Acrobat software may already reside on your computer even if you have not used it before. If you have the software and if your Web browser is properly configured, you will be able to view the full text immediately. If you do not have Acrobat software, it can be downloaded . RealPage software can also be downloaded . The availability of different file formats for electronic journal articles varies by journal and by subscription.
Most versions offer access to only one file format, although some offer access to multiple formats.
An advantage of HTML files is that they often include links to other articles. A disadvantage is that the page formatting usually does not resemble that of the original print article. PDF files are exact reproductions of the original print articles. Many prefer electronic journal articles in PDF format for this reason. However, articles in PDF format do not include links to other articles.