Output Formats in the NTIS Archive

The NTIS document collection is an archive of almost 3 million items.  The format of the archived items (paper, microfiche, or electronic) varies over that time period.  NTIS is committed to increasing electronic access and electronic delivery of this content upon customer demand.  In doing so, NTIS has established standard and exception formats for these demand documents.

Standard Formats
If the document exists in an electronic format in the NTIS archive then the standard formats are:

• Electronic Document as a download
• Electronic Document on a CD (Compact Disc)
• Print-on-Demand

If the document does not exist in an electronic format in the NTIS archive then the standard formats are:

• Print-on-Demand
• Electronic-on-Demand as a download
• Electronic-on-Demand on a CD (Compact Disc)
• Microfiche

Exception Formats
There are items in the NTIS archive such as original shelf stock and special media (computer data, computer software, and audio-visual products) that are exceptions to the standard formats that are described below.

Definitions

• Electronic Document:  refers to a document in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file electronically archived and disseminated to customers as an online download or by CD-ROM.
• Electronic Document Download:  refers to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file available for online downloading.  Note: no shipping and handling apply.
• Electronic Document on a CD:  refers to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file on CD-ROM and delivered by mail.  Note: shipping and handling fees apply.
• Electronic-on-Demand:  refers to a print or microfiche document that is converted to a PDF file based on a single customer’s demand.   Note: shipping and handling fees do apply if electronic copy sold as an Electronic Document on CD.
• Print-on-Demand:  refers to a paper copy document reproduced by NTIS based on a single customer’s order and delivered by conventional mail.   Note: shipping and handling fees apply.
• Microfiche: refers to 4x6" microfilm containing up to 98 pages per sheet 
• Original Shelf Stock:  documents that are maintained in the NTIS inventory in original printed stock.  Once this stock is depleted the item is either marked out-of-print or maintained in the NTIS archive as a paper or electronic format.
• Special Media:  includes software, data bases, and any multimedia format that are cited in the NTIS collection