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Text or HTML?

Currently stories are formatted as text files in the archive. Would you prefer to continue reading them in text format, or would you like to read them formatted in HTML?

Results

Convert the stories to HTML. (1549)
52%

Leave the stories as text. (1055)
36%

I have no preference. (352)
12%

Total Votes: 2956

Comments

html, font Times New Roman would be good, easy for eyes. - 12/25/09 3:39:23 AM MST

it will be much more easy to read - 10/25/09 4:40:26 AM MST

html is better. Text is past - 08/27/09 4:20:30 PM MST

While text donument can be easy to print or dowload, reading them online is terrible. With stories dozens or hundreds of pages long, a single text document makes it difficult to read a story in segments. HTML is better. - 07/28/09 7:24:10 PM MST

what would the difference look like? - 07/11/09 8:19:20 PM MST

I often download stories to my hard drive to read later when I have time and for this purpose text files are better. They save much more quickly and rarely have formatting issues (unlike html). - 06/08/09 2:07:04 AM MST

quicker to load if brower is playing up - 05/24/09 10:17:41 AM MST

HTML would make it easier to change the text size for reading on the screen without worrying about the line breaks. - 04/16/09 4:58:19 PM MST

Text format is accessible for blind users of adaptive technology, IE screen readers that speak out the info on a PC. - 03/26/09 6:51:05 AM MST

html needs more time loading - 03/21/09 3:02:41 PM MST

I think if you read a story the format doesn't matter. - 02/13/09 8:08:15 AM MST

HTML more dynamic and easier to read - 01/26/09 5:07:31 PM MST

I've had no problem reading them in their current format. - 01/06/09 9:39:01 PM MST

well, its easier for me to read as text, so i'd like to leave it. - 12/18/08 8:17:07 PM MST

text is so easy - 12/17/08 10:36:13 AM MST

I think html is more comfortable to read and it would be great if the background could be in another,darker colour, such as blue - 12/16/08 5:06:56 PM MST

easier to enlarge for those of us with sight issues - 10/26/08 9:03:06 PM MST

I'd rather time be devoted to putting new stories into categories for easy searching. - 10/24/08 12:56:10 PM MST

please save yourselves the formatting trouble and leave the stories in text. It's easy to save and easy to archive. - 10/22/08 8:25:11 PM MST

yo peeps lnc rules - 10/11/08 8:08:10 PM MST

Uh, Isn't it kinda time for a new poll? - 10/06/08 7:14:52 PM MST

don't make any more extra work for yourself then necessary, as long as the stories are typed up and readable who cares what form there in. - 08/23/08 1:55:25 AM MST

i love it - 08/05/08 10:22:47 AM MST

Leave the stories as text. - 07/29/08 1:50:37 AM MST

"Its a little hard finding what I am looking for," - are you serious? How many ways can you index stories? I think this site has most of them covered! - 07/07/08 6:34:26 PM MST

html is just more attractive and easier on the eyes - 06/29/08 5:07:27 PM MST

no matter HTML or text, a huge thank you to all the authors!!! you´re doing a great job! - 06/18/08 1:06:25 PM MST

html is too much hard work concidering the size of the archive. Dont fiddle with what works. - 04/12/08 7:55:31 AM MST

Its a little hard finding what I am looking for, But I LOVE These stories! - 04/06/08 1:02:13 AM MST

But mantain the two formats txt AND html - 04/01/08 0:54:29 AM MST

The reason we're 'the only website left not to offer HTML' is because every time we've asked previously the answer has been 'leave it as text'. ;) - 03/24/08 12:33:56 PM MST

c mon, use text >.< - 03/22/08 6:14:40 AM MST

In HTML, without line breaks, it would be possible to enlarge the text on the screen without worrying about the lines not wrapping. - 03/01/08 5:04:39 AM MST

everybody should just zoom in on the text that makes it easier to read - 02/12/08 9:31:18 AM MST

I'm content enough with text that I'd hate to ask you to do the extra work to convert to HTML - 01/08/08 5:22:30 PM MST

HTML would make it easier to change the size of the text in the stories, so I wouldn't strain my eyes so much. - 01/03/08 9:05:06 PM MST

HTML. PLEASE!!! (1) I loathe Courier and find it very hard to read. (2) I prefer to see italics, bold etc than wonder what the author means by * and ~ around words/phrases (3) you must be about the only archive now that doesn't offer HTML format (4) can't you offer a click-button 'view as plain text' option? - 12/30/07 11:44:32 AM MST

Hi, i voted a lon time ago on this poll, but wanted to tell you how much i like the formatter. about the poll, i have no preference, do whatever is best for the storage and workings of the website. it doesn't matter since you have that wonderful formatter. i use it all the time for the Lois and Clark stories and for other fan fiction stories. i find putting them into a Word document and changing the font, and its size, makes, and using the "read" format (it puts the story into two columns like a book and you can turn the pages rather than scrolling down to read). i find this much easier for reading. just wanted to say thanks so much for the hard work you do on this site. Peggy - 12/23/07 9:03:24 AM MST

Text files are easier to save to disc and convert to various formats. - 11/09/07 12:04:10 PM MST

HTML is easier on the eyes. - 10/26/07 3:59:28 AM MST

please leave the text. it is easier to read. or copy and paste into email then read somewhere else. also I have the abilty to read on mt treo. if I want html then I visit various boards. - 10/21/07 7:04:24 PM MST

please leave the text. it is easier to read. or copy and paste into email then read somewhere else. also I have the abilty to read on mt treo. if I want html then I visit various boards. - 10/21/07 7:04:23 PM MST

The text is a wee bit hard on the yes as one finds hers;ef merrily scrolling throughgh a long fiction. I think converting to html would be a plasing endeavor for all of us lurkers and readers alike. Thanks! - 10/15/07 6:34:04 PM MST

Would be easier to read the stories - 10/06/07 4:15:27 PM MST

Text stories are more accessible to blind people who use screen readers such as Jaws or Window Eyes. - 09/29/07 10:58:55 PM MST

The text wraps in bizarre ways on my PDA. - 09/09/07 5:59:24 AM MST

In terms of being able to have italics, bold, etc., HTML would be great, but I love the fact that the current text format is incredibly straight-forward and also that the text doesn't go all the way across the window. If they were to be in HTML, my request is that it remain a very minimalist format. - 09/08/07 8:35:31 PM MST

I like it fine the way it is! - 08/27/07 4:07:55 PM MST

I like reading the courier font text is in. It's harder to read times new roman. but I don't like the line breaks - 08/10/07 9:10:51 PM MST

text saves space, stories are the same regardless of the format - 08/06/07 7:32:20 AM MST

I prefer text because it's readable by anything, it takes the least space, and if I really want it to be HTML I can convert it myself, the way I like it. - 07/21/07 6:32:46 PM MST

html formatting is (a) changeable, and (b) inconsistent - text is easier for everyone - no portability issues! - 07/10/07 10:06:21 PM MST

I don't like Courier as a font either; HTML would allow authors to choose their favorite fonts. HTML would also allow for great use of italicizing, underlining, and bolding. I think such developments would make the stories easier to read. I do agree, however, that allowing both options (text and HTML) would be nice, although it would mean more work for the archivers (who are already busy enough, I'm sure)... - 06/18/07 9:41:30 AM MST

Please, please leave them as text - 06/18/07 4:06:36 AM MST

As an author, it would be easier not having to convert stories to text and removing all formatting. - 06/04/07 8:45:55 PM MST

It looks better - 05/31/07 5:15:08 PM MST

Plain text is better than bad HTML - 05/23/07 11:13:48 PM MST

Text lets me view them quietly at work :-) PLEASE leave them as text! - 05/10/07 9:30:33 PM MST

Have an option for both. People who are deaf like me wold like it to stay in it's currant - 05/03/07 6:43:56 PM MST

Have an option for both. People who are deaf like me wold like it to stay in it's currant - 05/03/07 6:43:05 PM MST

I access these fanfics on mobile phone i can only read fanfics that are 100kb and below but as long as i can read them im happy. - 04/28/07 11:38:04 PM MST

text files are a lot less troubling on unconventional reading setups than html files. HTML Files need browsers to be readable, text files are readable with many more programs. - 04/28/07 11:52:59 AM MST

They are just as easy to read in either format, and if I want to download them onto my Palm, I can save them in either format. - 03/10/07 7:36:28 PM MST

I don't like Courier as a font, so I typically paste stories into a word processor where I can have a more readable font. - 02/23/07 6:46:36 PM MST

There easier to read as HTML. - 02/13/07 12:36:11 PM MST

i love this formatter!!! i use it all the time. Thanks!! - 01/23/07 7:37:14 PM MST

plain text ios far more accesible and easier to read and import into any reading environment - 12/27/06 6:18:14 AM MST

I love this archive! Skylark - 12/09/06 7:16:57 PM MST

i think the layout is OK how it is now, but I don't know how it looks in html format. If it's the format that goes all the way across the page, then I don't want that because it's much harder to read. - 12/02/06 1:33:50 PM MST

I can resize HTML, can't resize text so easily - 11/30/06 10:51:42 AM MST

I read most of them in Word on my handheld. - 11/26/06 1:47:56 PM MST

Every fourth or fifth story I get asked if I want to open or download the file, rather than just being able to read it. Don't think this would happen with HTML - 11/26/06 10:36:32 AM MST

html will allow for author formatting - 11/26/06 0:08:59 AM MST

....I'm computer stupid and don't know the difference... - 11/25/06 7:34:33 PM MST

i read the other comments, and wouldn't like to make the files unsuable for the palm pilot people, i wish i could do that!! i would like to be able to copy and paste the files into a Word document and have the lines "word wrap" when i change the font and size. as it is now, i get lots of lines with one or two words in them and have to go thru the document deleting the "hard return" at the end of the lines. but its just a little irritant that i can live with. i enjoy the stories and the archive and all the hard work that goes into this site and appreciate all of it. i will take what you have to offer in any form it comes in!!! thanks so much for the audio files, i am enjoying them so much!!! - 11/22/06 10:29:07 AM MST

I will read them whatever way they come - I just enjoy them all... - 11/20/06 7:33:21 PM MST

HTML would be a little more space-consiming, but would allow the readers more flexibility in selecting font and font size. Reading the default text font is difficult for me, because I have to stare at a computer all day at work anyway and I like a slightly larger, more rounded font. It's easier on the eyes and lets me focus on the story and not on deciphering the font. - 11/19/06 10:40:45 PM MST

as long as I get to read - thanks!!!! - 11/18/06 4:12:22 PM MST

HTML is better for me to read because it looks a lot cleaner and more dignified. - 11/17/06 9:30:01 AM MST

I imort them into my Palm to read on the go. HTML won't work - 11/16/06 4:28:51 PM MST

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