About PDF Format

We sell our resources in either hardcopy format in a ring bound folder for $132 OR in PDF format for $99 (25% discount from the standard hardcopy price). Please note that in the PDF format the 'picture' page borders may be replaced with a straight line border to aid in compression of the file. Also note that PDF format does not allow you to edit the files (see below for more explanation about PDF format). If you have already purchased hardcopy format in the past, you can also purchase the PDF format at $66 (50% discount on the hardcopy price). See below for further details.

 

Which format should you choose?

1. PDF FORMAT

Benefits of PDF format are as follows:

• speedy delivery by email within 24 hours of your order (when more than 3 products are ordered in PDF format we burn the files onto a CD and post this to you instead of delivery by email)
• you can save the file at school in a directory where each teacher can access the file at any time and print off handouts as needed
• some schools have the facility to send files directly to their photocopier
• pages won't go 'missing' over the years
• if you have a school intranet you may be able to store the document where students can access and print pages as directed by your staff
• the adobe acrobat reader used to open a pdf file is probably already on your school computer or can be downloaded for free (simply do a search 'adobe acrobat reader')

Notes:

- In the PDF format the 'picture' page borders may be replaced with a straight line border to aid in compression of the file.

- You cannot edit pages in PDF format (see below for more explanation). The whole point of PDF is that it preserves the intellectual property of the product while allowing you to open the file on any computer that has a PDF reader without changing any of the formatting options. It is not the same as a Word file where you can make changes to the content. In PDF format you cannot edit or make any changes to the actual content.

- Full photocopy rights means that you can make copies of the products again and again for the students at your school. If you have a school intranet, or a part of your website that is restricted access to your student and parent body, you can upload the resource file so that students can access it directly. But you need to ensure that the access is limited to the members of your school community and emphasise that to ensure the school complies with copyright regulations the information is not passed to others outside the school community. Do not make copies of the file and give it to your students as if the students break copyright regulations the school will then be liable. Please note, as editing is disabled in PDF format you cannot upload part of the file or just one or two pages - you would have to upload the whole file in its entirety as it cannot be split into separate pages.

- Most schools will already have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on their computer. This allows you to open PDF files. If not, simply google 'Adobe Acrobat Free Reader' and you will find numerous sites where you can download the software for free.

 

2. HARDCOPY

Handouts arrive in a ring binder folder for ease of photocopying. Useful if your staff are located in the same staffroom and you can store the folder in a central position. If your staff is not strong on computer skills, this traditional format may be the better option.

 

What if we want both formats?

You can purchase the hardcopy for $132 then the PDF as well for $66 (50% discount). If you have already purchased the hardcopy folder in the past, you are also able to receive the 50% discount on the PDF file. Like it would be in a bookstore, these are two separate products. If you have purchased the hardcopy version this gives you full photocopy rights for the product but does not entitle you to automatically receive the PDF version as well. Otherwise every customer would be contacting us requesting an accompanying PDF version of the file! The workload with changing footers to school names, converting the file to PDF, placing security restrictions on the file and then transmitting it via email or burned onto a CD would be unmanageable. If you wish to benefit from the convenience of the PDF/electronic format AS WELL as the product provided in PDF format, then you can choose to do so and pay a total of $198 to receive both versions instead of the $132 for the hardcopy.

We've changed our minds about the format. Can we send them back and get the other format?

Unfortunately if you have already purchased and received the product we are unable to accept returns just so you can change formats. We suggest you read the above explanations of the advantages of each format and choose carefully before purchase.

Can we get a version we can edit?

Imagine you found a book you liked in a major bookstore. Could you ring them and say 'we really like it but we want to make some changes, could you send us the MS Word file so we can tailor/edit it?'. Of course not! Even if you purchase an electronic book through a bookshop or the Internet you are not given the permissions or passwords to edit it.

ELES products are provided in either hardcopy or PDF format in order to protect the intellectual property of the copyrighted material - just like in a bookshop. Of course we can't totally stop unscrupulous people from breaking copyright law, but by providing the products in either hardcopy or PDF format our copyrighted material can be in some way protected. If schools were given editing capabilities, what would happen is that the material would be edited to an extent that we could no longer protect our ideas through copyright. The other problem is that if schools change our material, it is not clear to users which material is from ELES and which material has been edited into the document. We have two issues with this. Firstly, we are not comfortable with unknown and possibly material we are not happy with being possibly credited to our name. Secondly, there is the chance schools may edit the material in such a way that we are open to lawsuits (eg if unsuitable material is edited in or copyrighted ideas from another author which would then look like ELES had included these ideas). Although we deal only with schools, the same copyright laws and considerations apply to our products as with any piece of intellectual property. One of the fundamental purposes of copyright law is to enable the author to protect their work and ensure that it is not altered in any way.

Breaking with hundreds of years of copyright tradition and law and giving schools editing capabilities would also make it very easy for schools to forward the files to other schools without copyright considerations. As a small organisation, we cannot continue to operate if we do not receive the revenue from those who choose to benefit from our hard work through using our products.

Within the next few years we will be creating study skills material designed specifically for digital format where students can complete the material on their computer. However, the current products we sell are not designed to be used in this way. And just like the major bookstores, we do not have any intention in the future of creating any material that will allow editing by the school. This is why we provide 'on approval' CDs - so schools can view the product in entirety and ensure it is the type of resource they are looking for before purchase.

We've lost our PDF files. Can we get a replacement?

Imagine you bought a book, a CD or even an e-book from a major bookshop or online bookshop website. If you lost it, could you contact the bookshop and request a replacement? Of course not! You would have to purchase another copy.

At ELES we have the same policy for our DVD and our hard copy products. If you lose this, you will need to purchase a new copy.

For PDF files, however, as a goodwill gesture by ELES, if you lose or misplace the files you have purchased and paid for within 2 years of the purchase date we will send you replacements for these files and only charge an administration fee of $9.90 per file instead of the full price of $99 to purchase the product again.

After the 2 year period you would need to purchase the product again (although as you had already purchased a copy before you would only be charged $66). As with any electronic media, it is a good idea to always make back-up copies of your files! As it is a time-consuming process for ELES to prepare each file specifically for a school, we are only prepared to offer this special replacement offer for 2 years after the date of purchase. After this time you will need to purchase another copy - just like you would have to with any other bookshop or online bookshop website.

 

We've lost some of the pages in our hard copy resource.
Can we get replacement pages sent to us?

Imagine you bought a book, a CD or even an e-book from a major bookshop or online bookshop website. If you lost it or misplaced some of the pages, could you contact the bookshop and request a replacement or to have the missing pages sent to you? Of course not! You would have to purchase another copy.

At ELES we have the same policy for our DVD and our hard copy products. If your school has lost part of a previously purchased ELES resource, we suggest that you buy a replacement PDF copy. As your school has previously purchased this resource, you would not be charged full price but instead would be charged $66 for the replacement PDF copy.

 

Can we give the PDF files to our parents and students or allow them to download them from an Intranet etc?

Can you guarantee that the file will not be then emailed or sent to someone else outside of your school community? This is a difficult thing to ensure and if a student sends a file that is licensed for use of your school to an outside party then the school will be in breach of copyright law and therefore could be liable for misuse of the intellectual property. Unless you are confident that all parties will abide by the copyright regulations it is not recommended that you place the file in a position where it can be downloaded by parents or students. Your license allows the school to print and distribute the pages to the students in your school - not to give the PDF file to others. When a document is in PDF format, it is just too easy for the file to be forwarded to others (thus breaching copyright) which is why we do not recommend that you place the file on your intranet. PDF format is just an alternative method for ELES to distribute the intellectual property to you for you to use, it does not imply that the school can then distribute the PDF files or confer any special privileges with respect to this file. If you are looking for online resources, then the ELES Online Study Skills Handbook (www.studyskillshandbook.com.au) is something you should consider! Our worksheets are designed for more traditional use, ie teachers to photocopy and use with students. PDF format just allows us to offer you the worksheets at a discounted price and means that if you lose a page it is not a problem - you can just print it off again!

 

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