You can raise a digital experience work request to ask us to convert your PDF into HTML content (a page).
This service is only available for internal staff.
You will need to tell us:
- a clear title that explains the request - for example, ‘Change housing standards PDF into a page’
- the section that the new page needs to be added to - for example, ‘/bins-waste-recycling/book-bulky-waste-collection’
- how many users are affected (if you know)
- the consequence for the user if the change is not made - for example, a user misses out on a benefit they’re entitled to because the eligibility criteria are wrong
- evidence to support the change - for example, call centre feedback, user research or policy change
- any deadlines or embargoes, and why - for example, an upcoming policy change or a new service launch
Explain as much as you can in the request itself. Write your request clearly and in plain English. Avoid acronyms, jargon and legal language.
It’s fine to suggest wording if it helps to explain what’s changed. However, we cannot copy the wording from the PDF straight onto Woking.gov.uk, even if it’s ‘signed off’.
We are responsible for presenting information in a way that users will understand.
Why content should be a page rather than in a PDF
We prefer to draft content for publication as HTML content (pages) first. This is because PDFs:
- do not change size to fit the browser - users need to zoom in and out or scroll vertically and horizontally
- are not designed for reading on screens - people read differently online so content that is designed to be read offline can be hard to read
- do not tell us much about who reads them - with HTML content, we can track how users are interacting with content and make improvements
- can take the user away from the browser when they open so it's hard for users to navigate back to the website
- are not always formatted in an accessible way and don't meet accessibility standards
- are not useful for users who need to change browser settings (such as colours or text size) to make online content easier to read
- are hard to keep up to date - users might download a pdf and check it offline, so they might miss the latest information or updated links on the website
Some user needs may be better met with printed documents or downloadable PDFs. This page offers guidance rather than a set of rules.
Content standards
Content must meet our service standard, style guide and design system. It must also meet GOV.UK's guidance on:
What happens next
You will get a confirmation email with a work request reference number.
You can track the progress of your request by viewing our website work requests log.
You can also read how we prioritised requests and how long we may take.