Developed by Microsoft in the 1980s, Rich Text Format (RTF) is a document file format designed for cross-platform exchange.Plain text and tab delimited formats are good for universal file exchange but all the formatting is stripped out. How can you move text between programs without losing all your character formatting such as bold or italic type? One answer is the Rich Text Format or RTF.
Before the widespread use of Adobe's PDF, Rich Text Format was the most portable file format used to exchange files cross-platform while still retaining all or much of its formatting. It is still a viable option for getting some types of files out of your word processor and into your page layout software or transferring formatted text between different desktop publishing programs.
If your page layout software does not have import filters for the native format of your word processor, try RTF. Although many applications can import .DOC files, older apps may not have filters for newer versions of Word.
Use the Rich Text Format:
- To transfer formatted text to another application that doesn't automatically support the native file format of the originating application.
- To send a document to someone who doesn't have the same application you used when you want to retain the formatting. Unlike PDF, the receiver doesn't need specialized software to view and edit the file.
- To exchange formatted text between PC and Mac users when you don't want to use PDF.
In this Using Rich Text Format Step-by-Step tutorial see how simple it is to export and import RTF files.
| Pick Your Path to Desktop Publishing | |
| Get Started: | Basic Guidelines and Requirements for Desktop Publishing |
| Choose Software: | Desktop Publishing and Design Software |
| Make Something: | Things to Make Using Desktop Publishing |
| Tips & Tutorials: | How to Do Desktop Publishing |
| Training, Education, Jobs: | Careers in Desktop Publishing |
| In the Classroom: | Back to School With Desktop Publishing |
| Use Templates: | Templates for Print and Web Publishing |
