How To Use PDF Files On The WebWritten by Mario Sanchez
Acrobat PDF is perhaps best format available to create printable documents, since it is optimized for letter sized sheets of paper.Since Acrobat Reader can be opened within Internet Explorer, distributing PDF documents through web has now become common practice. Acrobat is quickly becoming format of choice to distribute instruction manuals, special reports, resumes, ebooks, etc. However, all this comes at price of increased usability problems when users try to read PDF documents directly from screen; for example: *The web page that links to PDF file disappears after PDF opens. Since PDF files don't have navigation bars some users may not know how to get back to where they were. *Scrolling works differently: while scrolling HTML pages by dragging scrollbar is linear, PDF files force users to scroll one full page at a time. *Usually, PDF files come in small print (and Internet Explorer's Text Size options won't work on them). *Since PDF documents are opened in Acrobat Reader, they introduce Acrobat's own toolbar, which contains menu buttons that are different from those in Internet Explorer. These different "rules of engagement" are likely to cause user confusion. In order to make user experience as painless as possible, you must consider three simple guidelines to effectively use PDF files on your site:
| | Good Web Design: The Importance of NavigationWritten by Debra Bellmaine
A well-designed website has many facets: gorgeous graphics, cool animations, drop-down menus, and of course, relevant content. Another important feature, often overlooked, is a good, solid navigation scheme.I review many sites every week. A confused or non-existent method of finding content contained within site is a clear indicator of a budget or home-grown site. A well-designed website is a great equalizer—who would know that your company has only 5 staff when your website is slick and your customers can find your products with ease? On other hand, a site that makes finding order page a hunt for buried treasure, will urge visitor to leave your site and buy elsewhere. Minimally, it sends a strong signal that your company is unprofessional, and purchasing from you could be risky. When considering best navigation plan for your website, first make a list of most important, or highest-level, divisions of your site's content. For example, if your site promotes your services, plus sells a product, has helpful information and articles, and provides a demo of a product or service, you may want to arrange your menu with these main headings: Home Order Products Consulting Services Articles Product Demos Company Contact Us Some of headings listed above may be further subdivided, such as a list of articles, or a list of available product demos. There are many examples of menu systems that drop-down, or cascade, to reveal more selections within a category. Your site will, no doubt, have pages that don't really need to be included in main navigation scheme, but which must be accessible nonetheless. This could include your Terms of Agreement, Privacy Policy, or Additional Links pages. The footer links (the text links normally included at bottom of page) are an excellent location for web pages that are important, but which might clutter your website’s message.
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