Help with downloading documents
Most of the documents available for download on this website are in PDF format. Other formats include Microsoft Word and rtf. The notes below are designed to help you if you are having difficulty downloading documents.
What is a PDF?
The downloadable documents available within this site are usually in Portable Document Format (often referred to as PDF). A standard adopted by governments and organisations worldwide, PDF is a reliable format for electronic document exchange that preserves document integrity so files can be viewed and printed on a variety of platforms. We chose to make all downloadable documents in this file format for data security and integrity reasons.
How can I open and view a PDF document?
In order to view a PDF document, you need free software called Adobe Acrobat Reader, created by the company called Adobe. However PDFs are not easily accessible to all users so Adobe has developed a method of converting PDF documents into HTML (normal web pages), a more accessible format for assistive technologies.
PDF documents
There are features and capabilities within Adobe products that enhance electronic document accessibility for people with disabilities such as blindness, low vision, and motor impairments. You can visit their website using the link below, where you will find this information and links to resources that help people with disabilities work more effectively with Adobe software.
How can I view a Word file if I don't have Microsoft Word software?
Microsoft has made a free Word Viewer available to download at http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/ In the Download Centre select Product (Word), Version (2000) and put a tick in the box marked Converters and Viewers. Click on the "Update List" button. When the list appears scroll down to find the Word 97/2000 Viewer (Word 2000) and choose the one that best suits your PC's operating system (either Windows 95/98/NT or 3.x). Then click on the "Download Now" option.