Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files
Microsoft provides free software that allows viewing MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint files without owning the full version of the software.
Adobe PDF files
To view PDF files you will need to have the free Acrobat Reader installed which will allow you to view and print these documents. This software also installs a plug-in for your browser that allows you to view PDF documents directly in your browser.
However, if you experience problems viewing PDF files in your browser please save them locally on your hard drive before opening them.
If you still experience difficulties accessing PDF documents, there are some useful online tools available on the Access Adobe website which can convert PDF documents into HTML or text.
Saving files locally
When you click on a link to a file in other than HTML format, your browser may open the document in the browser window, open the document automatically, or prompt you to save the file locally. The action the browser takes depends on your local browser configuration. You will need to have the appropriate application or file viewer (see above) to view these documents.
If your browser automatically opens the document in it's native application or reader, you will have the option to do a File/Save to capture the document to your local computer.
If your browser prompts you to download and save the file, simply choose an appropriate place on your local hard disk to store the file. You will want to carefully note the location you save to so that you will be able to find the file when the download is completed.
In addition, you can save a file by right-clicking on the link, then clicking "Save target as" (Internet Explorer) or "Save link as" (Firefox) and browse to the appropriate drive and folder, then save the file.
Compressed and archived files
In some cases, large individual documents or groups of files have been archived together and compressed into a single (smaller) file. File names of these archives end in "zip". Clicking on a link to an archived file will result in that file being downloaded to your computer.
Once downloaded, you will need to uncompress them using software like WinZip or the free software coming with Windows Vista and Windows XP.
