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Basic Computer Skills - What Is A PDF

A PDF file is a portable document format file that allows documents to be shared across different platforms and computers while preserving the original formatting. PDF files are commonly used to share documents online because they can be viewed by anyone with a PDF reader, regardless of what software was used to create the file. PDF files are primarily for viewing documents rather than editing them. Most web browsers can open PDF files directly, but they can also be downloaded and opened using a PDF reader application if needed.

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110 views1 page

Basic Computer Skills - What Is A PDF

A PDF file is a portable document format file that allows documents to be shared across different platforms and computers while preserving the original formatting. PDF files are commonly used to share documents online because they can be viewed by anyone with a PDF reader, regardless of what software was used to create the file. PDF files are primarily for viewing documents rather than editing them. Most web browsers can open PDF files directly, but they can also be downloaded and opened using a PDF reader application if needed.

Uploaded by

ICT UIDAI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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12/27/23, 6:36 PM Basic Computer Skills: What is a PDF File?

Basic Computer Skills


What is a PDF File?

What is a PDF file?


Adobe PDF files—short for portable document format files—are one of the most
commonly used file types today. If you've ever downloaded a printable form or
document from the Web, such as an IRS tax form, there's a good chance it was a PDF
file. Whenever you see a file that ends with .pdf, that means it's a PDF file.

Why use PDF files?


Let's say you create a newsletter in Microsoft Word and share it as a .docx file, which is
the default file format for Word documents. Unless everyone has Microsoft Word
installed on their computers, there's no guarantee that they would be able to open and
view the newsletter. And because Word documents are meant to be edited, there's a
chance that some of the formatting and text in your document may be shifted around.

By contrast, PDF files are primarily meant for viewing, not editing. One reason they're
so popular is that PDFs can preserve document formatting, which makes them more
shareable and helps them to look the same on any device. Sharing the newsletter as a
PDF file would help ensure everyone is able to view it as you intended.

Opening PDF files


Opening and viewing a PDF file is pretty simple. Most modern web browsers will open
PDF files directly in your browser window instead of downloading them to your
computer. If your browser can't do this, it should prompt you to download the file
instead. Try clicking this link to see how it works on your computer.

If you need to view a PDF file just once, it's usually easiest to open it in your web
browser. If you need to access the PDF later, you'll want to save a copy to your computer.
This process will vary depending on your web browser, but in the example below the
Save PDF button can be found near the upper-right corner.

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