File type

Software programme

PDF (Portable document format)

Adobe Acrobat

MS Word document

Microsoft Word

MS PowerPoint presentation

Microsoft PowerPoint

Audio files

Win Amp or Apple QuickTime (recommended)

Movie files

Apple Quicktime

Adobe Acrobat and PDF files

Adobe Acrobat is a popular document exchange medium. It works on the principle that documents produced in most software packages can be transformed into a .pdf file (the Adobe Acrobat format) and then read by the free reader package available from Adobe called Adobe Acrobat Reader. A key advantage is that it preserves all the formatting of the original file, including images, font and layout. To read the documents you must first download the reader software from the Adobe website.

Download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader

DOC, PPT files and Microsoft (MS) Office

MS Office software programmes are widely used by business for editing information. They are:

- MS Word - a text and content editor.
- MS Powerpoint -a presentation tool which shows picture and text information in a slideshow format.
- If you do not have the MS Office programme you need, you can download a free 'viewer'. This is a piece of software that allows you to view, but not edit the file.

Download a free viewer from the MS website.

MP3 and Win Amp or Apple QuickTime

To listen to MP3 files you must have a sound card installed on your computer, and software to play the file with.

For Mac users

If you have got a recent Mac (from OS 9) it should have Quicktime Player installed already. If you click on the link to starting to downloading the file, it should prompt the player to start.If you need to, you can download the most recent QuickTime from the Apple site.

For Windows users

If you have got a recent Windows PC (from version Win 95) it should have a Windows Media Player installed already. If you click on the link to starting to downloading the file, it should prompt the player to start. If you need to, you can download the most recent Media Player from the Win Amp site.

If you don't already have an MP3 player installed on your computer, there are many available to download for free: iTunes Player, Windows Media Player, Real Player, Quicktime Player

Downloading and saving files from the our website

The method is the same for all the main file types (PDF, DOC, PPT, MP3)

Saving a file for Mac users
- Control click on the icon or link to the file
- Chose 'save to disk' .
- This will start the download to your computer. Normally it saves it direct onto your desktop.
- Open the file from the desktop (mouseclick) or move it to another location for permanent storage.

Saving a file for Windows users
- Right click on the icon or link to the file
- Choose "save target as" or "save file as".
- You will be prompted to automatically save it somewhere on your PC.
- Go to that location and open the file from there.