This is an old revision of the document!
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 type |
| ASCII | Contains US-ASCII characters only: Any plain text editor should work |
| UTF-8 | Contains a combination of ASCII and UTF-8 characters with possible ANSI terminal escape sequences |
| ANSI | Contains a combination of ASCII and CP437 characters with possible ANSI terminal escape sequences |
| PETSCII | Contains CBM PETSCII characters and terminal control codes |
| SYNCMSG | Contains ASCII and/or CP437 characters with possible Ctrl-A codes |
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 | ASCII | Discouraged | Fixed record/field length (ETX-terminated) data file |
| IXT | .ixt | ASCII | Deprecated | Index file: 2 lines per record |
| DAB | .dab | Binary | Discouraged | Fixed record/field length (ad hoc, little endian) 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 | ASCII | Discouraged | Synchronet Template user input (sif) / display (sof) file |
| SMB | .shd,.sid, | Binary | Neutral | Synchronet Message base v1.21 |
.sdt,.sda,.sha, |
||||
.sch,.hash |
||||
| Fido Msg | .msg | Binary | Discouraged | Fido BBS/Net “Stored Message” file |
| Fido Pkt | .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 | Text | Encouraged | Interpreted script in JavaScript syntax |
| JS/HTML | .xjs | Text | Encouraged | Interpreted JavaScript embedded within HTML |
| HTML | .html | Text | Neutral | Hypertext Markup Language for web pages |
| XML | .xml | Text | Discouraged | Extension Markup Language for configuration or data |
| JSON | .json,.jsonl | Text | Encouraged | Data files used by JavaScript modules |
| LOG | .log | Text | Encouraged | Activity logs, one line per message |
| Log-off List | .lol | Text | Discouraged | Terminal server log-off / statistics list |
| QWK | .qwk,.rep | Binary | Neutral | Offline message or reply packet |
| ASCII | .asc,.txt | Text | Neutral | US-ASCII Only display file (may contain Ctrl-A/@ codes) |
| CP437 | .msg | Text | Encouraged | IBM Extended-ASCII display file (may contain Ctrl-A/@ codes) |
| UTF-8 | .utf8 | Text | Neutral | UNICODE display file (may contain Ctrl-A/@ codes) |
| PETSCII | .seq | Text | Neutral | CBM PET-ASCII display file (may contain Ctrl-A/@ codes) |
| ANSI | .ans,.mon | Text | Neutral | ANSI-BBS display file (may contain Ctrl-A/@ codes) |
| RIP | .rip | Text | Neutral | TeleGrafix' RIPscrip (Remote Imaging Protocol Script) display file |
| WIP | .wip | Text | Deprecated | Durand Communications' Windows Interface Protocol |
| 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> | N/A | Neutral | Existence / time-stamp of file causes effect |
| Mutex | .lock,.bsy | N/A | Neutral | Existence of file indicates mutually-exclusive operation in progress |
