12 Reasons Not to Use PDF
- Fixed Layout: One of the main limitations of PDFs is their fixed layout. This is problematic when content needs to be adapted for different devices or accessibility needs.
- Not Easily Editable: PDFs are not designed for easy editing. While there are tools to make changes, it’s not as intuitive as editing a Power Point document.
- Accessibility Issues: PDFs can present accessibility challenges for people with disabilities, such as screen readers struggling to interpret the content. Special measures are required to create accessible PDFs.
- Large File Sizes: PDFs can become quite large, especially if they contain high-quality images or extensive data. This can be an issue when sharing or storing documents.
- Not Ideal for Web Content: When it comes to web content, PDFs are not as search engine-friendly as HTML or other web formats. This can impact the discoverability of content online.
- Limited Interactivity: While PDFs can support some interactivity, such as hyperlinks and basic forms, they are not as versatile as web-based formats for creating highly interactive content.
- Software Dependence: To view and edit PDFs, users need specialized software like Adobe Acrobat Reader. This software may not be available or easily accessible on all devices or for all users.
- Inefficient for Certain Types of Content: For content that is meant to be frequently updated or that requires dynamic data, PDFs are not be the most efficient choice. For such content, database-driven web applications or other formats such as DocuApps are better.
- Security Risks: While PDFs can be password-protected and encrypted, they are not immune to security risks. Malicious links or code can be embedded in PDFs, potentially causing security issues.
- Version Compatibility: Not all PDF viewers and editors support the latest features or standards. Compatibility issues can arise when different software versions are used.
- Challenges for Mobile Devices: Reading PDFs on mobile devices, especially smaller screens, can be cumbersome without responsive design or mobile-friendly formatting.
- Resource-Intensive: Creating PDFs with advanced features, like interactive forms or embedded multimedia, can be resource-intensive and require specific software skills. Even then, interactive data cannot be embedded.
For highly dynamic or web-based content pixel-perfect, portable, data-friendly HTML is better.
To Learn more about how to create interactive bank statements, contact us.
Dr. Rado