Common Internet File Formats
`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`Compiled by Eric Perlman and Ian Kallen
`
`Last update: 19 December 1995
`Please note: This document is no longer being updated.
`Sorry.
`
`Windows
`Active
`Directory
`Windows Active
`Directory
`Reports &
`Management
`Software. Free
`Download!
`
`Try http://www.file-extensions.org/ or makea new one on your own....
`
`This file is http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html
`See also: Our Glossary of Internet Terms.
`Or make FREE Greeting Cards using your own photos.
`
`You must use a tables-friendly browser (like Netscape)to read this
`document.
`
`Find the file type you are looking for quickly in the INDEX
`
`Note: This list is mainly intended for use on Macintosh computers and PC's running MS-Windows. This is only a
`partial list of what really is out there but for these common platforms, the majority of the file types encountered on-line
`can handled with the tools herein. For an additional collection of related information focused on PC users check out
`Multimedia File Formats on The Internet by Allison Zhang, and the Cross-Platform Page by Eric Bennett. For
`compression info for all platforms check the comp.compression FAQ (126Kb).
`Various File Formats
`Format Description & Type
`
`How to deal with it
`
`File
`Suffix
`
`.au
`
`.aiff
`
`.au is the most common sound format found on the web.
`
`Binary
`
`.aiff is also a semi-common sound format.
`
`Binary
`
`http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html[9/7/2015 2:46:55 PM]
`
`Use Sound Player to play it
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`Use Sound Player to play it
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`Use Stuffit Expander to turn back into a
`usable Macintosh file if it isn't already.
`
`N/A
`
`Blue Coat Systems - Exhibit 1076
`
`0001
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`.bin
`
`Macbinary II Encoded File. Make sure to download as
`MacBinary or Binary.
`
`.doc
`
`.exe
`
`.gif
`
`.gz
`
`May be a DOS/Windows program or a DOS/Windows Self
`Extracting Archive
`
`Binary
`
`May be a DOS/Windows program or a DOS/Windows Self
`Extracting Archive
`
`Binary
`
`GIF (Graphical Interchange Format), though not the most
`economical, is the most common graphics format found on the
`Internet.
`
`.gz is the Gnu version of zip. It is a compression method
`developed for use on UNIX systems.
`
`Binary
`
`.html
`.htm
`
`HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the code the web is
`written in. Plain text file.
`
`.hqx
`
`BinHex 4.0 - Encodes a Macintosh file into 7-bit text so it can be
`safely transfered. Most Mac files appear in .hqx
`
`.image
`
`Macintosh Disk Image, most commonly found on Apple's FTP
`sites.
`
`Binary
`
`http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html[9/7/2015 2:46:55 PM]
`
`N/A
`
`Use MS-Word
`
`Use WordView to quickly display MS-Word
`documents
`
`Use WordView to quickly display MS-Word
`documents
`
`N/A
`
`Download and launch it in its own temporary
`directory, it may spawn a number of files and
`directories. Self Extracting
`Download and launch it in its own temporary
`directory, it may spawn a number of files and
`directories. Self Extracting
`Use GIFConverter or JPEG View
`
`Use Lview Pro to view these graphics
`
`Use PolyView to view these graphics
`
`Use macgzip to view and extract archives.
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Use Netscape for MacIntosh to view the file
`
`Use Netscape for Windows 3.1x to view the
`file
`
`Use Netscape for Windows95 and Windows
`NT to view the file
`
`Use Stuffit Expander
`
`Use BinHex13 in a DOS window to un-
`binhex it
`
`Use BinHex13 in a DOS window to un-
`binhex it
`
`Use Shrink Wrap to mount the disk
`image, and deal with it like you
`would a floppy
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`Use JPEG View
`
`0002
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`.jpg
`.jpeg
`.jfif
`
`.mpg
`.mpeg
`
`.mov
`.qt
`.movie
`.moov
`
`JPEG/JFIF, a 24 bit graphic format
`
`Binary
`
`MPEG, the standard movie platform for the 'net.
`
`Binary
`
`QuickTime Movie, Apple Macintosh native movie platform
`
`Binary
`
`.pdf
`
`Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format, download as Binary
`
`.ps
`
`Postscript file. Plain text file, but not really human-readable.
`
`.sit
`
`.sea
`
`Stuffit Archive - Binary
`
`Macintosh Self Extracting Archive
`
`Use Lview Pro to view these graphics
`
`Use PolyView to view these graphics
`
`Use sparkle to play them, or to
`convert them to QuickTime.
`Use VMPEG with win32s to play
`MPEGs
`Use VMPEG or Ladybug to play
`MPEGs
`Use Sparkle, FastPlayer,
`MoviePlayer, SimpleText,
`MicrosoftWord...and many others. If the
`movie appears totaly white, you may need to
`use the Apple Quicktime VR Player to see
`them.
`
`Use QuickTime for Windows
`
`Use QuickTime for Windows
`
`Use Adobe Acrobat Reader or
`Adobe Acrobat
`Use Adobe Acrobat Reader or
`Adobe Acrobat
`Use Adobe Acrobat Reader or
`Adobe Acrobat
`Send to a Postscipt printer with
`Laserwriter Font Utility or view it
`onscreen using Ghostscript
`View it onscreen using Ghostscript
`
`View it onscreen using Ghostscript
`
`Download as MacBinary, and use Stuffit
`Expander
`
`Use UnSit in a DOS window
`
`Use UnSit in a DOS window
`
`Download as MacBinary, and launch it. Self
`Extracting
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`UNIX tar program takes seperate files and turns them into one
`file. Often also compressed. Extensions such .tar.Z, .tar.gz and
`.tgz (latter two are equivalent) requires decompression first, then
`un-tar. Some UNIX ftp servers will un-tar a file if you request it
`
`Download and use Tar
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
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`
`0003
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`.tar
`
`.tiff
`.tif
`
`.txt
`
`.uu
`.uue
`
`.wav
`
`.Z
`
`.zip
`
`without the ".tar" extention.
`
`Binary
`
`TIFF is a very large high quality image format.
`
`Binary
`
`A plain boring old Text File
`
`A uuencoded file. Typically this is done on a UNIX command line:
`uuencode OriginalFileName SecondFilename > EncodedFile.uu
`Then, after running:
`uudecode EncodedFile.uu
`One gets a file generated named:
`SecondFileName
`Using .uu as the extension is not required but is considered
`politely explanatory for what type of file it is. Increasing numbers
`of desktop mail and newsreading programs will handle this type
`of encoding on the fly.
`
`Windows Wave format sound file
`
`Binary
`
`Unix Compressed File
`
`Binary
`
`pkzip, a common DOS/Windows compression format
`
`Binary
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Use JPEGView
`
`Use Lview Pro to view these graphics
`
`Use PolyView to view these graphics
`
`Use Microsoft Word, Simple Text, BBEdit,
`whatever!
`
`Use the 16 bit version of Programmer's File
`Editor
`
`Use the 32 bit version of Programmer's File
`Editor
`
`Use UU Undo to uudecode it
`
`Use WinCode to uudecode it
`
`Use ESS-Code to uudecode it
`
`You can use SoundApp to play .wav files
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`Use Waveform Hold and Modify to play it
`
`If you are downloading via ftp most ftp
`servers will uncompress for you if you drop
`the ".Z". Otherwise use Stuffit Expander
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`w/EE.
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Use ZipIt, Stuffit Expander w/ EE, or
`MacUnZip
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Use WinZIP to view and extract archives.
`
`Where to get the Software packages
`
`Adobe Acrobat Reader
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`0004
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`Freeware program from Adobe to read Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format files.
`Source site: http://www.adobe.com/Software/Acrobat/
`
`
`BinHex13
`Use this in a DOS window to get the original file.
`ftp://oak.oakland.edu/pub/simtelnet/msdos/mcintosh/
`
`ESS-Code
`A Windows 32 bit program. Allows drag and drop uuencoding/decoding and MIME support. Look for tile name
`like ecdXXw95.zip where XX is a version number
`ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win95/txtutil/
`
`
`
`Ghostscript
`Freeware program for viewing Postscript files on screen, saving to PICT format, etc. The program requires that
`you install a large (~6 MB) collection of files though. It also crashes alot.
`Macintosh source site: http://www.glyphic.com/glyphic/projects/macgs.html
`To run Aladdin Ghostscript on a PC you need gs###ini.zip, gs###fn1.zip and one of gs###dos.zip, gs###os2.zip,
`gs###win.zip or gs###w32.zip. Be sure to read the README and Index files in this directory.
`ftp://ftp.cs.wisc.edu/ghost/aladdin/
`
`GIFConverter
`Shareware program (~$30) for viewing and converting between GIF, PICT, TIFF, RLE, JPEG (JFIF), EPSF,
`RIFF, Macpaint, StartupScreen and "Scan Image" formats. Some primitive file editing can be done such as
`cropping and re-sizing (scale-by-percent) and adjusting file resolution and dither pattern. GIFConverter will
`save GIFs in Interlaced format if you choose, but cannot handle transparent colors.
`The main site: http://www.kamit.com/gifconverter.html
`Alternate: http://www.macworld.com/cgi-bin/software.pl/Graphics/Software.32.html
`In Japan: http://www.commerce.or.jp/free/d/gifconverter2.3.7.html
`
`JPEGView
`JPEGView is a freeware graphic program to read GIF, JPEG, TIFF, and PICT files. Runs fast and will dither
`nicely to any size of screen/color palette.
`Source Site: http://www.macworld.com/software/Software.832.html
`Via FTP: ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu:/systems/mac/umich.edu/powermac/jpegview3.31.sit.hqx
`
`Ladybug
`The Ladybug 1.00 for Windows95/NT can only play MPEG files less than 800KB but it looks promising, watch
`for updates.
`ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win95/desktop/
`
`Laserwriter Font Utility
`This comes with your Macintosh. It's on the Printing Tools disk, or it may already be installed in your Utilities
`folder. If you need to download it from Apple, you can.
`Source site: http://www.support.apple.com/
`
`
`Lview Pro
`Lviewpro provides support for a variety of graphics formats including GIF '89 (transparent backgrounds),
`
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`
`0005
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`conversion between different formats and image editing functions.
`Pick it up at ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtelnet/win3/graphics
`
`
`
`Netscape
`Netscape is by far the fastest and most powerfull World Wide Web browser.
`http://home.mcom.com/comprod/mirror/index.html
`
`PolyView
`PolyView is a Windows NT/95 program that displays GIF, JPEG, TIFF, and photo-cd graphics files and
`converts between these file formats.
`ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win95/desktop/
`
`
`Programmer's File Editor
`Programmer's File Editor is a large-capacity multi-file programming oriented editor for Windows 3.1x,
`Windows NT on Intel and PowerPC platforms, and Windows 95. Get the 16 bit version (pfeXXXX.zip) at
`ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win3/util/
`Get the 32 bit version (pfeXXXXX.zip) at ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win3/util/
`
`
`
`QuickTime
`QuickTime is Apple's video format. Players for Macintosh and Windows are available.
`http://quicktime.apple.com/
`
`Quicktime VR Player
`This is a QuickTime moview player that will aslo play QuickTine VR movies
`Source Site: http://qtvr.quicktime.apple.com/InMac.htm
`More Information: http://qtvr.quicktime.apple.com/
`
`Shrinkwrap
`Shrinkwrap is a free Mac utility that allows you to mount and use disk image files as if they were a mounted
`floppy disk. You can also copy disk images to floppies with Shrinkwrap by simply dragging the floppy icon onto
`Shrinkwrap.
`http://wwwhost.ots.utexas.edu/mac/pub-mac-compression.html#shrinkwrap-142
`
`Sound Player
`Sound Player is a multipurpose sound program that can record and play back .au and aiff format sounds.
`ftp://romulus.ucs.uoknor.edu:/.disks/6f/mac/sound/soundutil/soundmachine2.1.cpt.hqx
`ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com:/.3/net/infosys/gopher/Macintosh-TurboGopher/helper-
`applications/SoundMachine21.cpt.hqx
`http://wwwhost.ots.utexas.edu/mac/pub-mac-sound.html
`
`SoundApp
`SoundApp is a small featureless program that will play most audio files you may find
`http://wwwhost.ots.utexas.edu/mac/pub-mac-sound.html
`
`Sparkle
`Sparkle is the best MPEG player for the mac. You can play and convert between Quicktime and MPEG.
`
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`
`0006
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`Sumex: ftp://sumex-aim.stanford.edu/info-mac/grf/util
`Or try ftp://ftp.utexas.edu/pub/mac/graphics/sparkle-245-fat.hqx
`
`Stuffit Expander with Expander Enchancer
`Stuffit Expander is the decompression program for the mac. With Expander Enchancer (It is installed when you
`install DropStuff) you can expand a LOT of formats!
`get both Stuff Expander and Drop Stuff w/ EE from Aladdin at ftp://ftp.aladdinsys.com/Pub/
`
`Tar
`
`Tar 4.0 will read and write tar files.
`gopher://gopher.archive.umich.edu:7055/40/mac/util/compression/tar4.0b.sit.hqx
`
`
`UNSIT
`UNSIT is a simple utility for PC users to extract files from a StuffIt file.
`ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/simtel/msdos/mac/
`
`UU Undo
`UU Undo is a simple program to decode uu encoded files on the mac.
`http://www.med.cornell.edu/~giles/projects.html#uuundo
`
`
`VMPEG
`VMPEG can play MPEG system layer streams containing both video and audio. This is a win32s program.
`ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win3/desktop/
`
`
`Waveform Hold and Modify (WHAM)
`WHAM provides support for a variety of formats, conversion between them and file editing functions.
`Pick it up from ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/cica/audio/
`
`WinCode
`Wincode is a Windows 3.x program which converts 8-bit BINARY (EXE, COM,GIF, etc) files to 7-bit ASCII
`(Text) files (and vice versa) through a process known as bit-shifting. Wincode currently supports UU/XX and
`Base64 (MIME 1.0 conformant) coding.
`To be had from http://www.winsite.com/info/pc/win3/util/wincode.zip/
`
`
`WinZip
`WinZip is an essential tool for it's excellent handling of many different archiving and compression formats.
`Downloads as a self-extracting archive.
`Get the 16 bit version (winzipXX.exe) at ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/cica/win3/util/
`Get the 32 bit version (wzntXX.exe) at ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win3/nt/
`
`
`WordView
`For MS-Windows users, displaying Microsoft Word documents without having to allocate the memory resources
`required to fire up MS-Word is very handy. Get yours at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/
`
`ZipIt
`
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`
`0007
`
`

`
`Common Internet File Formats
`
`A fast program for the Macintosh to extract and create Zip archives.
`Home Site: http://www.awa.com/softlock/zipit/zipit.html
`
`INDEX
`
`A .arj .au .aiff Acrobat
`B .bin BinHex13
`
`C D
`
`.doc
`E .exe ESS-Code
`
`F G
`
`.gz GhostScript
`H .htm .html .hqx
`I .image
`J .jpg .jpeg .jfif JPEGView
`
`K L
`
`Laser Font Utility Ladybug Lview Pro
`M .mpg .mpeg .mov .movie
`N Netscape
`
`O P
`
`.pdf .ps PolyView Programmer's File Editor
`Q .qt QuickTime QuickTime VR
`
`R S
`
`.sea .sit Shrinkwrap Sound Player SoundApp Sparkle Stuffit Expander
`T .tar .tgz .tif .tiff .txt TAR
`U .uu UNSIT UU Undo
`V VMPEG
`W .wav WHAM WinCode WinZip WordView
`
`.Z .zip ZipIt
`
`X Y Z
`
`Copyright 1995 Eric Perlman, Ian Kallen
`
`http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html[9/7/2015 2:46:55 PM]
`
`0008