Archived - Mac OS: File Type and Creator Codes, and File Formats
File Type Codes The desktop database keeps track of the file
type of every file. Here are examples of some common 4-character
file type codes, followed by descriptions: - CWWP (AppleWorks
word processing) - MooV (QuickTime movie) - TEXT (plain text
file) - PICT (picture file) - GIFf (GIF image) When you open a
file from within an application, the application looks at each
file's 4-character file type code to see if it can be opened.
Some applications can open a variety of file types. The desktop
database also keeps track of the creators of files. As you might
guess, this is a 4-character code that identifies which program
actually created the file. Here are examples of some common
4-character creator codes, followed by descriptions: - BOBO
(AppleWorks) - TVOD (QuickTime) - ttxt (SimpleText) - Hway
(iMovie) For example, a text file saved with SimpleText has a
file type of TEXT and a creator of ttxt. You can find out the
type and creator of a file