Dear Apple II Developer:
Please find enclosed the form for a requested File Type and Auxiliary
Type assignment for Apple II computers. Because the number of file types
is severely limited (256 total), Apple Computer defines file types as
generic descriptions of file contents and assigns specific auxiliary types
to individual developers for specific file formats. These combinations
must be assigned by Apple, not solely arbitrated, due to the specialized
assignment nature of generic file type descriptions.
Please copy the form and use it to request all file type and auxiliary
type assignments.
The following pointers may assist you and prevent delays when
requesting an assignment:
- You may use previously documented file formats without obtaining an
assignment for them (for example, you do not have to request an assignment
for text files, Apple Preferred graphics files or Audio IFF sound
files).
- You may use file types $F1 through $F8 at your convenience. Apple
does not and will not arbitrate or document the use of these files.
- You should request an assignment if you create new file formats that
you wish to identify from a directory entry. For example, text files are
identified by a file type of $04. If you wish to be able to identify your
files similarly, you should request an assignment.
- Many programs identify files only by file type and not by auxiliary
type. These programs only identify your files by the general category of
the file type, so it is important that we assign the best-suited type to
your files. Please be as specific as possible in the "Generic type of
data in file" field so we don't have to ask you for more information.
- All fields on the form are required and must not be left blank. If
you cannot fill out a field (for example, your program doesn't have a
final name yet), please use temporary file types and auxiliary types in
file types $F1 through $F8 until all the information is available. If
requesting multiple assignments, you may leave the address, technical
contact and telephone number lines blank as long as the forms are attached
to each other and one of them has all the fields completed.
- We can accommodate multiple requests (several combinations for one
program), but we cannot accommodate requests where the auxiliary type
field has been used as a field of flags. Only Apple Computer, Inc. can
make such assignments, and then only for files that are system-wide and
not specific to a particular application.
- When your application ships using your assignment, tell us. Otherwise
we do not publish or acknowledge the assignment in any way to the world
at large, and it is not included in the system software. We do not wish
to pre-announce anyone's software.
- Please use a separate form for each requested file type and auxiliary
type assignment.
If you can, we would appreciate the file format so we can publish it
in an Apple II File Type Note. More information can be found in "About
File Type Notes". If you have further questions, please feel free to
contact us at the address on the registration form.
Thank you,
Apple Computer, Inc.
Developer Technical Support
On to the File Type Assignment Form!
This and all of the other Apple II Technical Notes have been converted
to HTML by Aaron Heiss as a public service to the Apple II community, with
permission by Apple Computer, Inc. Any and all trademarks, registered and
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