What are the most commonly used file formats for ETDs?
The most commonly used formats at present are PDF and Word.
However theses that may require the inclusion of formulae and
such like are commonly created the LaTeX format.
Both PDF and Word formats allow for the embedding of multimedia
objects and the use of hyperlinks.
Which other file formats are supported?
There is no restriction on the type of file format/s that may
be used for an ETD. Some of the more popular formats are listed
below:
Text Formats:
HTML - HyperText Markup Language
RTF - Rich Text Format
XML - eXtensible Markup Language
Image Formats:
BMP - Windows Bitmap Format
GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
JPEG - Joint Photo Graphics Group
TIFF - Tagged Image File
Video Formats:
AVI - Microsoft Video
MOV - Apple QuickTime
MPG - MPEG – Motion Picture Group
Audio Formats:
CD-DA - Compact Disk-Digital Audio
MID - Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MP3 - Motion Picture Group Layer3
WAV - Windows Waveform sound
What is a PDF file – and
why use this format?
PDF stands for Portable Document
Format and is a cross platform file format created by Adobe.
Unlike other electronic file
formats such as HTML, the Portable Document Format preserves the
exact layout, font attributes, and formatting of the document
from which it was created, ensuring that the electronic version
of a document appears just like the original. There are many reasons
why PDF is ideally suited to ETDs and the internet:
PDF files can contain embedded
audio/video material and navigational elements such as hyperlinks.
PDF files can be viewed within
web browsers.
PDF files can be served over
the Web more efficiently where the user can read the document
in a similar fashion to streaming video or audio. I.e. you do
not have to wait for the entire document to download before viewing
it.
PDF files offer full-text search capability
PDF files can be configured
to prevent printing, alteration and copying of text or graphics
in a document.
What type of content can I include in my ETD?
Students are encouraged to use a variety of content
and media to express themselves. There are no limitations imposed
on content other than issues of copyright/IPR and of course individual
departmental regulations.
How do I convert my Word document to
PDF?
Open the ETD/Chapter file in Word
From the menu choose: File -> Print -> Printer Name
Select: 'Acrobat Distiller' (Or the name of the PDF software on
machine)
Click OK then choose a location to save the new .pdf file
How do I convert an Image file to PDF?
Select: Create PDF > From File
(N.B. Only certain file types can be converted to PDF documents
directly with Acrobat)
In the Open Dialog box Choose All Files (*.*) from the Files of
Type (Windows) or Show (Mac) pull-down menu.
Click on the image file to be converted
Click Open then Click the 'Fit Page' tool.
How do I add internal links within my
PDF ETD?
Open the ETD/.pdf file in Adobe Acrobat
Select: Link tool and highlight the text area to be included for
link
Select: Link Properties -> Appearance: Type
Select: Invisible Rectangle-> Highlight:
Select: Invert -> Leave Link Properties box open
Navigate to the link destination then select 'Set Link'
How do I add external links within my
PDF ETD?
Open the ETD/.pdf file in Adobe Acrobat
Select: 'Hyperlink' tool and click and drag on the page to draw
a box around selected text/link area
For Link Action select: 'Open a web page' then type the URL to
link to
How do I insert Chapter/Bookmarks within
my PDF ETD?
Open the ETD/.pdf file in Adobe Acrobat
Click on the Show/Hide Navigation Pane
Go to the page/section where you want to add a bookmark
Press 'Ctrl B'
Enter a Bookmark name and description which will appear in the
Bookmark view.
Click on the new bookmark to confirm the link is correct
How do I append/join multiple PDF files?
Open the main ETD .pdf file you wish to join
files to in Acrobat
Click the Maximize button in the open (main ETD) document
Click the Maximize button in the Acrobat window
Size the window down by dragging the lower-right corner of the
window up and to the left. Click on the title bar in the Acrobat
window and move the window aside so you can view your folder
Open the folder where the file to be appended is and click on
the .pdf file
While holding down the mouse click, drag the file to the main
documents thumbnail in the Acrobat window
The file will be appended to the main document on release of the
mouse button
Is there a maximum file size I should adhere to?
The average or 'typical' ETD is generally only
a few megabytes in size. It is possible for ETDs that are rich
in multimedia content to have a far greater file size - up to
several hundred megabytes. At present there is no upper limit
on the file size as the aim is to encouraged students to take
advantage of the new medium and formats available.
Why is my PDF format ETD is slow to load and/or view?
Where can I find PC resources to aid
creation of ETD?
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