| title | layout | category | status | publish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Finding Formats |
default |
Meta |
stub |
false |
How do I go about hunting down a format I don't understand.
- Search for file extension, sometimes fails (.s5).
- Search for encodings of the first few bytes (worked for some, e.g. s5 etc.)
Case of DAb2/DabF
- Started by this: https://twitter.com/anarchivist/status/383666204369780736
- "I have a database file from a classic Mac system & I'm trying to figure out the originating software. Type: "DAbF"; creator: "DAb2". Ideas?"
- No FFB, no .ext
- "Byte 0 is 0x0F, and bytes 1-15 seem to be a last modified date in "MM/DD/YYhh:mmpm" format."
- BUT some OS/system info and image of icon.
- Random searching for early Mac screens (Google Image Search for 'Mac System 7')
- Found images like this:
- Searching for 'apple DA Handler' lead me to this:
- http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.07/07.07/MultiWindowDA/index.html
- Icon is very similar, so perhaps a file related to Desk Accessories?
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Accessory#Apple_Macintosh
Aside, while railing down a dead end, learned about unpacking resource forks.
UnRezWack DAbase\ v2.09\ ShareWare -o DAbase 829 RezWack -d DAbase\ v2.09\ ShareWare -r DAbase\ v2.09\ ShareWare/..namedfork/rsrc -o DAbase.wak 830 UnRezWack DAbase.wak -o DAbase-wak
mv DAbase\ v2.09\ ShareWare DAbase DeRez DAbase
Format Dynamics
Follow on from Formats over Time?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_fork as archetypal failure of clever tech due to sharing problems.