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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 |
Add all the various drop/editor file formats <sigh>
See Also
1)
multi-byte integers are stored little-endian unless otherwise noted
2)
exception: XTRN.DAT drop file
