Documents

Text documents are best stored as .docx (Word) or .odf (Open Document Format). When they are to be published, they should either be converted to HTML pages or published in their original format. If there is a specific reason that the formatting in a document must be preserved, it is best to publish as PDF. Remember to design the document for universal access before you convert it to PDF. See the course page for PDF.

For presentations the format most often used is .pptx (PowerPoint). When they are to be published, they should be published in their original format, which is the most accessible.

If you are publishing web pages in a CMS (Vortex), it is mandatory to publish as HTML. In practice this means you must create new articles (or use other templates in the CMS) and copy the content there. You can optionally publish the document in other formats as well, for example when the document should be available for download. For teaching situations you use the documents original format, which makes the document most accessible for students. In other cases use PDF.

In an LMS (Canvas) or a digital examination system (WISEflow), judgement must be used. In WISEflow there are prevailing reasons for creating exam questions with WISEflow's templates (HTML), while any attachments can be .pdf. In Canvas you can create content pages (HTML), but it is more common to upload files. These should preferably be .pptx, .docx or .odf, and in exceptions .pdf.

Images and illustrations can be created in many formats, but when they are to be delivered via an online solution there are some formats that are recommended and will work everywhere. The standard formats you should choose are .jpg or .png for images and .gif for animated images.

The standard formats for audio and video, also to achieve a good compromise between quality and file size, are .mp3 (audio) and .mp4 (video).

Recommended file formats summarized

Documents

.html (with templates created in the publishing solution)
.pptx
.xls
.docx or .odf
.pdf (in exceptions)

Images and illustrations

.jpg, or
.png

For animated images you should use

.gif

Audio and video

.mp3 (audio)
.mp4 (video)