====== 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((multi-byte integers are stored little-endian unless otherwise noted)) | 
| 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 |
| [[ref: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 [[custom:Ctrl-A codes]] |
| SYNCMSG  | Contains US-ASCII and/or CP437 characters with possible [[custom: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 [[:dev:|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 [[util: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 file((exceptions: XTRN.DAT and TEXT.DAT)) |
| 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 |
| [[ref:SMB]]              | ''.shd'',''.sid'',     | Binary   | Neutral    | Synchronet Message base v1.21 |
| :::                      | ''.sdt'',''.sda'',''.sha'',     | ::: | :::  | ::: |
| :::                      | ''.sch'',''.hash''               | ::: | :::  | ::: |
| [[ref:fidonet_files|Fido Message]] | ''.msg''   | Binary   | Discouraged | Fido BBS/Net "Stored Message" file (a.k.a. ''1.msg'') |
| [[ref:fidonet_packets|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'') |
| [[config:ini_files|INI]] | ''.ini''   | ASCII    | Encouraged  | Bi-level hierarchical configuration and data files |
| Baja                     | ''.src'',''.inc''     | ASCII    | Discouraged | [[:util:Baja]] source code for command shell or module |
| PCMS                     | ''.bin''               | Binary   | Discouraged | [[:util:Baja]] compiled command shell or module |
| JS/SSJS                  | ''.js'',''.ssjs''     | UTF-8    | Encouraged  | Interpreted script in [[:custom:JavaScript]] syntax |
| JS/HTML                  | ''.xjs''              | UTF-8    | Encouraged  | Interpreted [[:custom: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 |
| [[http://www.json.org|JSON]] | ''.json'',''.jsonl'' | UTF-8 | Encouraged  | Data files created/used by [[:module:|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 |
| [[custom:Fonts]]         | ''.f8'',''.f14'',''.f16'' | Binary | Encouraged | SyncTERM/PC-compatible fixed-width typeface files |
| [[config:semfiles|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, both the 31-line and 52-line formats (write/read) | 
| ''[[DORINFO1.DEF|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)            |
| ''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 =====
  * [[:ref:|ref index]]

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