• A file format is a standard way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.

• A file format specifies how bits are used to encode information in a digital storage medium.

• File formats may be either proprietary or free.

• For example : image file format , audio file format , video file format and Text Formats etc.

RTF (Rich Text Format)

• Stands for Rich Text Format

• RTF documents are designed to transfer documents between word processing software

• These files use .rtf filename extensions

• The Rich Text Format (RTF) specification is a method of encoding formatted text and graphics for easy transfer between applications.

• Currently, users depend on special translation software to move word-processing documents between different MS-DOS, Windows and Macintosh

• The RTF specification provides a format for text and graphics interchange that can be used with different output devices and operating systems.

• RTF uses the ANSI, PC-8, Macintosh, or IBM PC character set to control the representation and formatting of a document, both on the screen and in print.

• With the RTF Specification documents created under different operating systems and with different software applications can be transferred between those operating systems and applications.

• Text editor carry information in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII). Or Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) form, but they do not carry formatting information.

• So when text was moved from one application to another, all formatting was lost and had to be reentered for printing.

• RTF is a solution for that which carry formatting information also.

The key format information carried across in RTF document files includes:

• Character Set: The character sets determine the characters that are supported in particular implementation. Common examples are ASCII and EBCDIC character set.

• Font table: A font table lists all fonts used in the document. These fonts are mapped to the fonts available in the receiving application for displaying the text.

• The color table lists the colors used in the document for highlighting text. The color table is also mapped for display by the receiving application to the nearest set of colors available to that application.

• Document Formatting: RTE provides true document margins. Paragraph indents are specified relative to the document margin. This information helps ensure that when a document is printed by a receiving application, the printed page looks similar to the original page.

• General Formatting: Formatting information in this group includes items such as footnotes, bookmarks and pictures.

• Character Formatting: Formatting information including bold, italic, underline strikethrough, shadow text, hidden text are specified using control characters.

• Special Characters: These include hyphens, non- breaking spaces, backlashes and so on.

• Advantages of RTF:From the perspective of a multimedia system, rich text format is important because it is used to attach, imbed or link other text files or even binary files such as executables, audio files, and video files.

• Disadvantages of RTF: Some problems remain even with rich text format because of incomplete implementations of rich text formats. These imperfections result in text not aligning properly in columns margins not being correct, or text attributes such as color showing up incorrectly when text file is moved to a different word processor.