We send form to our client in .rtf format, however some of the clients complaints that they canot open word document or .rtf file because they have applie Mac PCs.
What is the best way they can open rtf document on their Apple Mac computer? or any other suggesion?
If they want .rtf files to open automatically in TextEdit, they can highlight an .rtf file and type command-i for Get Info. Then change the "open with" box to TextEdit and click on "change all". After that, double clicking on any .rtf file should open it in TextEdit.
Well, naturally, the easiest way to open it is to use MS office for Mac. Even versions as old as office 2001 should open them with no problem. They could pick up old copies of 2001 or 2004 for cheap on ebay. Text edit will lose all the formating. Also, it is better to zip an rtf file before sending it. I have sometimes noticed some corruption when attaching and sending .rtf files between a mac and Pc.
That's true. Clearly Office for Mac will open Word files as well as RTF. Anyone who has a Mac will likely have one word processor or another. If they don't have Office, they likely have iWorks, which also should both .rtf and .doc files.
yes forms have to be filled or changed so pdf is not a option.
I have an idea that if we convert rtf to html and then send to customers they might then be able to open under whatever browser comes with applie MAC, but because i have not seen MAC or not tested so not sure, any comments....
Why don' t you ask one of them to try opening your RTF document in TextEdit, filling it in and sending it back to you. I would be surprised if that doesn't work. I would have thought that TextEdit would preserve the format sufficiently for most practical purposes.
I would like to first test this thing with me, as i donot have apple MAC, is there any way i can first test this on my site so that i will be sure that it will preserve formating in texteditor or not ?
I was thinking to download vmware for MAC and then test it or any suggession?
I don't think there is an legal and inexpensive way of testing this without using a Mac. Maybe one of your employees or friends has a Mac laptop they could bring into the office for you to try.
Well, you could also get Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro. Then you could make forms with text fields that they can fill in. That would be the most elegant and businesslike approach. Adobe Pro is not that much as a single upgrade. Or you could just go ahead and get cs3 if you can just justify the other items in the suite to any department head. The reason that this is the most business like approach is that you can digitally sign such documents making them legal. You can also write protect fields you do not want changed and only open R/w to the fields you want feedback on. Adobe pro is professional grade software that is an industry standard. You can create great looking forms as well with their well stocked tool bars. Maybe you could use the text edit idea but, in my mind, the limited formatting would sure look cheesy and unprofessional. Unless you are a startup with no budget, I would say Adobe Acrobat Pro should be on your secretaries' desktop.
