A well-read document on a large screen can be difficult to consult on your phone. Columns, text size, and link path affect the experience. The choice of format should start from the intended use, avoiding to consider sufficient the fact that the file opens.
I propose to try the activities required of the recipient: find information, read a section and follow a link. A web version may be relevant when the content has to adapt to different screens. The comparison must include accessibility and tools used by the persons concerned.
Let's imagine a brief guide consulted during an intervention. A very large table can require continuous displacements and make it difficult to follow a line. A simpler structure can help, as long as it retains the relationship between the information and does not lose necessary elements.
Verification must be carried out on the final content and on representative conditions. The format is useful when it supports the concrete activity of the reader. Making a document searchable therefore requires attention to the structure and context, as well as the graphic quality of the page seen at the time of preparation.