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            Articles: File Formats |
File Formats (2000) By Ginger Rosenkrans The format of a file refers to the way the numbers in the file are arranged. When a multimedia file is digitized, the data in the file are stored as series of numbers. Computer language is created in digits of two numbers, a one and a zero, called a binary system. Computers use an infinite combination of these two numbers to form words, images and numbers. One bit is a binary digit. A bit is the smallest unit of data transmitted on computers. Bits are alike “on” and “off” switches instead of numbers. Bytes are a string of 8 bits--the unit of data needed to
store one character (e.g., a byte to make letter A requires 8 digits
01000001). A document that has 1 million bytes equals 1 megabyte of
storage. A floppy disk contains 1.4 megabytes of storage space, which means it
can store 1.4 million bytes. A ZIP disk contains 100 megabytes. A CD can store
700 megabytes. Multimedia Web files can come in a wide variety of formats. Any type of file format can be sent across the Web but Web browsers recognize and display only a few of them. Formats like JPEG and GIF are recognized and displayed automatically by all the popular Web browsers. Others, such as sound and video files need plug-ins (“helper” programs) to be displayed because by itself it cannot handle these files. Many multimedia formats are changing and new ones are being
introduced; therefore, it is important to keep abreast of developments.
Meanwhile, a filename should be chosen that will work on all servers and all
browsers. The filename must have all lowercase letters and numbers. Each
filename needs a file extension that indicates the file’s type: .htm or .html
for an html file, .jpeg for a JPEG image file, .mov for a QuickTime movie file,
etc. References: What is: http://www.whatis.com Webopedia: http://www.webopedia.com Lengel, J,G. (2002). The Web Wizard’s Guide to
Multimedia. Addison-Wesley: Perason Education, Inc. ISBN 0-201-74561-5 Rich, C. (1999). Creating Online Media. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-303415-0 URL: http://www.mhhe.com/rich
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