On 9/25/07, Jean Hollis Weber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I read PDF magazines onscreen when I can (eg Linux Journal > Digital), and only print out a few pages to keep for reference. > Landscape orientation means a PDF works very well for both > purposes, but portrait works well only for printouts especially > if the design is 2-column (otherwise I have to scroll vertically > a lot, both up and down). > > +1 on the vertical scrolling problem with mutli-column PDFs. I have to read a lot of them (e.g., official government journals, scientific journals, etc.) and the constant scrolling is a PITA. Particularly when they are set in small type that forces you to enlarge the type size to read, which also forces you to scroll left and right to switch columns. Landscape mode with 20 point type and appropriate margins and column gutters keeps the entire page on one screen with text at an easily legible size. Readers can concentrate on content rather than navigation.
The problem is that portrait mode is a poor match for the proportional dimensions of a computer monitor. Landscape mode with a normal paper size comes close enough that margins can be adjusted to compensate for the rest. On reasons for using PDF rather than HTML +, here are a few: -- Variations in the ways that browsers render web pages are eliminated so the need for a whole bunch of testing in different browsers is eliminated; -- Allows use of complex formatting without testing in various browsers; -- Allows use of software designed for high-quality desktop publishing rather than for web publishing; -- Fonts can be embedded so readers get the document designer's intended graphical effect; -- Web and dead-tree publishing can use the same document without reformatting; -- Publication file is also the archival file. -- Etc. Best regards, BUCK "MARBUX" MARTIN Director of Legal Affairs OpenDocument Foundation Contact: <http://www.opendocumentfoundation.us/contact.htm> -- Universal Interop Now!
