Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
On Nov 2, 2012, at 3:48 PM, Roy Tennant wrote: > Um...how is this better/different from already existing sites/efforts > around this? > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats > http://www.wotsit.org/ > http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html > http://www.fileformat.info/ > > At the very least, this new effort shouldn't start from scratch... They could also extract a lot of information / links from: http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/formats/index.shtml Although, admittedly, it's more intended for creators rather than those trying to figure out what it is they have. (archaeology? forensics?) -Joe > On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM, Ed Summers wrote: >> I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month already, >> but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the >> digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the >> project ... >> >> //Ed >> >> -- Forwarded message -- >> From: Chris Rusbridge >> Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM >> Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? >> To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk >> >> Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is raising a >> citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in the >> month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at >> http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band of >> volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by >> sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). I've >> added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as >> skeletons or empty placeholders). >> >> The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer >> data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. It's >> pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've >> done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the >> wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised later >> on! >> >> If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing >> data formats. This should include as much as possible of: >> >> - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) >> - web site with some authoritative information >> - web site with some examples, etc. >> >> Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own >> inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". >> >> * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some angst >> (eg see >> http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the-solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), >> I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about file >> formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. >> >> -- >> Chris Rusbridge >> Mobile: +44 791 7423828 >> Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com >> Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
I joined OCLC on the team that implemented it, just as the project was winding down. I brought it up more as a cautionary tale rather than a serious suggestion; the problem isn't that no one has looked into the file format problem -- the problem is that too many have approached it, without coming to a compelling combination of "rough consensus and running code." [1] -- Steve [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_D._Clark > -Original Message- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of > Gary McGath > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:50 PM > To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can > you help? > > On 11/2/12 3:57 PM, Huwig,Steve wrote: > > You also missed this one... > > > > http://gdfr.info > > Did you actually find anything useful there? That project died without > really accomplishing anything. > > I was one of the people working on it and have to share some of the > blame. There were communication problems between Harvard and OCLC, as > well as an over-ambitious design, and we just never got anything > working. > > > -- > Gary McGath, Professional Software Developer > http://www.garymcgath.com
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
On 11/2/12 3:57 PM, Huwig,Steve wrote: > You also missed this one... > > http://gdfr.info Did you actually find anything useful there? That project died without really accomplishing anything. I was one of the people working on it and have to share some of the blame. There were communication problems between Harvard and OCLC, as well as an over-ambitious design, and we just never got anything working. -- Gary McGath, Professional Software Developer http://www.garymcgath.com
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
It's OK, I think the project is now part of UC's udfr.org. But that one didn't have the big ol' "OCLC" logo at the bottom. :) -- Steve > -Original Message- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of > Roy Tennant > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:04 PM > To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can > you help? > > Well, duh, so I did. My (big) bad. Thanks for pointing out the > obvious... > Roy > > On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 12:57 PM, Huwig,Steve wrote: > > You also missed this one... > > > > http://gdfr.info > > > > > >> -Original Message- > >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf > > Of > >> Roy Tennant > >> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:49 PM > >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU > >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: > can > >> you help? > >> > >> Um...how is this better/different from already existing > sites/efforts > >> around this? > >> > >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats > >> http://www.wotsit.org/ > >> http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html > >> http://www.fileformat.info/ > >> > >> At the very least, this new effort shouldn't start from scratch... > >> Roy > >> > >> On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM, Ed Summers wrote: > >> > I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month > >> already, > >> > but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the > >> > digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the > >> > project ... > >> > > >> > //Ed > >> > > >> > -- Forwarded message -- > >> > From: Chris Rusbridge > >> > Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM > >> > Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? > >> > To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk > >> > > >> > Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is > raising > > a > >> > citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in > the > >> > month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at > >> > http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band > of > >> > volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by > >> > sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). > >> I've > >> > added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as > >> > skeletons or empty placeholders). > >> > > >> > The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer > >> > data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. > It's > >> > pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've > >> > done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the > >> > wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised > >> later > >> > on! > >> > > >> > If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing > >> > data formats. This should include as much as possible of: > >> > > >> > - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) > >> > - web site with some authoritative information > >> > - web site with some examples, etc. > >> > > >> > Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own > >> > inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". > >> > > >> > * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some > angst > >> > (eg see http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the- > >> solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), > >> > I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about > file > >> > formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Chris Rusbridge > >> > Mobile: +44 791 7423828 > >> > Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com > >> > Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
Well, duh, so I did. My (big) bad. Thanks for pointing out the obvious... Roy On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 12:57 PM, Huwig,Steve wrote: > You also missed this one... > > http://gdfr.info > > >> -Original Message- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf > Of >> Roy Tennant >> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:49 PM >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can >> you help? >> >> Um...how is this better/different from already existing sites/efforts >> around this? >> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats >> http://www.wotsit.org/ >> http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html >> http://www.fileformat.info/ >> >> At the very least, this new effort shouldn't start from scratch... >> Roy >> >> On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM, Ed Summers wrote: >> > I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month >> already, >> > but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the >> > digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the >> > project ... >> > >> > //Ed >> > >> > -- Forwarded message -- >> > From: Chris Rusbridge >> > Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM >> > Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? >> > To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk >> > >> > Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is raising > a >> > citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in the >> > month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at >> > http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band of >> > volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by >> > sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). >> I've >> > added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as >> > skeletons or empty placeholders). >> > >> > The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer >> > data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. It's >> > pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've >> > done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the >> > wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised >> later >> > on! >> > >> > If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing >> > data formats. This should include as much as possible of: >> > >> > - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) >> > - web site with some authoritative information >> > - web site with some examples, etc. >> > >> > Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own >> > inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". >> > >> > * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some angst >> > (eg see http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the- >> solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), >> > I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about file >> > formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. >> > >> > -- >> > Chris Rusbridge >> > Mobile: +44 791 7423828 >> > Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com >> > Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
You also missed this one... http://gdfr.info > -Original Message- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of > Roy Tennant > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:49 PM > To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can > you help? > > Um...how is this better/different from already existing sites/efforts > around this? > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats > http://www.wotsit.org/ > http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html > http://www.fileformat.info/ > > At the very least, this new effort shouldn't start from scratch... > Roy > > On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM, Ed Summers wrote: > > I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month > already, > > but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the > > digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the > > project ... > > > > //Ed > > > > -- Forwarded message -- > > From: Chris Rusbridge > > Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM > > Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? > > To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk > > > > Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is raising a > > citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in the > > month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at > > http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band of > > volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by > > sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). > I've > > added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as > > skeletons or empty placeholders). > > > > The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer > > data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. It's > > pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've > > done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the > > wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised > later > > on! > > > > If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing > > data formats. This should include as much as possible of: > > > > - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) > > - web site with some authoritative information > > - web site with some examples, etc. > > > > Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own > > inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". > > > > * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some angst > > (eg see http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the- > solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), > > I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about file > > formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. > > > > -- > > Chris Rusbridge > > Mobile: +44 791 7423828 > > Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com > > Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
Re: [CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
Um...how is this better/different from already existing sites/efforts around this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats http://www.wotsit.org/ http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html http://www.fileformat.info/ At the very least, this new effort shouldn't start from scratch... Roy On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:36 AM, Ed Summers wrote: > I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month already, > but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the > digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the > project ... > > //Ed > > -- Forwarded message -- > From: Chris Rusbridge > Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM > Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? > To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk > > Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is raising a > citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in the > month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at > http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band of > volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by > sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). I've > added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as > skeletons or empty placeholders). > > The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer > data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. It's > pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've > done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the > wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised later > on! > > If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing > data formats. This should include as much as possible of: > > - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) > - web site with some authoritative information > - web site with some examples, etc. > > Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own > inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". > > * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some angst > (eg see > http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the-solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), > I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about file > formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. > > -- > Chris Rusbridge > Mobile: +44 791 7423828 > Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com > Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
[CODE4LIB] Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help?
I imagine you've heard about the Just Solve the Problem month already, but if not, I thought Chris Rusbridge's email to the digital-preservation list was a good call for participation in the project ... //Ed -- Forwarded message -- From: Chris Rusbridge Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 4:00 PM Subject: Just Solve the File Format Problem month: can you help? To: digital-preservat...@jiscmail.ac.uk Some of you will know that Jason Scott, Rogue Archivist, is raising a citizen's army to attempt to solve the "file format problem*" in the month of November, 2012. The work is taking place via a wiki at http://justsolve.archiveteam.org/index.php/Main_Page, with a band of volunteers (you need to register to make changes to the wiki, by sending a username and email address to justso...@textfiles.com). I've added a few formats and groups of formats myself (at least as skeletons or empty placeholders). The best form of help is for some of you who know more about rarer data formats to register and help by editing the wiki yourself. It's pretty easy; I've never used MediaWiki before, and everything I've done so far has been by finding something like it and adapting the wiki source. Other people can make it beautiful and standardised later on! If you can't do that, you could email me information about missing data formats. This should include as much as possible of: - name, and what it's for (ie brief description) - web site with some authoritative information - web site with some examples, etc. Let's try and capture ALL these formats. As Jason says in his own inimitable way "Let's make that goddam army!". * Note, the "problem" is only vaguely defined, and after some angst (eg see http://unsustainableideas.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/the-solution-is-42-what-was-the-problem/), I think that's OK. Gathering a huge amount of information about file formats in one place will be a BIG HELP. -- Chris Rusbridge Mobile: +44 791 7423828 Email: c.rusbri...@gmail.com Adopt the email charter! http://emailcharter.org/
