Table of Contents
Synchronet Files
The format of most files created and used by Synchronet can be identified by the filename extension / suffix. This page is your guide to quickly identifying these files and links to format references, where available:
Encoding
Each of the file formats listed here will have an identified encoding:
Encoding | Description |
---|---|
Binary | You will need special software to view or modify files of this type1) |
ASCII | Contains US-ASCII characters only: Any plain text editor should work, but note lines may be LF or CR/LF terminated |
UTF-8 | Contains a combination of US-ASCII and UTF-8 characters with possible ANSI terminal escape sequences |
ANSI | Contains a combination of US-ASCII and CP437 characters with possible ANSI terminal escape sequences |
PETSCII | Contains CBM PETSCII characters and terminal control codes |
SYNCASC | Contains US-ASCII characters with possible Ctrl-A codes |
SYNCMSG | Contains US-ASCII and/or CP437 characters with possible Ctrl-A codes |
SYNCDAT | Contains US-ASCII and/or CP437 characters with ASCII ETX (3/Ctrl-C) padded data records and/or fields |
Status
Each file format has a reported support “status” from the developers:
Status | Description |
---|---|
Encouraged | Use of this file format is encouraged and its use within Synchronet is increasing |
Neutral | Use of this file format is accepted practice |
Discouraged | Use of this file format is discouraged and support is expected to end in the future |
Deprecated | Use of this file format is no longer supported |
Formats
Format | Extensions | Encoding | Status | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
CNF | .cnf | Binary | Discouraged | Configuration file (ad hoc), managed by SCFG |
CFG | .cfg ,.conf | ASCII | Discouraged | Configuration file (ad hoc) |
Trash | .can | ASCII | Discouraged | Filter file: one line per filter (pseudo-regex syntax) |
List | .lst | ASCII | Discouraged | Data file: one line per record |
Pointer | .ptr ,.sfp | Binary | Discouraged | Export message pointers: 32-bits per record |
DAT | .dat | SYNCDAT | Discouraged | Fixed record/field length (ETX-terminated) data file2) |
IXT | .ixt | ASCII | Deprecated | Index file: 2 lines per record |
DAB | .dab | Binary | Discouraged | Fixed record/field length (ad hoc) data file |
IXB | .ixb | Binary | Discouraged | Index file (ad hoc) |
EXB | .exb | Binary | Discouraged | Fixed record length (single-field) extended data file |
Template | .sif ,.sof | SYNCDAT | Discouraged | Synchronet Template user input (SIF) / display (SOF) file |
SMB | .shd ,.sid , | Binary | Neutral | Synchronet Message base v1.21 |
.sdt ,.sda ,.sha , |
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.sch ,.hash |
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Fido Message | .msg | Binary | Discouraged | Fido BBS/Net “Stored Message” file (a.k.a. 1.msg ) |
Fido Packet | .pkt ,.?ut | Binary | Neutral | FidoNet Type-2 Message Packet file |
Fido Backbone | .na | ASCII | Neutral | FidoNet EchoList: one line per echo (e.g. backbone.na ) |
Fido Areas | .bbs | ASCII | Neutral | FidoNet EchoMail program area configuration / data file (e.g. areas.bbs ) |
PCB Files | .bbs | ASCII | Neutral | PCBoard-style File Listing (e.g. files.bbs ) |
INI | .ini | ASCII | Encouraged | Bi-level hierarchical configuration and data files |
Baja | .src ,.inc | ASCII | Discouraged | Baja source code for command shell or module |
PCMS | .bin | Binary | Discouraged | Baja compiled command shell or module |
JS/SSJS | .js ,.ssjs | UTF-8 | Encouraged | Interpreted script in JavaScript syntax |
JS/HTML | .xjs | UTF-8 | Encouraged | Interpreted JavaScript embedded within HTML |
HTML | .html | UTF-8 | Neutral | Hypertext Markup Language for web pages |
XML | .xml | UTF-8 | Neutral | Extension Markup Language for configuration or data |
JSON | .json ,.jsonl | UTF-8 | Encouraged | Data files created/used by JavaScript modules |
LOG | .log | ASCII | Neutral | Activity logs, one line per message |
Log-off List | .lol | ASCII | Discouraged | Terminal server log-off / statistics list |
QWK | .qwk ,.rep | Binary | Neutral | Offline message or reply packet (multiple files archived, usually w/PKZIP) |
DIZ | .diz ,.sdi | ASCII | Neutral | Description In Zip (e.g. FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI ) |
ASC | .asc ,.txt | SYNCASC | Neutral | US-ASCII Only display file with attribute/color information |
CP437 | .msg | SYNCMSG | Encouraged | IBM Extended-ASCII display file with attribute/color information |
UTF-8 | .utf8 | UTF-8 | Neutral | UNICODE display file |
PETSCII | .seq | PETSCII | Neutral | CBM PET-ASCII display file |
ANSI | .ans ,.mon | ANSI | Discouraged | ANSI-BBS display file |
RIP | .rip | ANSI | Neutral | TeleGrafix' RIPscrip (Remote Imaging Protocol Script) display file |
WIP | .wip | ANSI | Deprecated | Durand Communications' Windows Interface Protocol menu file |
IBM-CGA | .bin | Binary | Neutral | So-called “BinaryText” display file, possibly with a SAUCE trailer |
XBin | .xb | Binary | Encouraged | ACiD-defined multiple-font BinaryText w/SAUCE trailer |
Fonts | .f8 ,.f14 ,.f16 | Binary | Encouraged | SyncTERM/PC-compatible fixed-width typeface files |
Semaphore | .now ,<none> | ASCII | Neutral | Existence / time-stamp of file causes effect |
Mutex | .lock ,.bsy | ASCII | Neutral | Existence of file indicates mutually-exclusive operation in progress |
Drop Files
Drop files are identified by their full filename (not the just the extension) and are both created and consumed by the BBS:
Filename | Encoding | Description |
---|---|---|
DOOR.SYS | ASCII | GAP, 52-line format (write/read) |
DORINFO#.DEF | ASCII | RBBS/QuickBBS (write-only) |
EXITINFO.BBS | Binary | QuickBBS (write/read) |
CHAIN.TXT | ASCII | WWIV (write-only) |
CALLINFO.BBS | ASCII | Wildcat! (write-only) |
PCBOARD.SYS | Binary | PCBoard (write-only) |
USERS.SYS | Binary | PCBoard (write/read) |
SFDOORS.DAT | ASCII | SpitFire (write-only) |
UTIDOOR.TXT | ASCII | MegaMail (write-only) |
DOORFILE.SR | ASCII | Solar Realms (write-only) |
TRIBBS.SYS | ASCII | TriBBS (write-only) |
DOOR32.SYS | ASCII | Mystic (write-only) |
XTRN.DAT | ASCII | Synchronet (write-only) |
MODUSER.DAT | ASCII | Synchronet (read-only) |
MSGTMP | ASCII | QuickBBS (write/read) |
MSGINF | ASCII | QuickBBS (write-only) |
EDITOR.INF | ASCII | WWIV (write-only) |
RESULT.ED | ASCII | WWIV (read-only) |
See Also
1)
multi-byte integers are stored little-endian unless otherwise noted
2)
exceptions: XTRN.DAT and TEXT.DAT