[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Are .FILE extentions standard in MSDOS?

demoedf@iitmax.IIT.EDU (ed federmeyer) (06/15/88)

Here is a somewhat strange phenomenon I've seen-  All the CP/M books
I've ever seen seem to have a nice table of the file extentions listed
somewhere.  (You know, foo.BAS is a BASIC source, etc.)  Well, I have
not seen any such handy list for MS-DOS.  (Maybe I just havn't been
looking in the right places...)

Does anyone have a list of these they might like to share with the
other users on the net?  (Or if this is too trivial for the net, you
can of course E-Mail me...)

Thanks in advance...
   Ed Federmeyer

ubiquity@cs.utexas.edu (Richard Hoffman) (06/16/88)

In article <1159@iitmax.IIT.EDU>, demoedf@iitmax.IIT.EDU (ed federmeyer) writes:
> 
> Here is a somewhat strange phenomenon I've seen-  All the CP/M books
> I've ever seen seem to have a nice table of the file extentions listed
> somewhere... Does anyone have a list of these they might like to share 
> with the other users on the net?

I've seen such lists, but can't find one now.  Of course, there's no rule
that says files with .exe extensions *must* be executable, but conventions
are always useful.  Here's a starter list; perhaps someone would like
to add to it.

   EXE   Relocatable image
   COM   Non-relocatable image
   BAT   MS/DOS command script
   SYS   Device drivers and configuration files

   BAS   BASIC source
   FOR   FORTRAN source
   C     C source
   H     C include files
   PAS   Pascal source
   INC   Pascal include files
   CBL   COBOL source
   OBJ   Object files
   ARC   Archived files

The first five of these are used by the MS/DOS files that come "out of the
box"; the others are fairly standard in my observation.

-- 
Richard Hoffman / 5751 Valkeith / Houston, TX 77096 / (713) 729-5716
  +- / 12166 Metric Blvd., #122 / Austin,  TX 78757 / (512) 823-1822

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baird@cod.NOSC.MIL (John M. Baird) (06/16/88)

Standards...We got lots of standards. Pick your favorite.
Seriously, there are no standards, but here are some of the commonly used
extensions I have noticed in using various commercial software. Even this
list is not complete.

John Baird Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego (619)553-2197
-------
     EXTENSION       WHAT IT (USUALLY) MEANS
	ARC		Archive file output by some archive program
	ASM		Assembler input for MACRO Assembler
	BAK		Editor program backup copy of text file
	BAS		BASIC language source program
	BAT		A batch file for DOS
	BIN		Binary image version of an executable object file
	C		C language source program
	CAL		A spreadsheet file in SuperCALC format
	CBL		COBOL language source program
	COB		COBOL language source program
	COM		A program in binary image (non-relocatable) format
	CSV		A text file in comma separated variable format
	DAT		A data file
	DIF		A spreadsheet file in Data Interchange Format
	DBF		A database file in dBASE format
	DOC		A file containing documentation for some program
	EXE		A program in relocatable load module format
	FOR		FORTRAN language source program
	H		C language include file
	INC		PASCAL language include file
	LIB		Linker library file
	MAC		Macro input file
	MAP		Linker listing file
	NDX		An index file in dBASE format
	OBJ		Object code output by some complier
	OVR		File overlay to be used with a EXE or COM file
	PAS		PASCAL language source program
	PIC		A graphic file in LOTUS-1-2-3 format
	RBS		A database file in R:base format
	SLK		A spreadsheet file in SYLK format
	SYL		A spreadsheet file in SYLK format
	SYS		A system file, probably in binary image format
	TXT		A text file
	TMP		A temporary file
	WKS		A spreadsheet file in LOTUS-1-2-3 format
	WK1		A spreadsheet file in LOTUS-1-2-3 format
	XLC		A spreadsheet file in Excel format (also XLM, XLS, XLW)

Devin_E_Ben-Hur@cup.portal.com (06/17/88)

some more file extensions:

LIB	-- object libraries
MAP	-- link maps
00?	-- overlays
OVL	-- overlays
HLP	-- help files
CFG	-- configuration files
WK?	-- Lotus (& workalikes) worksheets
DB?	-- dBase (") data files.
RX?	-- Reflex data files
$$$	-- temp files
DOC	-- documentation.
TXT	-- raw (not rich) text
PRN	-- print files
PIC	-- PIC format graphics
MAC	-- keyboard macros (SuperKey & others)
BAK	-- backup files
UUE	-- UUEncoded files.
MAK	-- make files.

loci@csccat.UUCP (Chuck Brunow) (06/20/88)

In article <6575@cup.portal.com> Devin_E_Ben-Hur@cup.portal.com writes:
>some more file extensions:
>
>LIB	-- object libraries
>MAP	-- link maps
	...
>MAK	-- make files.

	Also, to avoid collisions in porting to Unix:

	.y		yacc script
	.l (ell)	lex script
	.1 (one)	nroff -man script
	.shar		shell archive
	.z		"packed" file
	.Z		"compressed file"
	.o		object file
	.s		assembly lang
	.sh		shell script
	+IN		cpio install file (unix-pc)
	.a		archof linkable routines (lib)
	.out		output of various prog's

		and others.

-- 
			CLBrunow - KA5SOF
	Loci Products, POB 833846-131, Richardson, Texas 75083
	   clb@loci.uucp, loci@killer.uucp, loci@csccat.uucp

pozar@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Pozar) (06/23/88)

In article <1018@csccat.UUCP> clb@loci.uucp (CLBrunow) writes:
>
>	Also, to avoid collisions in porting to Unix:
>
>	.y		yacc script
>	.l (ell)	lex script
>	.1 (one)	nroff -man script
>	.shar		shell archive
>	.z		"packed" file
>	.Z		"compressed file"

    Uh, MS-DOS does not reconize the difference between upper
    and lower case.  Oh, well...

		  Tim

-- 
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Ralf.Brown@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU (06/23/88)

The July PC Magazine's Stephen Manes column "Extension Course: Filenames for 
the Future" lists a bunch of extensions.

Excerpted without permission:

"I refer, of course, to the Strongly Typed International Filename Format 8.3 
(STIFF 8.3), which was developed years ago but never implented."

"Earlier versions of the STIFF protocol were hampered by being out of touch 
with DOS reality.  The key to the widespread acceptance of the newly revised 
STIFF 8.3 is that it recognizes and locks in forever such accepted DOS
filename extension conventions as these:

.ARC File compressed to avoid your wasting 40 days and 40 nights transmitting
        or using it.
.BAK A protective file destined for deletion before you really need it.
.COM A "common" program file that can actually fit into 64K of memory and is 
        therefore offered at a bargain price.
.DEV File containing satanic cult messages that canhold your hard disk in 
        thrall.
.EXE A fancy "executive" program virtually unlimited in size and therefore 
        commanding hundreds of dollars more than the "common" one that does 
        the same thing.
.HLP A file begging to be put out of its misery.
.ME  A file containing absolutely essential last-minute instructions no one 
        bothers to read.
.WK1 Spreadsheet template that works just once.
.WKS Spreadsheet template that works some of the time.
.$$$ File indicting a programmer's engagement in wishful thinking."


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