File
format

Description

Operating
system

Content
protection

HTML Help

Microsoft Compiled HTML Help

This format is one of the most versatile ebook formats, although only for the Windows 32 bit platform. It features an expandable table of contents, a keyword index, full text search and favorites (bookmarks). The viewer is part of the Windows operating system.

Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP

No

PDF

Adobe Portable Document Format

Platform independent. The PDF format can be viewed on any operating system which a viewer is available for. Adobe ensures that you can view PDF files on most platforms. The Adobe PDF viewer is free.

All major OS platforms

Password protection

Microsoft Help 2.0

Microsoft Help 2.0

This is a special eBook format, used for MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) documentation. It has no meaning outside MSDN.

Windows platform

No

Windows EXE

Windows executable files

Windows exe file. eBooks are often distributed in the Windows exe file format. The benefit of this format is that it can be viewed on any Windows 32 bit system without installing a viewer. This format is perfect for CD presentations and stand-alone eBooks. Help & Manual creates this eBook format.

Windows platform

Yes, but this depends on the authoring tool

Microsoft Reader

Microsoft Reader 2.0

You probably haven't heard too much about the Microsoft Reader 2.0 file format. It is still in development and being used by many professional publishers.

Windows PCs
Pocket PC

Yes, CRM possible

Winhelp

Old style Windows help files

The Winhelp format (.HLP files) was the standare eBook format for Windows online help until Windows 98. It is still widely used but looks a little bit outdated. HTML Help is the newer standard format.

Windows platform
16 + 32 bit

No