What is PDF?
PDF, short for Portable Document Format, is a commonly used file format for the publication of electronic documents. It was originally developed by Adobe Systems for use with their products, but has since become an open, free standard supported by many software vendors. Most computers come installed with the Adobe Reader so that these documents may be read. (The original name for this program was "Adobe Acrobat Reader".)Why does the St. Paul's website use PDF?
PDF is easy to use and is a general-purpose, portable method for distributing detailed documents on the web. Better still, the software you need to view any PDF document is available for free. In fact, the chances are that your computer already has the software you need to read a PDF file, which is, on most systems, the Adobe Reader. If your system does not already have the Adobe Reader, you can download it for free from Adobe systems (see below).How do I know whether or not my computer can read PDF files?
The easiest way is to click on a link to a PDF document, such as this one, and see what happens. If your browswer launches the Adobe Reader, you are in business. If not, you need to download the correct program from Adobe.How can I download the Adobe Reader?
You can download the Adobe Reader for your system by clicking the link below. Once you have downloaded and installed it, you may have to exit your browser and restart it.
But what if I have the Adobe Reader but I still can't view the document?
There are many reasons why the Adobe Reader may not be working in your computer. Adobe has prepared a document to assist you in various problems that have been reported to them. Click the link below to view this list.Adobe - Support: Viewing PDF files in a browser