The PDF format is quickly becoming the most popular file type. However, there are many reasons why it might not be the best option for you. It might be too difficult to sign or fill out, or you might want to make edits without worrying about compatibility issues. Luckily, there are many other types of document formats that are just as powerful and easy-to-use. Here is a list of alternatives that will help you decide which format would work best for your needs, based on the requirements of your project.
What are the alternatives?
Old-style Postscript Doc (OBD) Format
Use Case: big printouts and laser printers.
Pros:
Literally the same as PostScript
Comes in all major applications
Wide variety of fonts
Cons:
May take a while to load in most applications
Can only read PDF files with the Adobe Integrated Document Format (PDF)
Not easily editable without additional software
Free ODF Plugins for Preview by Sony and Adobe
Free ODF Plugins for Preview by Sony and Adobe Free ODF Plugins for Acrobat Reader
OpenDocument Format (ODF)
PDF Advantages
Now that you’ve decided that PDF might not be the right fit for you, there are a few good reasons why it might still be a good choice. If you’re designing for print, it provides you with an easy way to export your design for print. If you’re designing for a mobile app, it helps you save space by allowing you to drag-and-drop in your design on a mobile device. PDF provides a little flexibility too, in that it supports many file types. The only downside is that it is far more difficult to edit than HTML and XML.
The advantages of Adobe Reader are numerous. It’s the most popular PDF reading application, which means it will have many compatible features for the most popular document formats.
PDF Disadvantages
Cancelling permissions on a PDF document can be cumbersome. You will need to enter each section manually and cut and paste sections to a new file before it can be cancelled. And in some cases, the more advanced PDF readers have been known to be incompatible with some of the following formats.
.docx Disadvantages
Because this format is commonly used for content management systems, you will need to follow the guidelines for that system when creating .docx documents. It can be a challenge to format this file for users that may not be familiar with these guidelines.
Other Formats
APA and ISO
If you need an industry-standard format to submit your application, then it’s a good idea to check with your design and development team about whether they use an application like Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word. Both these applications support the Microsoft Word (WYSIWYG) and Adobe PDF (that means it’s easy to format) formats. They’re also relatively easy to customize. You’ll find that these options are much more flexible.
Typography
Managing the fonts you use on the web can be a tricky task. For example, it’s not always easy to ensure that the fonts are available in all sizes and currencies, and that they display properly on different devices.
