Which electronic format should I use?

With a variety of electronic formats of Common Worship available, it can be hard to know which is the best choice for any particular purpose. All the versions listed are available free of charge from this web site, apart from Visual Liturgy which must be purchased.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

This type of electronic publication uses a format invented by Adobe, a company with long experience in desktop publishing. It preserves the exact format of the printed layout, and by using Adobe's Acrobat Reader program (which is free to download), it can be viewed on a variety of computer systems including Windows, Macintosh, Unix and Linux.

Advantages: Cross-platform (works on all sorts of different computers and operating systems); presents exactly what you get in the book complete with page numbers; the format is also preserved on printing.

Disadvantages: Because it duplicates the book format, PDF can be awkward if you want to reformat the text or choose items from different parts of the book. Text can be enlarged, but column width is fixed.

RTF (Rich Text Format)

This format is linked to Microsoft Word, but widely supported as a way of importing and exporting formatted documents. It is also used by the Windows clipboard.

Advantages: Cross-platform; supports paragraph styles as well as rich formatting (fonts, bold and italic, etc).

Disadvantages: RTF comes in many forms and there may be compatibility problems with certain combinations of software.

HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language)

This is the format of the Word Wide Web. HTML files are designed to be viewed in a web browser.

Advantages: Cross-platform; latest versions of HTML provide sophisticated formatting; supports hyperlinks for easier navigation.

Disadvantages: Use of HTML tables for layout can cause problems when re-using the text in word processors or other applications. HTML may also be displayed differently in different browsers, which can cause compatibility problems.

Visual Liturgy

Visual Liturgy is not directly comparable with the other formats listed, although it can export to RTF, plain text, and HTML. The reason is that unlike the other options it is a dynamic format. For example, you can ask Visual Liturgy for a particular service on a particular date, and the appropriate lectionary or seasonal options will be inserted automatically.

Advantages: Many features that do not exist with the other formats and make service planning much easier. Integrates with other publications providing songs, hymns, other liturgy. Includes full text of main lectionary readings in NIV and NRSV for Sundays and principal holy days. Records hymn usage. Makes optional texts easily available.

Disadvantages: Only runs on Windows. Advanced features take time to learn.