File types

There are several different file types that you might download from our site: EXE, PDF, ZIP, DOC, TXT and RTF. A ZIP file is an archive that can contain any of the other file types in compressed form.

EXE files. If you download a file that ends in .EXE, it is a Windows program that will run when you double-click on it.

ZIP files. A file that ends with .ZIP is a compressed archive with one or many files in it. Windows XP and all later versions have ZIP features built in. For earlier versions, to expand a ZIP file you will need a decompression utility. WinZip is the most widely used, but others are free and will serve your purpose. Just go to Google and search for “Free Unzip Utility” and add “Mac” or “Windows” to focus on your operating system.

PDF files. To open, read and print out forms or other PDF files, you’ll need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher. If you don’t already have this widely distributed utility, you can download it for free from Adobe’s Web Site.

Text documents. Files that end in .doc, .txt, or .rtf are text files. To use text documents, you will need a word processor.

• Microsoft Word is the most widely used of all word processors and will read any of our formats, assuming you have Word for Windows 6.0/95 or later, or Word for Macintosh 5.0 or later. Many other word processors will also work.
• Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT all come with WordPad, a small word processor that reads Word or RTF or TXT documents.

How to download files

• Click the link at our website to download the indicated file
• Direct the download onto your desktop or into a directory (folder) that you created to receive it.
• Double-click on whatever file you want to use. EXE files will run a program. DOC or TXT files will open in your word processor. PDF files will open in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you are still lacking any of these programs, you will have to install them in order to use the files.
• If you downloaded a ZIP file, it contains compressed files that must be extracted with a ZIP utility before you can use them. There are instructions below for both Windows and Mac users

Downloading and using Zipped files

1. Decide where you want the file to go. We recommend that you first create a directory (folder) named “downloads” on your desktop or hard drive and download files into that directory, where it will be easy to find.
2. At our web site, click the download link to begin downloading the file to your computer
3. Direct the download into the directory that you created to receive it.
4. Create a directory on your desktop or hard drive into which the contents of the ZIP file will be extracted.
5. Open your “downloads” directory and double-click the ZIP file. This will launch your ZIP decompression utility. If this doesn’t happen, it means you don’t have such a utility installed and you’ll need to get one. so go to Google and search for “Free Unzip Utility” and add “Mac” or “Windows” to focus on your operating system.
6. To extract the compressed files, follow the instructions for your utility. If you need additional help on extracting files, you can get it from the product’s Help menu. In WinZip, you click the “Extract” button to extract all files into whatever directory you choose.
7. Find and open the directory into which you extracted the zipped files.
8. Double-click on whatever file you want to use. EXE files will run a program. DOC or TXT files will open in your word processor. PDF files will open in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you are still lacking any of these programs, you will have to install them in order to use the files.