Document formats we use

We try not to link to external documents on our website, however this is not always possible. Where we do link to external files, we try and make sure the format is widely recognised. It is not our intention to deliberately link to files where you need to purchase special software to view the contents.

The links below are provided to help you view our documents and, where required, to download free software that allows you to open these files.

• PDF documents
• Microsoft Word documents
• Microsoft Excel documents
• Microsoft PowerPoint documents
• Adobe Flash files
• Windows Media Player files

PDF documents

The term PDF stands for Portable Document Format, and has become a common internet file format.

PDFs are commonly used to distribute the electronic version of a document as the PDF document looks exactly the same as the original document and the file size is smaller. PDFs are being used more and more across different computers and browsers.

Opening PDF files

To open a PDF file you have two options:

• Open the PDF with Adobe Reader (the common option). You can download Adobe Reader from the Adobe website.
• Use an online PDF conversion tool. This tool will convert most PDF files into a more accessible format. You can convert a PDF file into a more accessible format on the Adobe website.

PDF files and browsers

You can configure your web browser to open PDF files either within the browser window or in a separate Adobe Acrobat window. You can read about viewing PDF files in a browser on the Adobe website.

Are PDF files accessible?

PDF file formats are becoming more accessible through technologies like screen readers, navigation through the keyboard, and enhanced screen viewing.

For further information on Adobe Acrobat Reader and accessibility either visit the Adobe Accessibility Resource Centre or read the guide entitled 'using accessible PDF documents with Adobe Reader 7.0: A guide for people with disabilities' on the Adobe website.

Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is by far the most popular PDF viewer but there are several other viewers available for download that will allow you to view and print PDF documents on a variety of computers and systems, including PDF Zone and Planet PDF.

Microsoft Word documents

View, print and copy Word documents, even if you don't have Word installed. A free Word viewer can be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Microsoft Excel documents

Open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. A free Excel viewer can be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Microsoft PowerPoint documents

Open, view, and print PowerPoint workbooks, even if you don't have PowerPoint installed. A free PowerPoint viewer can be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Adobe Flash files

We use a multimedia format called Flash for interactive sections of the website. Flash is widely used on the internet and to view Flash files a piece of software called a Flash Player is required. You can download Flash Player free of charge from the Adobe website.

Windows Media Player files

Our preference for video clips is to use the Flash file format. However, where this is not possible we will use the Microsoft Windows Media format for videos. You can download Windows Media Player free of charge from the Microsoft website.

Most of the programs listed above have specific accessibility controls built in so you can change the text size and generally ensure the document is suitable for your individual requirements.

If you find a document on this website that you cannot open please email us and we will try, where possible, to convert it into a different format for you.

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