File Types & Readers
The SAO site contains documents in formats other than HTML which may require users to have associated readers on their computers in addition to a web browser. Links to non-HTML documents are followed by the document suffix provided in italics. Following is a guide to these suffixes along with links to download the associated readers:
Suffix | Document Type | Associated Reader |
---|---|---|
.doc | Microsoft Word | Word Converter/Viewer |
Adobe Acrobat | Adobe Reader | |
.ppt | Microsoft PowerPoint | PowerPoint Converter/Viewer |
.xls | Microsoft Excel | Excel Converter/Viewer |
.ram, .smil | RealPlayer | RealPlayer |
Microsoft Office Readers
Converters and viewers for Microsoft Office Programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) may be downloaded from the Microsoft site. Instructions are provided on the download pages for each viewer.
Adobe Reader
If you do not already have Adobe Reader installed on your computer:
- Download the Adobe Reader (acroread.exe) from the Adobe site (Macintosh, Windows, DOS, or UNIX versions). These are self-installing exe files.
- Download the file or files you desire (.pdf extension).
- To install Adobe Reader, copy the reader file (acroread.exe) to a temporary directory. Then run the file from the windows program manager.
- Start Adobe Reader and open the file (PDF extension) from the reader or double click on the pdf file from the Windows file manager.
If you already have Adobe Reader installed on your computer:
If you already have Adobe Reader set up as a helper application within your browser, we recommend that you configure your browser to "save" Acrobat files rather than "launch" the Acrobat application. If your browser is configured to launch Acrobat, you can PRINT the file but you cannot SAVE the file, because the current Adobe Reader does not have a save option. If you have launched Acrobat and want to save the pdf file that has appeared on your screen, you will need to COPY the temporary pdf file, before you exit Acrobat, to another directory. Otherwise, it will disappear when you exit Acrobat. (If you are installing Adobe Reader for the first time or if you have not defined Adobe Reader to your browser as a helper application you can ignore this.) If you have not defined Adobe Reader as a helper application within your browser, there is no need to do so.
RealPlayer
RealPlayer Basic may be downloaded for free from the Real Networks site: http://www.real.com/realplayer. Instructions are provided on the download page.