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What are some appropriate formats for documents?
Popular Document File Extensions
- DOC and DOCX. One of the most popular and common document formats is the native format of Microsoft Word.
- ODT. ODT files are similar to DOC and DOCX files.
- RTF. RTF is the file extension for Rich Text Format documents.
- TXT.
- PDF.
- HTM and HTML.
- PPT and PPTX.
What format is an open file?
An open format is a file format with an openly-published specification that anyone can use. It is the opposite of a proprietary file format, which is only used by a specific software company or application. Open formats make it possible for multiple programs to open the same file.
Which file types are considered good open stable file formats?
Stable file formats have a long history of access and use….Use file formats that are open, standard, and well documented.
| Data type | Preferred file format examples |
|---|---|
| Moving images | MOV, MPEG, AVI, MXF |
| Sounds | WAVE, AIFF, MP3, MXF |
| Statistics | ASCII, DTA, POR, SAS, SAV |
| Still images | TIFF, JPEG2000, PDF, PNG, GIF, BMP |
Is PDF an open file?
Open a PDF in the application Choose File > Open. In the Open dialog box, select one or more filenames, and click Open. PDF documents usually have the extension .
Is PNG an open file?
PNG stands for “Portable Graphics Format”. It is the most frequently used uncompressed raster image format on the internet. This lossless data compression format was created to replace the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). PNG file format is an open format with no copyright limitations.
What is the best format to save a document?
Print File Formats
- .PDF (Preferred for most files) PDF (short for Portable Document Format) is a file format developed by Adobe as a means of distributing compact, platform-independent documents.
- .EPS (Preferred for large signs and banners)
- .JPG (Preferred for images)
- .TIFF (Preferred for high resolution images)
Which is the best format for open data?
Classic documents in formats like Word, ODF, OOXML, or PDF may be sufficient to show certain kinds of data – for example, relatively stable mailing lists or equivalent. It may be cheap to exhibit in, as often it is the format the data is born in.
When to save data in an open format?
You should save data in a non-proprietary (open) file format when possible. If conversion to an open data format will result in some data loss from your files, you might consider saving the data in both the proprietary format and an open format.
Why do we need to use different file formats?
The file formats you use have a direct impact on your ability to open those files at a later date and on the ability of other people to access those data. For more information on managing data, visit our FAQ. Interested in learning more about data best practices?
Where to find best practices for file formats?
See the Library of Congress’ Sustainability of Digital Formats web site for more complete listings and discussions of formats, including guidance for the preservation of data sets, geospatial data, and web archives. Or visit the LOC’s page on Recommended Format Specifications for preservation.