File formats are used appropriately

From WolfWikis

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Explanation

When viewing pages and doing activities in a web browser it is best if all of your content works well with the web browser. HTML is the native language of the Internet and works seamlessly with any browser. It does not require any additional plugins or software to work.

Alternatives to HTML

PDF files are a popular alternative to HTML. PDF files can often be published directly from programs like Microsoft Word. They can often be viewed directly in a browser, but they do require some additional software. There are some downsides to PDFs. Sometimes the Acrobat Reader necessary to display the files can severely slow down the browser and cause other usability issues. Also, there are special accessibility issues to take into consideration with PDFs. (There are also accessibility considerations for HTML documents as well.)

Formats of Last Resort

It is tempting (and yet sometimes necessary) to put up proprietary file formats on your web site. These include files such as PowerPoint, Excel, and many other specialized file formats. To view them the user will need to have the necessary software installed. Sometimes you can get free document viewers (i.e. for Microsoft Office) but sometimes you can't (i.e. for GIS or CAD applications.)

Sometimes it is appropriate to put up these proprietary file formats. For example, if you want to distribute an Excel spreadsheet that has formulas already created for doing a certain task, this would be best done by posting the .xls or .xlsx file directly online. However, if all you want to do is present a table of data, HTML has built-in functionality for displaying tables of data, and no special software is required.

Sometimes these proprietary formats also have special accessibility issues to deal with that are more difficult to address than standard HTML issues.

The bottom line is this - don't put up proprietary file formats because you are too lazy to convert it. Only put it up if it is the best or only way to distribute your content.