what are pdfs?

When you view a document on staffcentral, you will notice that it is in PDF format. PDF is a universal file format that preserves all the fonts, formatting, graphics, and color of a document, regardless of the application used to create it. (if you want to know more, go to the Adobe website)

The reason staffcentral uses pdfs, is to enable all users - independent of whether they have Word or Excel in none or numerous versions - to view the documents as they were originally intended.

All that is required to view pdf documents is Adobe Acrobat Reader - which is free. Click the image below to download it

(Adobe Acrobat is the version that is not free, which allows you to make pdfs yourself).

There is a text tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader which allows you to copy text from a pdf, in order to paste into other applications, should you need to do so.

If you actually want to work fully with the documents, then on staffcentral you always have the option of downloading the original version of a file (usually Word or Excel) - there is a link to do this immediately below the title of the documents. This of course relies on you having the correct application on your machine, but in most cases documents will be worked on by the department responsible for that document who should have the right software.