How to read PDF files
How to read PDF files
- Introduction to PDF files
- Adobe Acrobat Reader software
- Improving the accessibility of PDF files for readers with visual impairment and other disabilities
- Free, open source software for reading PDF files
Introduction
Portable Document Format (PDF) files, which are also sometimes known as "Acrobat" files, provide a method of publishing high quality electronic images or replicas of printed pages in a form which can be accessed on many different types of computers.
Adobe Acrobat Reader softward
For most people, the most satisfactory method of reading PDF files is to use Acrobat Reader software provided by Adobe Systems Inc. This software is available at no cost in versions which run on Palm PDAs, Windows (all versions), Apple Macintosh (all versions), OS/2, Linux and many Unix systems. It may already be installed on your computer. If not, the most recent version of this software is available from this page on the the Adobe Systems Web site. If you do not have access to the Internet we recommend that you contact your system administrator to ask how you can obtain access to the Acrobat Reader software.
Improving the accessibility of PDF files for readers with visual impairment and other disabilities
Adobe Systems Inc. have a Web page which describes a range of methods which can be used to improve the accessibility of PDF documents to readers who are blind or who have visual impairment or other disabilities.
Free, open source software for reading PDF files
Free, open source software is also available to view the PDF files included in the Report of the Chief Health Officer, such as
GhostScript (with the GSview or Ghostview user interfaces) or Xpdf.
Print version with data
Although this page can be printed directly from your Web browser, a higher quality version of this entire page is available as an Acrobat PDF file which can be printed or viewed on screen using the free software described on this page.
Copyright notice
This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2008. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
Suggested citation
Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).
Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on 18 December 2008
