Some of our products require third party software (i.e. programs made by other companies). You should be able to download the software from their websites.

ADOBE READER:
- Use this software to read files of 'Portable Document Format' type - .pdf
- Free to download and use.
- Visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html (if this link fails, visit http://www.adobe.com and follow instructions on the site to obtain Adobe Reader.)

FLASH PLAYER:
- Use this software to view files of 'ShockWave Flash' type - .swf in a web-browser environment (as a plug-in)
- Free to download and use.
- Visit http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer (if this link fails, visit http://www.adobe.com and follow instructions on the site to obtain Flash Player.)

MICROSOFT OFFICE:
- Use this software to read files of:

• Word document (.doc/.dot) format
• Excel spreadsheet (.xls/.xlt) format
• Powerpoint presentation (.ppt/.pps) format

- Commercial application suite - with free viewer applications available.
- Common file format, often interpretable by alternative software suites
- For viewer software visit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=9 (if this link fails, visit http://www.microsoft.com follow instructions on the site to locate downloads.
- For trial versions of the software visit http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/prodinfo/standardtrial.mspx (if this link fails, visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.aspx and follow instructions on the site to locate downloads)

Additional OPEN SOURCE software:
"Open Source" software can generally be freely downloaded, used, modified and re-distributed according to the GNU Public Licence, they are typically UNSUPPORTED, except through community forums.

Some of these packages may be used alongside our products but due to their changeable nature, we are unable to support any other package than those listed on the product minimum requirements.

Use of OSS (Open Source Software) is recommended by BECTA.

This comparative table helps illustrate where alternative packages may be used in the absence of a commercial package (links are not maintained - we would recommend that you search using Google, or on the SourceForge website in the event of a link failure)

Package	Commercial	OpenSource alternative
Word Processing	Microsoft Word	OpenOffice Writer
Spreadsheet	Microsoft Excel	OpenOffice Calc
Graphics	Adobe Photoshop	Paint.NET, Gimp
Database/data handling	Microsoft Access	OpenOffice Base, MySQL, Firebird, Ingres
Email	Microsoft Outlook	Thunderbird, Eudora
Modelling (LOGO)	Imagine LOGO, Terrapin LOGO	LIOGO, Berkeley(UCB)LOGO
Vector-based drawing	Illustrator	OpenOffice Draw, Inkscape
Multimedia authoring	Director	libAVG, OpenOffice Impress
Scheduling	Microsoft Project	Open Workbench
Diagramming/flowcharting	Microsoft Visio	Dia, OpenOffice Draw
3D Modelling	Maya, 3DStudio	Google Sketchup, Blender
Algebraic graphing	Cabrii, Geometer's Sketchpad	Geogebra
File compression	WinZip	Izarc, 7zip
Presentation	Powerpoint	OpenOffice Impress
CAD	AutoCAD, SolidWorks	Open Cascade, SagCAD
Music composition	Cubase, Allegro, Finale	Lilypond, Musette

Please note that Pearson makes NO representation regarding third-party products, websites or companies. You should satisfy yourself that software you download or install is fit for purpose and safe to use. If you are in doubt seek professional advice.