Explore Linked Open Data for Various File Types
In the realm of digital preservation, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has established a comprehensive Digital Preservation Framework to ensure long-term accessibility of various electronic record formats. This Framework categorises digital files based on their type, providing valuable insights into the preservation and management of these records.
The Framework encompasses a wide range of file formats, each with its unique extension and categorisation. For instance, 3GP files belong to both Digital Video and Digital Audio categories, with NARA Format ID NF00101, while their counterpart, 3G2 files, are categorised under Digital Video, with NARA Format ID NF00882.
3DS Max files, used widely in the field of 3D modelling and animation, fall under the Digital Design and Vector Graphics category, with NARA Format ID NF00100. Their file extension is .max. On the other hand, Adobe AIR files, which are used for building cross-platform web applications, are categorised under Web Records, with NARA Format ID NF00705, and have the .air file extension.
The Digital Preservation Framework also includes categories for Software and Code. For instance, 32-bit and 64-bit Portable Executable files, which are commonly used for executable programs, are both categorised under this section. The file extensions for 32-bit versions include .exe, .dll, .cpl, .efi, .ocx, .scr, and .sys, while 64-bit versions share the same extensions.
Adaptive Multi Rate Audio (AMR) files, a popular format for mobile phone applications, fall under the Digital Audio category, with NARA Format ID NF00102, and have the .amr file extension.
Other formats, such as Adobe After Effects project files (in both XML and Binary variants), are categorised under Digital Design and Vector Graphics, Digital Video, and Digital Audio. The XML variant uses the .aep file extension, while the Binary variant is unspecified.
It's worth noting that the Preservation Plans on GitHub, while including hundreds of electronic record formats, are not exhaustive or universally applicable. They represent file formats and variant versions in NARA holdings. The current NARA risk assessment, processing capabilities, and tools in use at NARA are factors in the Preservation Plans.
NARA's Digital Preservation Framework as Linked Open Data shares the same elements as the Preservation Plans on GitHub. However, a direct, detailed list of file formats, their extensions, and categories specifically in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Digital Preservation Framework expressed as Linked Open Data was not found in the search results.
To access this information, it is recommended to consult NARA's official Digital Preservation Services web page or their digital preservation metadata standards documentation, where they may publish such lists or link to standard registries available as Linked Open Data. Alternatively, NARA leverages the Library of Congress's format categorization and the PRONOM technical registry for file formats, which are available as Linked Open Data and include extensions and format categories.
Data-and-cloud-computing technologies are essential for the efficient management and storage of the extensive digital records categorised by NARA's Digital Preservation Framework. This Framework, represented as Linked Open Data, utilizes various technology solutions to ensure long-term accessibility of its diverse range of digital files, including software and code, digital audio, digital video, and digital design and vector graphics formats.
