Document file format

A document file format is a binary computer file format for storing documents on a computer storage, especially for use by computers. There currently exist a multitude of incompatible document file formats. The file format currently used by Microsoft Word (.doc) is arguably the most widespread de facto-standard.

A rough consensus has been established that XML is to be the basis for future document file formats. Open format XML-based standards include DocBook and, more recently, OpenDocument. The latter is expected to become an International Organization for Standardization standard. Microsoft also has an XML-based standard, but due to licensing issues this is not an open format.

In 1993 the ITU-T tried to establish a standard for document file formats, known as the Open Document Architecture (ODA) which was supposed to replace all competing document file formats. It is described in ITU-T documents T.411 through T.421, which are equivalent to ISO 8613. It did not succeed.

Page description programming languages such as PostScript and Portable Document Format have become the de facto-standard for documents that a typical user should only be able to be read, not edit.

=Common document file formats=

Amigaguide

CHM (Microsoft s help format)

DocBook

HLP

HTML (.html, .htm), in combination with possible image files referred to; IE can also combine these, having just one MHT-file to represent a webpage.

OpenDocument

PalmDoc Personal digital assistant de facto document standard.

Plucker Personal digital assistant navigable wide used document standard.

Portable Document Format - many people can read them (since the viewer is free), fewer can make and edit them

RTF (a textual encoding of the data in a Word DOC; many programs Word export filters actually write RTF as RTF is much easier to generate reliably)

SYLK - SYmbolic LinK

TeX

Troff

Binary and text files (plain text)

Microsoft Word (DOC (computing)) (Format revised and altered in new software versions; structural binary format identical since Word 97; specifications available from Microsoft upon request)

WordPerfect (.doc) (note possible confusion with Word format extension)

XML

=See also=

*Document *List of file formats *List of document markup languages *Comparison of document markup languages *Open format