File Extensions

The file extensions glossary is an attempt to assemble some of the more common file types a writer will come across. I do not intend this list to be an all-inclusive run down of every file type known to human kind. If you want that sort of thing, I have some links you might be interested in. If you think something is not quite right or I need to add something, let me know.

If you can't find something, try going to this external web site.

Click on an index letter below to jump to terms:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

 

ADP

Access Template. Template for Microsoft Access.

AI

Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator native file format.

AIFF

Audio Interchange File Format. Sound file format developed by Apple.

AKW

See Also keywords. Internal RoboHelp file containing see also keywords that are not used in its corresponding help project.

ASP

Active Server Page. A Web page file that contains text, HTML, XML, and/or scripts that are executed on the server. ASP pages are used to create dynamic Web sites, typically for online stores.

AVI

Audio-Video Interleaved. A standard compressed video file format for Windows.

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BMP

Bitmap. A standard Windows uncompressed image format. It supports RGB, indexed-color, grayscale, and Bitmap color modes. It doesn't support alpha channels.

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CHM

Compiled HTML help file (equivalent to the HLP in WinHelp).

CLASS

Java class file. A file that contains code for a Java applet.

CNT

Table of contents file. Contains information for an online help project's table of contents. The information contained in the CNT file appears on the contents tab in WinHelp.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheet. A set of formatting instructions that a browser uses to format a Web page. The instructions are usually maintained in an external text file that an HTML file can reference. CSS standards are defined and maintained by the W3C.Hokum Home uses valid CSS to format its Web pages.

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DBA - DBH

ForeHelp database file. A temporary file ForeHelp generates when you open a project file. ForeHelp saves these temporary files with changing extensions, starting with DBA, then DBB, and so on until it reaches DBH, at which point it starts over again at DBA.

DBZ

ForeHelp project file. This contains all of the information needed to compile a complete help project into a help file.

DCS

Desktop Color Separations. A version of the standard EPS format developed by Quark. The DCS 1.0 format supports CMYK files without alpha channels and clipping paths. The DCS 2.0 format supports multi-channel and CMYK files with a single alpha channel, clipping paths and multiple spot channels.

DLL

Dynamic Link Library. Stored executable routines that a program can access when needed. Because DLLs are modular, it is easy to modify one part of a program without having to rewrite the entire program.

DOC

Document. Tagged document file for the PC. It's most commonly used in Word.

DOT

Document Template. Template files used in Word. I've provided a tutorial on creating a Word template, including a link to some very important information that you should read before you create a template.

DTD

Document Type Definition file. Identifies the language version with which an HTML, XML or SGML document is written and defines the tags that the document uses. XML has a set of standard DTD symbols that it uses.

DWG

AutoCAD Drawing. Standard file format for saving vector graphics created in AutoCAD.

DWT

Dreamweaver Template. Template file used in Dreamweaver.

DXF

Drawing Exchange Format. A vector based format originated by AutoCAD that uses 256 colors. It's a popular choice for porting models between programs.

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EMF

Enhanced metaFile. Graphic file format available for Windows and WinNT. It saves both vector and pixel information.

EPS

Encapsulated Postscript. Computer file containing Postscript commands with images.

ERR

WinHelp compiler error log. It contains any errors the compiler encountered while creating a help file.

EXE

Executable. Standard file extension for programs.

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FHB

ForeHelp backup file.

FLA

Flash Movie. Standard format for Flash movies.

FLM

Animation:Master's native file format. It can be opened with a standard "Targa" reader but requires special RealPixel decoding. The RealPixel format and sample decoding source code is available in the Animation:Master Software Development Kit.

FM

FrameMaker. Adobe FrameMaker's native file format.

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GHC

Map file used to generate context-sensitive help using a Visual Basic application.

GID

Tracks information about a WinHelp file. WinHelp viewer creates this hidden file when you first launch a WinHelp file or when you change the contents of a WinHelp file. You can delete this file at any time. If you delete this file, WinHelp viewer automatically creates another GID file when you launch the WinHelp file again.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format. A common file format used to display indexed-color graphics and images for HTML documents. It can display interlaced lines of an image as it downloads. It can also store multiple bitmaps in one file, producing animated GIFs. GIF 89a supports transparency.

GZ

GIMP image file.

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HH

Map file used to generate context-sensitive help links between a WinHelp file and its associated application. The file consists of Map IDs, codes the application uses in order to call up the appropriate topic.

HHC

HTML help contents file.

HHK

HTML help index file.

HHP

Microsoft HTML Help Project file. Project files used while creating HTML help files with tools such as ForeHelp and RoboHelp.

HLP

Help file. Standard WinHelp file used for online help.

HPJ

WinHelp Project. An ASCII text file used to create WinHelp help files with tools such as RoboHelp. It defines the source files needed to compile an online help file and contains instructions on how the files should be compiled.

HPT

RoboHelp file that contains a list of all the topics in each of the DOC files for a specific help project. RoboHelp uses this list to identify topics for hyperlinks.

HTM (HTML)

Hypertext Markup Language. Nonproprietary language used primarily for developing content on the World Wide Web. The HTML specifications are created and maintained by the W3C.

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ICO

Icon. Standard format for icon files.

IFF

Interchange File Format. The Amiga Interchange File Format is used for working with Video Toaster and transferring files to and from the Commodore Amiga system. It supports RGB, indexed-color, grayscale and Bitmap color modes. It does not support alpha channels.

INC

Map file used to create context-sensitive help for use with Turbo Pascal Include applications.

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JPG (JPEG)

Joint Photographic Experts Group. A commonly used graphics file format that uses lossy compression. It supports up to 24 bit color. Its small size makes it ideal for web graphics.

JS

JavaScript file. Text-based file that contains Javascript applets, functions, or other JavaScript code. Because the JavaScript code is in an external file, you can link several HTML pages to it, eliminating redundancy and reducing the overall size of your Web site. Hokum Home uses some external JS files.

JSP

Java Server Page. Contains Java code that is executed on the server to create a dynamic Web page.

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KKW

Index Keywords file. Internal RoboHelp file containing index keywords that are not used in its corresponding help project.

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LWO

Lightwave Object. NewTek's Lightwave native file format.

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MDB

Access Database. Standard format for Microsoft Access database files.

MOV

Movie. Apple's QuickTime movies.

MP3

Mpeg Layer 3. A type of audio compression that produces relatively small file sizes while maintaining high quality audio. It's difficult to tell the difference between a song recorded to an MP3 file and a song from a CD.

MPG (MPEG)

Motion Picture Experts Group. A compressed video file format.

MRB

MultiResolution Bitmap. A bitmap that contains up to four versions of a picture, each created with a different resolution.

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PAS

Map file used to create context-sensitive help for use with Delphi applications.

PCX

Commonly used by IBM PC-compatible computers. It supports RGB, indexed-color, grayscale and Bitmap color modes. It does not support alpha channels. PCX supports the RLE compression method.

PDF

Portable Document Format. Computer file format that contains vector and bitmap graphics, and can contain electronic document search/navigation features. The format allows for easy sharing of files between platforms.

PICT

Apple graphic file format. It can include bitmapped or vector images, and can use different compression schemes. It's available only for Apple.

PIXAR

The PIXAR format is designed specifically for exchanging files with PIXAR image computers. PIXAR workstations are designed for high-end graphics applications, such as those used for three-dimensional images and animation. The PIXAR format supports RGB and grayscale files with a single alpha channel.

PNG

Portable Network Graphics. Developed as a patent-free alternative to GIF, it's used for losslessly compressing and displaying images on the Internet. It supports 24-bit images and produces background transparency without jagged edges. It supports grayscale and RGB color modes with a single alpha channel, and Bitmap and indexed-color modes without alpha channels.

POT

Power Point Template. Template file for Power Point files.

PPT

Power Point Presentation. Standard format for Power Point files.

PSD

Photoshop native file format. It contains layer and transparency information.

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RBH

Internal RoboHelp file used to track information about DOC and RTF files contained in a help project.

RTF

Rich Text File. Text file format that contains formatting, font information, text color, and limited page layout information. It's best suited for converting documents between applications and platforms.

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SDA

Draw document. Draw is the graphics application in the OpenOffice.org suite.

SDC

Calc document. Calc is the spreadsheet application in the OpenOffice.org suite.

SDD

Impress document. Impress is the multimedia presentation application in the OpenOffice.org suite.

SDW

Writer document. Writer is the word processing application in the OpenOffice.org suite.

SGL

Writer master document. Writer is the word processing application in the OpenOffice.org suite.

SGM (SGML)

Standard Generalized Markup Language. A nonproprietary standard used to organize and tag elements in a document. It was developed and standardized in 1986.

SHG

Segmented HyperGraphic (referred to as shed or sheg files). A hot-spot image used in online help. Hot-spots are areas of a graphic used to link to other topics, web pages and so on. The shed information is stored like a transparency resting on top of a graphic. You can change the image in a shed file while keeping the existing hot spots.

SWF

Flash Movie Player. Standard format used by Flash to create movies. Generally, you save work in the SWF format and then export your finished work to another file format, such as an animated GIF, MOV file or even an EXE file.

SVG

Scalable Vector Graphics. Graphic file format developed for the web that uses vector graphics. The format produces higher resolution graphics with smaller file sizes.

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TEM

FrontPage Template. Template for files created in Microsoft FrontPage.

TGA

Targa. Graphic file format that supports any bit depth, and includes features such as alpha channels, gamma settings and built in thumbnails.

TIF (TIFF)

Tagged Image File Format. Graphics file format used to store images from scanners and video devices. It's the most common file format used in printing.

TXT

Text. A plain ASCII text file. It's cross platform and contains no formatting tags.

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VSD

Visio Diagram. Standard format for Visio diagram files. You can convert VSD files into graphics files such as BMP or WMF.

VOC

Sound file developed by Creative Labs for their sound cards.

VOR

Writer template file. Writer is the word processing application included in OpenOffice.org.

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WAV

Sound file for Windows.

WMF

Windows metaFile. Standard Windows graphics format supported by most Windows software.

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XLS

Excel Workbook. Standard format for spreadsheets created in Microsoft Excel.

XLT

Excel Workbook Template. Template file for Microsoft Excel.

XML

Extensible Markup Language. A W3C standard for a markup language for structured documents. It's derived from SGML just like HTML.

XSL

Extensible Stylesheet Language. A W3C standard for a stylesheet for XML-based applications.

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ZIP

A lossless compression technique. It's supported by the PDF file format. It's one of the most common ways to compress, store and transmit data on the Internet.

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3DS

3D Studio. Autodesk/Kinetix 3D Studio native file format.

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Sources:

• Numerous manuals and online help systems from different programs
• Adobe Print Publishing Guide
• Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary

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