Bits to Pieces is...

views on digital preservation

thoughts and views

tips and tricks

bits of others

Save as....03 File formats

Software is constantly being updated, and new software may not always support files created with older versions. Therefore, bear in mind exactly what you want to store. If it's a text document, then just the content may be enough. If it's a working draft, then you will also want to save the properties. However, if it is your definitive document then the form will be important too.



Save as... 02 Documents

Preservation of digital records requires a different approach to paper storage, because a digital file consists of a series of ones and zeros—the bit stream. This always needs a specific combination of hardware and software in order to be read. Damage to the bit stream and fast technological advancements are a threat to digital files. Therefore, digital preservation requires special measures (in addition to selecting, ordering and describing) to ensure that digital documents remain usable.




To keep files sustainably accessible, take the following steps when you create a document and save it for the first time:

  • Choose unique logical file names. Give version numbers to identify documents easily. Enter a date in the format YYYYMMDD.
  • Avoid using spaces, periods, commas or other strange characters in the file name. Use an underscore to separate words.
  • Store files that belong together in folders. Create a conveniently arranged folder structure that suits your own working process. Avoid too many layers in the structure.
  • Give the folder a descriptive name; follow the same guidelines as for the file names.
  • Be selective and do not store incomplete or unclear files.

Save as... 01 Digital preservation

Preservation of digital records requires a different approach to paper storage, because a digital file consists of a series of ones and zeros—the bit stream. This always needs a specific combination of hardware and software in order to be read. Damage to the bit stream and fast technological advancements are a threat to digital files.

Therefore, digital preservation requires special measures (in addition to selecting, ordering and describing) to ensure that digital documents remain usable.


Concise Guide nr 3

Very proud to present to you the latest addition to the Concise Guide archiving for Designers selection. Barcelona's Design Museum, centre and laboratory DHUB translated the Guide to Spanish and Catalan. We took the chance to update the  English text and all languages will be made available on the DHUB website.



You will find an English downloadable Concise Guide here on their site...


Thinking of a next translation that could only be Chinese....or Turkish perhaps?












Bewaar Me - vijf vuistregels

Op 5 november sprak ik op de Premsela conferentie Bewaar Me - over het bewaren van vormgevingserfgoed. In mijn sessie besteden we aandacht aan het bewaren van digitale vormgevingsarchieven.



It's in the name

Hoe vind je toch die ene foto terug? Of dat ene bestand waar je het laatste aan werkte?

 

 

 

Beautiful Backup

Wanneer heb je voor het laatst een back up van je computer hebt gemaakt?

Gisteren? Vorige maand? Nog nooit?

 

 

 

Think, Design, Create

Wat doe je als je weet dat de gemiddelde levensduur van een digitaal bestand maximaal zo'n jaar of vijf is? Er niet aan denken is natuurlijk een oplossing waar je rustig van gaat slapen. Voor even. Want wat doe je als je weet dat je de laatste jaren alle belangrijke gebeurtenissen alleen digitaal hebt vastgelegd? De geboorte van je kind, de foto's van je wereldreis, je trouwdag, die allermooiste van je oma? Wat doe ja dan?

 

 

Save as....03 File formats
Published by kvdh on Thursday, 05 April 2012 15:11
Software is constantly being updated, and new software may not always support files created with older versions. Therefore, bear in mind exactly what you want to store. If it's a text document, then just the content may be enough. If it's a working draft, then you will also want to save the properties. However, if it is your definitive document then the form will be important too.




  • Avoid, as much as you can, relying on just one application or just one supplier.
  • Open or standard formats are preferable because they are supported by multiple applications and because the documentation belongs to the public domain.
  • When documents do not require any more changes, convert them into an archive format, e.g. MS Word to PDF/A.
  • For some software there is no alternative available for an open or archive format. In this case, store a version in the original format.

Archive formats are:

text: ODF, XML, PDF/A
vector: SVG
pixel: TIFF, PNG
pixel/vector: CMG
audio: WAF
CAD: DXF
video: MXF
GID: GML

A useful strategy is for example:
• save one copy of the document in the original format to preserve all original properties;
• and save one copy of the document in PDF/A to preserve the outward appearance;
• or save one copy of the document migrated to a standard archive format.