Explanation of File Codes
Three types of files
are accessible in the pages of this web site:
-
The HTM
files that are immediately viewable and printable directly from your web
browser. These files are identified by the icon
-
The PDF
compressed files created by the Adobe Acrobat software. These files are
viewable and printable by being brought up in the Adobe Acrobat Reader
software, available free from the Adobe web site.
These files are identified by the 
icon. The advantage of the PDF file is that all
of the orginal formats, fonts, graphics etc. contained in the original
file are self-contained in the PDF file so that for you to view the file
exactly the way it was originally created you don't have to have the exact
same fonts, monitor capabilities etc. This is the limitation of the HTM
files, plus very severe limits in formatting of texts etc.
-
The .doc
files created using Microsoft Word 2000 software are availabe and are identified
by the
icon. Normally these should be saved to your hard disk and then opened
using your copy of MS Word. Usually these files serve as templates for
completing assignments. If you have Corel Word Perfect 9.0 or later or
Lotus Word Pro 9.0 or later, these word processors can import the MS Word
files as well.
Many of the academic files especially are available
in both the html and pdf types of files. The PDF file is also made available
where viewing the original layout of the document is important to understanding
the guidelines provided. Also, a wide variety of fonts, including Greek
and Hebrew, are sometimes included and thus the file would not be viewable
in the HTM file without these fonts being preinstalled in your computer,
but they are easily viewable and printable from the Acrobat Reader software
installed on your computer.
For GWU students, a note: If you don't have the
Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, the GWU
Carpenter Computer Lab in Lindsay Hall has the reader installed on
each workstation where you can view and/or print the PDF files.