Multiple Document Formats for Viewers
Regardless of the software you finally choose to produce your study, the best option is to convert it into more than a single file format. Files are typically produced in either in Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt) or Microsoft Word (doc) and then converted into Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format. This is the greatest advantage of having an electronic document; files in a multitude of formats can be produced from a single file.
By having the study produced in a minimum of two or three common formats such as doc, ppt or pdf, viewers may choose either version depending on the software installed on their respective computers. This will address the needs of more than 90% of viewers.
One caveat – remember that a document may not look or act ‘exactly’ the same when saved in different formats or opened in different applications. Our goal is to get the document to look as close to the same as possible – it need not be exactly the same. Don’t be put off by small differences as long as the overall meaning of the information is not changed by the appearance.
Using the Save As Command.
Don’t know what formats might be produced from your application? Using the ‘Save As’ command is often the quickest way to determine that. Depending on the application, formats from images like Joint Photographic Experts Group (jpg), Tagged Image File Format (tif or tiff), etc.) to text (doc, txt, etc.) can be generated quickly and automatically.
And don’t forget, there’s always the software program’s ‘Help’ function that may be searched using terms such as ‘export’, ‘import’ and ‘file format’.
The Available File Types.
Once you’ve decided which formats to produce, include each format version of your study in a separate folder, within the master folder. Each folder should be appropriately named and placed on the same distribution media.
Let the user decide which file format is best for them using their existing computer and software. More work for you, but an excellent option for users. 
