A collection of bytes stored as an individual entity. All data on disk is stored as a file with an assigned file name that is unique within the folder (directory) it resides in.
To the computer, a file is nothing more than a string of bytes. The structure of a file is known to the software that manipulates it. For example, database files are made up of a series of records. Word processing files contain a continuous flow of text.
Except for ASCII text files, which contain only raw text, other files have proprietary structures. Formatting and other types of information are contained in headers or interspersed throughout the file. Following are the major file types. See file association.
To the computer, a file is nothing more than a string of bytes. The structure of a file is known to the software that manipulates it. For example, database files are made up of a series of records. Word processing files contain a continuous flow of text.
Except for ASCII text files, which contain only raw text, other files have proprietary structures. Formatting and other types of information are contained in headers or interspersed throughout the file. Following are the major file types. See file association.
Type Contents data file (table) data records document text spreadsheet rows and columns of cells image rows and columns of bits drawing list of vectors audio digitized sound waves MIDI MIDI instructions video digital video frames Web page text batch file text source program text executable program machine language
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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- PeaZip 2.8 (Windows)
- PeaZip is a free, open source file and archive manager for 32 and 64 bit Windows and Linux. It is available either as installable and portable application not needing installation. Full support: 7Z, 7Z-sfx, ARC/WRC, BZ2/TBZ2, Custom user defined, GZ/TGZ, PAQ/ZPAQ, PEA, QUAD/BALZ, split, TAR, UPX, ZIP. Open, browse, extract,...
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- Serv-U 9.1.0.2 (Windows)
- Serv-U is a powerful, easy-to-use, award-winning File Server from RhinoSoft.com. Serv-U supports the FTP, HTTP, and SFTP protocols to ensure maximum compatibility with the widest range of transfer client software. With support for industry-standard SSL encryption, Serv-U protects your data while it's in transit. A powerful Web-based interface allows administrators...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Accord CD Ripper Standard 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to divided files one file per track or to CD images (one file...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Professional 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to...
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- ServiWin 1.38 (Windows)
- ServiWin utility displays the list of installed drivers and services on your system. For some of them, additional useful information is displayed: file description, version, product name, and company that created the driver file. In addition, ServiWin allows you to easily stop, start, restart, pause, and continue service or driver,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Task3 1.2.0 (Mac)
- Task3 is application to automate various actions like launching application, starting Mac up, unmount volumes and so on. It integrates my applications like MacSSController, SUL and LaLL and has more functions. It helps to execute many kind of tasks, ror instance, it helps to back up or copy files when...
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- Sync!Sync!Sync! 4.1.1 (Mac)
- Sync!Sync!Sync!... Do you have backup copy of your data? If your hard disk drive breaks, you can buy apps and musics but you can never buy back original data like documents, photos, emails, etc. Sync!Sync!Sync! helps you to make copies of your data by synchronizing two folders. It's very easy...
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- PDF ActiveX DLL 2.2.83 (Windows)
- PDF ActiveX DLL is a powerful ActiveX DLL for programmatically creating Adobe Acrobat PDF files from practically any type of file - Excel worksheets, Word documents, Powerpoint files, Access reports, Crystal Reports, AutoCAD drawings, Publisher files, image files, text files. Create a single PDF file from multiple Postscript files! In...
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- PDF Create .NET 2.0.3469 (Windows)
- PDF Create .NET is a powerful .NET component for C# and Visual Basic .NET developers to programmatically create PDF files from practically any type of file. File types include Excel worksheets, Word documents, Powerpoint files, Access reports, Crystal Reports, AutoCAD drawings, Publisher files, image files, text files. Create a single...
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- The Cipher 3.0 (Windows)
- The program is designed to encrypt and decrypt files. Features: - Encryption and decryption of files using GOST, Blowfish, IDEA, Misty1, Rijndael, Twofish, Cast128, Cast256, RC2, RC5, RC6, DES, TEA on password; - Encryption and decryption of files using CHR, and BIT using the file-key; - Select one or more...
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- Wondershare Video to Flash Converter Pro is your ideal solution to convert DVD video to Flash. With this Flash Video Converter Pro, you can convert various Video AVI to Flash, MPEGMPG to Flash, WMV to Flash, MOV to Flash, DVDvob to Flash, Video to SWF, MOD to Flash, TODJVC Vidicon...
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- Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition Definition File 149.0097(11/19/2009) (Windows)
- Unzip the archive, replace the existing definition file the file location is configured in Web Update Settings section and restart Ad-AwareAd-Watch. You can also use the webupdate component implemented in Ad-Aware to install this update.
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- Trend Micro Virus Controlled Pattern File 6.639.00 (Windows)
- Trend Micro Pattern File contains Virus Pattern Files with latest virus databases. The Official Pattern Release or OPR is Trend Micro's latest compilation of patterns for identified viruses.Trend Micro offers various types of Pattern Files to protect customers from Malware, Spyware/Grayware, and other threats. It is guaranteed to have passed...
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- File Courier 1.0.2 (Mac)
- File Courier is a digital delivery solution for FTP and local destinations with advanced professional features. Key features: Deliver to FTP locations Deliver to folders on local network Attach files to e-mail Automatic e-mail delivery notifications Destination codes for automatic delivery Automatic zip/dmg compression Create lo-res PDF automatically...
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- FileSalvage is an extremely powerful data recovery tools designed to restore files that have been accidentally deleted, have become unreadable due to media faults, or were stored on a drive before it was re-initialized or formatted. It is device and file system independent, allowing the users to recover files from...
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- Soxy 1.0 (Mac)
- There's a common problem when there are multiple versions of applications like Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator... installed on the same computer. Double-clicking a file's icon will often cause the wrong application version to launch. As a result, you might unwittingly re-save a document into a more recent file format,...
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- R10BatchMail 1.9.3 (Mac)
- R10BatchMail is a simple to use Bulk Email Sending program for Macintosh OSX. R10BatchMail is useful for sending a newletter, informing of change of address, marketing or any one of a thousand other reasons for contacting your customers, prospects or suppliers. With R10BatchMail there is no need to...
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- Springy 1.6.1 (Mac)
- Springy is a simple to use, yet powerful archiving and compression utility for Mac OS X. Springy integrates seamlessly with the Finder and includes some very useful features. All archiving tasks can be done via Drag and Drop, system Services Menu or through Springy's Finder contextual menu. Springy features...
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- Ute 1.201 (Windows)
- Ute is a compact multi-function utility with Time Syncing, Window Shutdown control, Wave File playing, Delayed or Controlled Running, backup and Wallpaper Changing capabilities. It is a collection of some ACAPsoft utilities with three new functions are also.ã??The iTimeSync function synchronizes your computer clock with an internet time server. You...
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