making MS word docs available for download

They have: 7 posts

Joined: May 1999

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had a view on making Microsoft Word docs available for download from sites.

Are there reasons why this shouldnt be done?

Thanks for any tips

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

Making the .doc files available? Go ahead.
Why you ask?

They have: 7 posts

Joined: May 1999

I was advised against it - fear of spreading viruses I guess.

but I cant really see the problem myself which is why I asked.

Thanks

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

That is assuming also that everyone can read a DOC file. Most can but if it is heavily formatted then it may not be read in anything but Word. If you are using macros in Word, then yes there could be a virus there also. You would be better off saving the file like this:
--Very little formatting, mostly text - save as .txt
--Much formatting with pictures - save as .pdf

You could even use Word to create an HTML version of this doc. You would then have to run it through a program to remove all of the proprietary Word formatting.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

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