***** WhatFormat v1.4, Freeware, Freely distributable. ***** +++ What is it: It's not always possible to see from a filename's extension what actual format is used. Sometimes the same extension is used for different formats, one extension can be used for different versions or often a file simply has a wrong extension. The first bytes of a file may contain information of what format is used. WhatFormat is a file analyser that looks at these bytes for signatures (magic numbers) and makes a guess of the format this file may have. +++ What do you need for the 16-bit version: * At least a 386 PC. * Windows 3.1 or higher. * vbrun300.dll in your \windows\system directory. +++ What do you need for the 32-bit version: * At least a 486 PC. * Windows 95/98 or NT4.0. * msvbvm50.dll in your \windows\system directory. +++ How to install: * Be sure to have vbrun300.dll (for the 16-bit version) or msvbvm50.dll (for the 32-bit one) in \windows\system. * It doesn't have a setup, just unzip 'whatfmt.zip' or whtfmt32.zip to a directory of your choice. You can run wf.exe right from there, add it to your path, add a shortcut to the \Windows\SendTo dir, or whatever you like. * if you don't have vbrun300.dll/msvbvm50.dll or an unzipper you can find links to them at my website (see below). +++ How to use: Start wf.exe. You will see a window that looks somewhat similar as the 'file open' dialog-boxes that you are used using Windows. Click at a filename and WhatFormat tries to identify the format that is used. If it recognizes it, it shows a description of the format together with a suggestion of the (some) extension(s) that the file should have. I've tried to put the most commonly used extensions at the front if it shows more than one. It also looks at the filename's extension and if it knows it, it tells something about that extension. New in this version 1.4 is that it now suggests some possible viewers, converters etc. It can also do a search on your harddrive for applications that you already have. Found applications will be shown in the button-bar at the bottom for direct access. If you want to try this, use 'Search for Apps' in the file menu, and follow the instructions. The search results will be saved in a file called 'Apps.dat' in the same dir as WhatFormat resides. The applications that it knows are shown at the bottom of this document, together with home-url's for downloading. +++ Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for any damage caused by WhatFormat on your PC (don't see how it can, but it could), so use it at your own risk. +++ What's it good for?! Here are some usefull things that you can do with WhatFormat: * It can be seen as a little util that may help you if you received a file from the Internet or wherever and you don't know what it is. By looking at magic numbers in the first bytes and at the filename extension, WhatFormat may tell something about this file. New in this version 1.4 is that it also suggests some possible viewers or converters. * If WhatFormat recognizes the header of a file it often suggests some extensions this file may have. If you have problems opening this file with an application that should know this format, you can rename it with one of the other suggested extensions and try it again. I've tried to put the most commonly used extensions at the front. Of course it's (mostly) not a very smart idea to rename binaries (e.g. com, exe, bin, dll, vbx, etc.). * Check if the 'header' description matches the 'extension' description. If it doesn't, this may explain why this file won't open in your favourite app. In such a case mostly the 'header' description is right, so renaming this file to a right extension would be the right thing to do. * Check version numbers (if shown). E.g. if WhatFormat shows the 'Version needed' for a ZIP file as '2.xx' and the version of Pkunzip you use is '1.xx', there's a very good change it can't be extracted. In that case you should update Pkunzip. * It may be interesing to use WhatFormat to try to examine these *.bak files or these *.chk or *._dd files made by respectively Chkdsk and Norton Disk Doctor. +++ What's new in v1.4: * Now suggests some viewers for formats that are found. * Should now recognize the signatures of Stored search W95 (fnd), CeQuadrat CD ProJect file (cpj), Compiled HTML file (chm), Channel File (cdf), Java Class (class), Dynamic Link Library (tlb), VRML Worlds for WWW (wrl), Netscape Mail (no extension), CD Audio song (cda), Autodesk Animator Animation (fli), Amiga sound (mod, nst), Ms Compress archive (??_, ??$), DeluxePaint ANiMation (anm), Autodesk Animator Animation (flc, cel), StuffIT Expander archive format (sit), Paradox DataBase (db), Apple sound (afc), Audio Interchange File Format from Apple/SGI (aif), Amiga .8SVX, Audio Interchange File Format (iff), Sound Sun/NeXT/DEC (au), DiamondWare digitized sound (dwd), MATlab sound (mat), MIDI Sample sound (sds), SaMPleVision sound (smp), MIDI-sequention sound (rmi), IoCA ICon Archive (ica), Jasc Browser File (jbf), Lotus Freelance (pre, mas, sym), OS/2 METafile (met), Lotus Freelance Image (drw), Lotus Freelance PortFoLio file (pfl), MultiTracker Module music (mtm), Ms Schedule+ PRinT (prt), Internet Explorer command (scf), Lotus ScreenCam Movie (scm), SoftImage (pic, si), Vista image (vst), Vivid image (img), lzx and ace archives. * Weak tests for CLaSs module (cls), Computer Graphics Metafile image (cgm), Macintosh QuickDraw PiCT image (pct), dBASE or FoxPro DataBase File (dbf), Raw/NeXT PCM sound (snd, raw?). * More extensive description of Windows Icon Resource (ico, iko). * Knows about 570 filename extensions now. +++ What's new in v1.3: * It's now possible to add a filename if you run it from a command line. * Should recognize the signatures of cab, mac (with header), mov (Apple QuickTime MOVie), pif, qfx, Quattro Pro spreadsheets (wb1, wb2, wq1). * Weak tests for com, binaries (e.g. sys) and text files (PC, Mac and Unix formats, e.g. txt, asc, doc). * The recognition of various WordPerfect formats is improved. * Doesn't show 'Hidden' and 'System' files anymore. * Better recognition of cur files. * Some minor changes in header descriptions of ai, eps, jpg, lzh, tif and zip. * Combined the two 'first 25 bytes 'in hex' and 'in ansi' labels' in some sort of hex-viewer. I hope you like it:) It also shows the first 128 bytes now, instead of the previous 25. * Changed the 'first bytes' label into a listbox, this is easier for adding extra info. * More extensive description of gif, pcx, BMP format (bmp, dib, rle) and executables. * Knows about 380 filename extensions now. +++ What's new in v1.2: * Should recognize the signatures of dwg, fcd, lzh, pdf, pma, rar, sys and uc2. * Better recognition of HTML and Mid files. * Added many extension descriptions. +++ More info: The newest version can be downloaded from: http://www.xs4all.nl/~joz/whatfmt.html More extensions and some of their possible viewers at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~joz/ext.html If you have any comments, tips etc. please e-mail me: joz@xs4all.nl © 1998 J. Zwart This version should recognize the following formats: --- Archive formats: -arc -arj -Microsoft archive format (cab) -lzh, lha -pma -rar -uc2 -zip -zoo -Ms Compress archive (??_, ??$) -StuffIT Expander archive format (sit) -lzx -ace --- Graphical Formats: -Adobe Illustrator (ai) or Encapsulated Postscript (eps) -OS/2 Warp image (bga) -Windows Bitmaps (bmp, dib, rle, icn) -CALS Compressed Bitmap (cal) -CorelDraw vector images (cdr, cdt, pat) -Dr. Halo image (cut) -Micrografix Draw Image (drw) -AutoCAD drawing (dwg) -Autodesk AutoCAD (dxf) -FastCad or EasyCad drawing (fcd) -Flex. Image Transport (fit) -GEM vector image (gem) -Graphics Interchange Format (gif) -Windows Icon Resource (ico) -Amiga image (iff, lbm) -GEM Paint/Ventura (img) -JPEG - JFIF Compliant image (jpg, jif, jpe) -MacPaint bitmap image (mac, pnt) -Enhanced Windows Metafile (emf) -Microsoft Paint (msp) -Portable Bitmap image (pbm) -PC Paintbrush bitmap image (pcx) -Portable Graymap image (pgm) -PC Paint/Pictor (pic) -Portable Network Graphics (png) -Portable Pixelmap (ppm) -Adobe Photoshop (psd) -Sun Raster Images (ras) -RIFF image (rif) -Compuserve bitmap image (rle) -Scitex CT bitmap-image (sct) -Truevision TarGA bitmap image (tga) -Tagged Image File Format (tif) or Corel Photo-Paint (cpt) -Windows MetaFile image (wmf) -WordPerfect Graphic (wpg) -WordPerfect color Palette (wpp) -Wavelet Compressed Bitmap image (wvl) -IoCA ICon Archive (ica) -Jasc Browser File (jbf) -OS/2 METafile (met) -Lotus Freelance Image (drw) -SoftImage (pic, si) -Vista image (vst) -Vivid image (img) --- Multimedia, Sound: -Avi movies (avi) -MIDI-sequention sound (mid) -Apple QuickTime MOVie (mov) -MPEG movie (mpg) -Soundblaster Sound (voc) -WAVe PCM Sound (wav) -CD Audio song (cda) -Autodesk Animator Animation (fli) -Autodesk Animator Animation (flc, cel) -Amiga sound (mod, nst) -DeluxePaint ANiMation (anm) -Apple sound (afc) -Audio Interchange File Format from Apple/SGI (aif) -Amiga .8SVX, Audio Interchange File Format (iff) -Sound Sun/NeXT/DEC (au) -DiamondWare digitized sound (dwd) -MATlab sound (mat) -MIDI Sample sound (sds) -SaMPleVision sound (smp) -MIDI-sequention sound (rmi) -MultiTracker Module music (mtm) -Lotus ScreenCam Movie (scm) --- Wordprocessing, Database, Spreadsheets, DTP, etc.: -Corel Presentation Exchange (cmx) -Data Interchange Format (dif) -Ms Word document (doc) or template (dot) -DisplayWrite (doc) or IBM dca-rft (rft) -Envoy files (evy) -Html-files (htm, html) -Access database (mdb) -Portable Document Format (pdf) -Adobe Type 1 Font (pfb) -HPGL Plotter File (plt) -Rich Text Format (rtf) -Ami Professional document (sam) -TrueType Font (ttf) -Quattro Pro spreadsheet (wb1, wb2, wq1) -Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet (wk1, wk3, wk4) -Ms Works database (wdb) -Ms Works spreadsheet (wks) -Ms Works document (wps) -WordPerfect text (e.g. wpd, doc, wp5, wp6) -WordPerfect Macro ReSource (mrs) -Ms Works document (wps) -Windows Write text (wri) -Ms Excel spreadsheet (xls) or template (xlt) -Ms Office Binder document (obd) or template (obt, obz) -Ms PowerPoint (pot) -Paradox DataBase (db) -Lotus Freelance (pre, mas, sym) -Lotus Freelance PortFoLio file (pfl) -Ms Schedule+ PRinT (prt) --- Miscellaneous: -Moving cursor (ani) -Windows Clipboard (clp) -Help Contents File (cnt) -Windows Cursor Resource (cur) -Executables (com, exe, dll etc.) -IBM dca-fft (fft) -Visual Basic FoRM file (frm) -Windows program-group (grp) -Windows Help (hlp) -Windows help file index (gid) -Windows Shortcut (lnk) -Shortcut to MS-DOS program (pif) -Registration file for W95 (reg) -SYmbolic LinK (slk) -Netscape Mail (no extension) -VRML Worlds for WWW (wrl) -Dynamic Link Library (tlb) -Java Class (class) -Channel File (cdf) -Compiled HTML file (chm) -CeQuadrat CD ProJect file (cpj) -Stored search W95 (fnd) -Internet Explorer command (scf) Besides it knows about 570 filename extensions. +++ APPLICATIONS: +++ WhatFormat 'knows' the following applications: --- Standard Windows applications: --- -- CdPlayer -- -Used name: CdPlayer -Search key: cdplayer.exe -Available: W9x? -Used for: cda -- Imaging -- -Used name: Imaging -Search key: kodakprv.exe or wangimg.exe -Available: At least Windows 98, but also newer versions of Windows 95 and NT 4.0? -Url: http://www.eastmansoftware.com/products/ImagingPro/pr_pro_i4w.htm -Used for: tif, awd, bmp, jpg, jpe, jpeg, pcx, gif -- Media Player -- -Used name: MPlayer -Search key: mplayer.exe -Available: Any Windows? -Url: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer -Used for: mid, mpg, avi, wav, rmi -- Notepad -- -Used name: Notepad -Search key: notepad.exe -Available: Any Windows version -Used for: Various text files (txt, asc etc.) -- PaintBrush (if used on Windows 3.11 or below) -- -Used name: PaintBrush -Search key: pbrush.exe -Available: Windows 3.11 or below -Used for: bmp, msp, pcx -- Paint (if used on Windows 95 or higher) -- -Used name: Paint -Search key: mspaint.exe -Available: Windows 9x -Used for: bmp, dib, rle -- QuickView -- -Used name: QuickView -Search key: quikview.exe -Available: Windows 9x -Url: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/contents/AdminTools/W95QuickView/default.asp?custarea=pers&site=95&openmenu=downloads&highlighteditem= -Used for: Executables (exe, dll etc.), WP documents (wpd, wp5 etc.), Various text files (txt, asc etc.), Word (doc), wps, wri, Ms Excel 4.0 spreadsheets (xls), bmp, dib, rle, cur, db, dbf, Ami Professional document (sam, sty), wb1, wb2, wq1, wk1, wk3, wk4, rtf, mdb -- Write (if used on Windows 3.11 or below) -- -Used name: Write -Search key: write.exe -Available: Windows 3.11 or below -Used for: Various text files (txt, asc etc.), wri -- WordPad (if used on Windows 95 or higher) -- -Used name: Wordpad -Search key: wordpad.exe -Available: Windows 9x -Used for: Various text files (txt, asc etc.), rtf, wri, Word (doc) --- Free- and Sharewares: --- -- ACDSee -- -Used name: ACDSee -Search key: acdsee32.exe -Url: http://www.acdvictoria.com/ -Used for: bmp, dib, rle, gif, iff, lbm, jpg, pcd, pcx, png, psd, tga, tiff, wmf, SoftImage (pic) -- FmView -- -Used name: FmView -Search key: fmvdde3.exe (A .dll needs to be copied as an .exe, see FmView's help for more info. -Url: http://users.aol.com/OliverBes/DPWare/dpprog.htm -Used for: simple text files, wri, Ms Word documents, bmp, dib, rle, pcx, wmf, ico, dll, exe, arj, lzh, zip, (db, dbf, mdb - ODBC needed), cab, wps, sam, xls, wk1, wk3, wk4, WordPerfect documents, cdr, rtf, html, avi, wav, ttf, fon -- GoldWave -- -Used name: GoldWave -Search key: goldwave.exe -Url: http://www.goldwave.com/ -Used for: afc, aif, iff, au, dwd, mat, sds, smp, snd, raw, voc, vox -- Graphic Workshop -- -Used name: Gws -Search key: gws.exe -Url: http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/gww.html -Used for: mac, img, pcx, gif, tif, wpg, pic, tga, cut, bmp, msp, lbm, rle, jpg, jpe, art, iff, ras, hrz, dib, ico, avi, cdb, cpt, fit, cdr, bga, png, mpg, mov, fli, flc, pcd, wmf, clp, uue -- IrfanView32 -- -Used name: IrfanView -Search key: i_view32.exe -Url: http://stud1.tuwien.ac.at/~e9227474/ -Used for: jpg, gif, bmp, dib, rle, tif, png, pcx, tga, pcd, ras, ico, avi, wav, mid, rmi, wmf, emf, ppm, pgm, pbm, iff, lbm -- Microsoft Internet Explorer -- -Used name: IExplorer -Search key: iexplore.exe -Available: Probably on your Windows 95/98 cdrom, if not, check the url -Url: http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ -Used for: gif, jpg, html -- Netscape Navigator -- -Used name: NNavigator -Search key: netscape.exe -Url: http://home.netscape.com/ -Used for: gif, jpg, html -- Paint Shop Pro -- -Used name: Psp -Search key: psp.exe -Url: http://www.jasc.com/psp.html -Used for: bmp, dib, rle, cdr, cgm, clp, cmx, cut, drw, dxf, gem, gif, hgl, iff, lbm, img, jif, jpg, mac, msp, pbm, pcd, pct, pcx, pgm, pic, png, ppm, psd, ras, raw, tga, tif, wmf, wpg -- WinZip -- -Used name: WinZip -Search key: winzip32.exe -Url: http://www.winzip.com/winzip/winzip/winzip.htm -Used for: arc, arj, lzh, zip, Ms Compress archives (??_, ??$) -- Xnview -- -Used name: Xnview -Search key: xnview.exe -Url: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pierre.g -Used for: jpg, tga, lbm, gif, SoftImage (pic), rgb, tif, Vista image (vst), ras, pct, bmp, png, pcx, ppm, pgm, pbm, psd, GEM Paint (img), Vivid (img), ico, cur, fit, pcd, mac