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SRP Web Site Help Files & Downloads

Files and Downloads

I'm supposed to able to download some of the files available on the SRP Web site but it isn't working.

Web browsers have different ways of handling downloads from the Web. Some of the files on the SRWM Web site will be recognized by many Web browsers as downloadable files and will be be downloaded when you select the file. Other files might need to be downloaded manually. Some browsers use a "save link" function to download a selected the file. Check the instructions for your browser.

My Web browser doesn't seem to have any file download capabilities.

Before giving up on downloading from the Web, there are a couple of things to try:

  • Using a different browser if your Internet connection allows it.
  • If using a mouse with the computer, try "right clicking" on the link. Many browsers will give options for the link that include the option to "Save Target As..." or something similar.
  • Downloading the ZIP version of a file, if available. Some browsers will download certain file types when their links are selected even though the browsers don't allow one to specify file downloads. Once you download the ZIP version, you will need to unpack the ZIP. Look further down in this page for help with ZIP files.

I select a link and I get a screen with gibberish.

It is very likely that your browser tried to display a file intended to be downloaded but the Web browser tried to render it as online text. You may need to tell the browser to download the file.

I am having trouble viewing some of the downloaded files.

Because there can be many cause for such difficulties, the answers below are suggestions to consider rather a single solution.

  • If the file is a ZIP archive, make sure to unpack it first. See the ZIP file information below.
  • Except for the Acrobat Acrobat PDF and the ZIP files (see below), the formats should be readable with recent version of many word processors or, in the case of the Excel files, many spreadsheet programs. More information about these files formats can be found in sections below.

    Microsoft offers free viewers for Microsoft file formats. Most of these viewers operate under Windows. See http://office.microsoft.com/Assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx
  • It is possible that the file did not properly download. Try downloading again.
  • If the problem isn't solved, contact us

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File Formats

What file formats are used on the SRP Web site?

The formats usually used for downloadable files on the SRP Web site include:

  • ASCII
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations
  • Adobe Acrobat PDF
  • Rich Text Format (RTF)
  • ZIP compressed files
  • ISO 9660 CD-ROM image files
  • Word Perfect 5.1 (DOS)
  • Word Perfect for Windows

There's more than one file format available for a document. Which one should I use?

Usually the SRWM offers multiple file formats for a given document to help Web site visitors get a version that best fits their needs. Some file formats allow one to edit and customize documents such as forms. Other formats capture the look of the printed edition of the document. The multiple file formats also give a better chance that at least one version of the document will be readable on most computer systems.

Here's a chart to help you compare many of the the file formats and decide which one to choose.

Icon File Format Notes
Note: Icons are not always used with file links. The File format, along with the file size, may be stated near the link.
[HTML] HyperText Markup Language
(.htm; .html)
  • Format used by most Web pages.
  • Can be viewed by any Web browser.
  • If a link has no file format stated, it is most likely for an HTML or similar document.
[PDF] Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format
(.pdf)
  • Gives a good rendition of what the printed version of a document would look like.
  • Requires PDF-reading software.
  • A free PDF Reader software from Adobe allow you to view or print PDF documents.
  • Cannot be readily edited or modified with the free reader.
  • Some PDF documents can allow form blanks to be completed within the free reader so the completed form can be printed. We will indicate if a PDF document is set up with such form fields. Such PDF form documents can be also printed out as blank forms and completed manually.
  • See more information about PDF file format below.
[Word] Microsoft Word Document
(.doc)
  • Allows editing or customization of the document.
  • Can be used in Microsoft Word, Open Office, or many other word processor programs.
  • A free viewer is available from Microsoft.
[RTF] Rich Text Format
(.rtf)
  • Allows editing or customization of the document.
  • Retains basic text formatting information.
  • Can be used many word processor programs.
  • Fall back choice if one doesn't have a Word-compatible program.
[Text] Text Format
(.txt)
  • Allows editing or customization of the document.
  • Loses basic text formatting information.
  • Can be used in practically any word processor or other programs.
[Excel] Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
(.xls)
  • Used for usually for financial or other numeric data.
  • Can be viewed, printed, and edited in Microsoft Excel or compatible spreadsheet programs.
  • A free viewer is available from Microsoft.
[PPT] Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
(.ppt)
  • Used for "slide show" type of presentations.
  • Can be viewed, printed, and edited in Microsoft PowerPoint or compatible presentation software programs.
  • A free viewer is available from Microsoft.
[Word Perfect] Word Perfect Document
(.wpd; .wp5)
  • Can be viewed, printed, and edited in Corel Word Perfect or many other word processor programs.
[ZIP] ZIP Compressed Archive
(.zip)
  • Used to store one or more files in a compressed format to save disk space and download time.
  • Provides some file integrity error checking.
  • Requires a ZIP compatible program to unpack the archive.
  • See more information about the ZIP format below
[ZIP] ISO 9660 CD-ROM Image
(.iso)
  • Provides a data image of a CD-ROM.
  • Many CD-ROM writing/"burning" software programs can create a CD-ROM from the .iso file.
  • Must have a CD-ROM writer drive to create the CD-ROMs.
  • Not difficult to use but may be confusing for novices.
  • See more information about the ISO format below

What are those .DOC files?

The .DOC files are word processing document files created with Microsoft Word software. Word processing software from various vendors offer an option to read Microsoft Word documents. Microsoft offers viewers and converters for for various versions of Windows from Microsoft Corporation's Web page at http://office.microsoft.com/Assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx.

There are various non-Microsoft software packages, such as Open Office, that can handle .DOC files.

What are those .XLS files?

The .XLS files are spreadsheet files created with Microsoft Excel software. Spreadsheet software from various vendors offer an option to read Microsoft Excel documents. Microsoft offers viewers and converters for for various versions of Windows from Microsoft Corporation's Web page at http://office.microsoft.com/Assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx.

There are various non-Microsoft software packages, such as Open Office, that can handle .XLS files.

What are those Acrobat PDF files?

Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format) is a method of sharing computer publications in a way that reproduces the publication's printed appearance.

One of the major advantages of the PDF format is that gives a reasonably close reproduction of the original document's format without requiring the user to have the same software, fonts, etc. as the document's author. This is particularly useful for forms, brochures and other documents where format is important.

The Acrobat PDF document can be read and printed with a royalty-free reader program for DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and some versions of UNIX. You can download a copy of the reader software from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Is there a way to make the PDF files more accessible for blind and visually impaired users?

Adobe maintains a Web site to help people with PDF accessibility. The site is at http://access.adobe.com/. The site provides information, tool, and other accessibility resources. Adobe also has several online PDF conversion tools at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html

If you are having trouble with any of our PDF documents and accessibility, please contact us. Thank you.

I'm having trouble with my PDF Reader that's not covered here. Where do I go for help?

The NJDEP and Site Remediation & Waste Management Program cannot offer technical support for software produced by other parties. We recommend you to check the documentation that came with the software and to check the Adobe support page.

Why are some documents available only in PDF format?

The SRWM Web site developers seek to provide documents in at least a couple of formats to make them more accessible. Sometimes, we can get an electronic document in only the PDF format. When time allows, we convert the PDF text to HTML format for online browsing.

At this stage of the technology, PDF is the most readily available means of turning documents from some computer systems into a useable electronic format. As more software applications can produce HTML documents, we'll able to have fewer documents that are available solely as PDF files.

I tried reading a DBF file with my Adobe Acrobat reader and it doesn't work. What's going on?

It is possible to confuse DBF files with PDF files but they are very different formats. DBF files, also called "dBase data files", can be read by various database programs. Such programs include Access, FoxPro, dBase, Alpha 4, etc. There are file utilities that include DBF file viewers.

What are those ZIP files and how do I handle them?

NOTES:

The "ZIP" discussed in this section refers to the file compression format developed by PKWare Inc. It is not the "ZIP Drive" and "ZIP Cartridge" data storage system developed by Iomega Corporation.

A ZIP utility software will uncompress a ZIP file onto your system but it doesn't mean that your system will be able to use the files. The extracted files may require software that can use them.

The ZIP format is a method of compressing one or more files into a single file that is usually smaller than the uncompressed set of files. For downloads, the ZIP format provides the advantages of faster downloads and of keeping related files together. For the Web environment, ZIP files are usually recognized as files that should be downloaded.

Some software vendors providing ZIP utilities:

  • PKWare (http://www.pkware.com).
    PKWare developed the ZIP compression format and provides shareware utilities for DOS, Windows, OS/2, and UNIX systems.

  • WinZip (http://www.winzip.com).
    WinZip makes Windows-based ZIP utilities and provides shareware evaluation copies of them.

  • Edisys (http://www.edisys.com).
    The Edisys EZip Wizard is a royalty-free (if used solely to unpack) ZIP file unpacking utility.

  • Data21 (http://www.data21.com).
    Data21 sells ZIP utilities for various mainframe (MVS and VSE), AS/400 and UNIX platforms. Evaluation copies are available.

  • Info-ZIP's Un-ZIP (ftp://ftp.info-zip.org/pub/infozip/UnZip.html)
    Info-Zip's Unzip program is available in various for many different platforms, including Linux, FreeBSD, Sun/Solaris, VMS, VM/CMS, Macintosh, etc. Even older platforms such as Atari and Amiga home computers are supported.

DISCLAIMER: We are not endorsing these vendors in particular nor are these the only vendors providing suitable utilities for unpacking ZIP files.

What are those ISO files and how do use them to create CD-ROMs?

ISO 9660 files (.iso) provide a digital image of a CD-ROM's data. These files can be used by many CD-ROM writing ("CD burning") software programs to create a CD-ROM on one's CD writer drive. Examples of programs that can create CD-ROMs from ISO files include Nero, Roxio Easy CD Creator, and K3B.

The commands for using the ISO files varies among software products. The NJDEP cannot provide technical support for using software on one's computer. Consult your program's manuals or help documents. Sometimes, the terms "CD image" or "Creating CD from image file" is used.

Hint: On some systems, opening an .iso file in a file manager window will launch the default CD-ROM writing program for the system and start the CD creation process with the ISO file.

NOTE: The ISO files are often large files and it is possible (but not common) that the data might get corrupted download. Such corruption might make the CD-ROMs created with the corrupted ISO file unusable. If you encounter problems with the downloaded ISOs getting corrupted, the following might be helpful:

  • Download a ZIP of the ISO if it available. (ZIP file have some file integrity error checking.)
  • For advanced computer users: Check the MD5 hash value of the download with the MD5 value, if available, on the Web page from which you downloaded the ISO. Unix, Linux, and similar platforms often have a MD5 utility program, such as md5sum, standard on the system. Windows compatible MD5 programs can be found at http://www.fourmilab.ch/md5/ and at http://www.md5summer.org/

DISCLAIMER: We make no special endorsements for the above sites or their software.

What are those numbers with "Kb" or "Mb" (examples: "28 Kb", "2.1 Mb") after the file links?

In places where download files are mentioned on the SRP page, we try to give you an idea of the approximate file size in Kilobytes or Megabytes.

This helps to give an idea of how long it takes to download the file. A rough rule of thumb is 2Kb equals approximately 1 second with a 28.8K modem.

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