| First Published:
|
8/15/05 |
|
Last Revised: |
10/2/06 |
What are the commonly acceptable
attachment file formats?
You're expected to have the
capabilities to handle (view, maybe even edit) the commonly used
information interchange data file formats. Anything else should be
considered inappropriate to send as attachments. Here's a Quick
Reference List:
Documents:
.pdf Adobe Acrobat
.mdi MS Document Imaging (rapidly gaining
popularity, with very nice features)
.txt plain text
.csv common delimited values (tabular text)
.htm/.html web page
.rtf rich text format
.doc MS Word (viewer available)
.xls MS Excel (viewer available)
.ppt/.pps MS Powerpoint (viewer available)
.vsd Visio Drawing (viewer available)
Archive:
.zip compressed folder
.cab cabinet file (common for software distribution) |
Graphics:
.jpg/.jpeg
.gif
.tif/.tiff
.png (portable network graphic)
.bmp (generally too bulky)
Media:
.wma WMP audio
.wmv WMP video
.mp3 most common audio
.mov Quicktime video
.mpg/.mpeg MPEG video
.swf Shockwave/Flash
.mid MIDI musical instrument notes recording file |
If you send someone a file in other format, it's very likely that
they will not be able to open it, unless they happen to have the same
program you used to create it. All of the file formats above have freely
downloadable readers/viewers available for all popular operating system
platforms, for those who do not have the necessary programs.
Notably missing from the list
above:
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Works
- Microsoft Picture-It
- Any database (including Access)
- Printshop
- Photoshop
- Encapsulated Postscript (.eps)
|
(These programs are quite
popular but far from being common or standards, thus considered
UNACCEPTABLE for general attachment, as you cannot expect
others to be able to handle them. Special arrangements
are required. Consider exporting to common
formats.) |
Notes: With media files,
compatibility is more complicated. Being able to handle a certain file
extension is not guarantee that the recipient can play your file. For
example, they might be able to open your file in a .mpg "container"
format. Their player program might still complain about lacking the
required codec (coder-decoder) to interpret the content. It
must be download & installed within the particular media player used.
File Types BANNED by Outlook
2000/XP/2003/2007:
(The following are considered potentially DANGEROUS. Most
IT-controlled companies have additional restrictions. Beware that
circumventing such bans via technical means, without obtaining proper
authorization could violate the sender/recipient's employment contract.)
.ade Access Project Extension (Microsoft)
.adp Access Project (Microsoft)
.app Executable Application
.asp Active Server Page
.bas BASIC Source Code
.bat Batch Processing
.cer Internet Security Certificate File
.chm Compiled HTML Help
.cmd DOS CP/M Command File, Command File for Windows NT
.com Command
.cpl Windows Control Panel Extension (Microsoft)
.crt Certificate File
.csh csh Script
.exe Executable File
.fxp FoxPro Compiled Source (Microsoft)
.hlp Windows Help File
.hta Hypertext Application
.inf Information or Setup File
.ins IIS Internet Communications Settings (Microsoft)
.isp IIS Internet Service Provider Settings (Microsoft)
.its Internet Document Set, Internation Translation
.js JavaScript Source Code
.jse JScript Encoded Script File
.ksh UNIX Shell Script
.lnk Windows Shortcut File
.mad Access Module Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maf Access (Microsoft)
.mag Access Diagram Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mam Access Macro Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maq Access Query Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mar Access Report Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mas Access Stored Procedures (Microsoft)
.mat Access Table Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mau Media Attachment Unit
.mav Access View Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maw Access Data Access Page (Microsoft)
.mda Access Add-in (Microsoft), MDA Access 2 Workgroup (Microsoft)
.mdb Access Application (Microsoft), MDB Access Database (Microsoft)
.mde Access MDE Database File (Microsoft)
.mdt Access Add-in Data (Microsoft)
.mdw Access Workgroup Information (Microsoft)
.mdz Access Wizard Template (Microsoft)
.msc Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File (Microsoft)
.msi Windows Installer File (Microsoft)
.msp Windows Installer Patch
.mst Windows SDK Setup Transform Script
.ops Office Profile Settings File
.pcd Visual Test (Microsoft)
.pif Windows Program Information File (Microsoft)
.prf Windows System File
.prg Program File
.pst MS Exchange Address Book File, Outlook Personal Folder File
(Microsoft)
.reg Registration Information/Key for W95/98, Registry Data File
.scf Windows Explorer Command
.scr Windows Screen Saver
.sct Windows Script Component, Foxpro Screen (Microsoft)
.shb Windows Shortcut into a Document
.shs Shell Scrap Object File
.tmp Temporary File/Folder
.url Internet Location
.vb VBScript File or Any VisualBasic Source
.vbe VBScript Encoded Script File
.vbs VBScript Script File, Visual Basic for Applications Script
.vsmacros Visual Studio .NET Binary-based Macro Project (Microsoft)
.vss Visio Stencil (Microsoft)
.vst Visio Template (Microsoft)
.vsw Visio Workspace File (Microsoft)
.ws Windows Script File
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script File
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings File
See also:
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