Document Format

For the purposes of the ADT program it has been agreed that the document format standard be PDF. This has become a worldwide standard, and used by both Virginia Tech and UMI.
As a format PDF has many advantages including :

• is relatively easy to convert documents
• is readily accessible, cross platform, using the free and freely available high quality Acrobat Reader viewer
• offers high levels of document security
• is suitable for the necessary archival purposes - library deposit and institutional submission. That is, can be viewed/interpreted now and in the future without excessive difficulty
• is secure and stable and translatable into possible future archival standards

Whilst there are other archival formats used around the world, such as SGML, XML, their relative complexity make them difficult to use and to train one off users. It is important to remember that the ADT program's ultimate objective is based on self-submission through an automated process. If the process becomes too complex and difficult, both for the student and the administrators, it is less likely to succeed.

The National Library of Australia will be advising and guiding the ADT program group on the long term preservation of digital material.