OFM publications and data sets are provided in a variety of formats. If you do not have the software required to view a document, you may wish to download one or more of the free viewers using the links provided here.

Adobe Acrobat

Many OFM publications placed on our website are created in Adobe® Acrobat® Portable Document File (PDF) format. PDF is used because this format maintains the original look and feel of large, printed documents, and allows us to place publications on the web in a quick and efficient manner. Further, PDF products are independent of platforms, applications, and distribution media. A free viewer is available at the Adobe® website.

Excel

Data files are often provided as Microsoft® Excel spreadsheets. If you do not have software that will open a spreadsheet in this format, you may wish to use the  Microsoft® Online Office Viewer.

PowerPoint

Data files are often provided as Microsoft® PowerPoint presentations. If you do not have software that will open a presentation in this format, you may wish to use the  Microsoft® Online Office Viewer.

Word

Several publications are provided as Microsoft® Word documents. If you do not have software that will open a Word document, you may wish to use the  Microsoft® Online Office Viewer.

SAS

Selected data files are provided in SAS format. SAS statistical analysis software is required to read and analyze these files.

WinZip

Some large datasets are provided as a self-extracting WinZip® file. A self-extracting Zip file is an executable program file (.EXE file) that includes a Zip file and software to extract or "unzip" the contents of the Zip file. Users can run (execute) a self-extracting Zip file just as they run any other program. Once you've saved the file to disk, simply type the filename in DOS, or double click it in your file manager and the file will automatically expand to its original format.