Planning PDF Documents

Abstract

This book does not advocate the replacement of HTML with PDF, but a reasonable combination of both formats. A Web designer ought to consider which format will best fulfill the requirements for each individual job. Each problem has to be solved within the framework of prevailing logistical, financial, and technical conditions. Mostly, it is necessary to consider not only the final goal, but also the origins of the documents: does the data to be made available on the Web originate from a database, as a by-product of a conventional publishing process or even archived paper documents? Which format will meet the expectations of the target group better and allow the data to be presented more easily? The main role of the document should also be clear: are the files just a method for transferring data which the user will probably print out anyway, or are they purely for online use? It can make sense to offer two versions in parallel, which of course increases the resources needed.