboration and distribution. However it is limited in the context of document definition capabilities.
What is a better choice- Portable Document Format or HyperTextMarkup Language format?
Difference between html and pdf format is clearly noticeable. Better choice among them is in fact a relative thing and it depends on the actual purpose that the technical document is intended to perform.
PDF- Analysis
Researches and studies conducted by reverent bodies recommend this type of conversion in the cases when in-depth reading is needed. The reason for the same is that Portable Document Format offers offline access of content to the documents while keeping the process of navigation, consumption, printing and saving easy. Also this avails greater review and mark-up functions. The main pitfall is that it is not capable of instantly delivering updates as changes are implemented.
HTML-Analysis
HTML conversion is recommended when you have to discover new content, learn immediately and distribute information swiftly. The updates of HyperTextMarkup Language can be regarded as more universal as it can be implemented instantly to a URL thus assuring that the readers are concurrently being offered the latest information without any delay.
How PDF and HTML are interconnected?
Portable Document Format and HyperTextMarkup Language are never exclusive of each other. They actually co-exist perfectly. An HTML page can be linked easily from or to a PDF and vice versa. The only issue at this point of time is the difference in authoring environments. This unluckily reflects the fact that content maintenance across PDF and HTML is practically more time consuming and complex. Therefore content authors must do an analysis of their specific requirements and decide the best suitable format for them.
Some situations that demand a solution offering upsides of both formats
• It is difficult to search content of PDF documents from HTML interfaces. This limits the ease of finding required content.
• The HTML based content repositories are managed independently and will need regular upkeep.
• Since technical content in HTML format is not open for offline use, it is used only for developing the interface.
• After the download of a PDF file there are no means to assure that the updates are timely delivered. This can cause huge loss many times.
• All end users will need a license for Adobe Acrobat to carry out any markup or editorial actions. This may not be practically feasible.
You can always seek assistance from a professional digital conversion company for HTML or PDF conversion. The above explained facts can hopefully be helpful for you in the decision making process.
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About Leon William 
Digital Marketing Specialist
6 connections, 0 recommendations, 36 honor points.Joined APSense since, December 18th, 2015, From Morrisville, United States.
Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.
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