Skip to Main Content

Archives of Southern New Hampshire University

Accepted File Formats


Items submitted to the Academic Archive must be saved in one of the following file formats.

These formats are categorized as having a “high confidence level” for the potential for future file migration by the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) This link opens in a new window1, and are categorized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) This link opens in a new window 2 as a “supported format” for DSpace. They are considered sustainable as defined by the Library of Congress This link opens in a new window.3

After submission, each item will be reviewed by library staff before it is approved for access. Documents submitted in non-preferred formats will be converted by the library to the appropriate format, and the submitter will be notified.

The formats indicated with an asterisk (*) are preferred.

Text-based documents

  • *PDF, PDF/A   Portable Document Format
  • CSV   Comma Separated Values
  • RTF   Raw Text Format
  • TXT   Text
  • XML   Extensible Markup Language

Audio

  • *AIFF Audio Interchange File Format
  • WAV Waveform Audio Format

Video

  • *MPEG    Motion Picture Experts Group

Images

  • *TIFF Tagged Image File Format
  • PNG Portable Network Graphics

The following factors limit the ability to provide complete digital preservation. Files will not be accepted if one or more of these factors are present:

  • Encryption
  • Compression
  • Password protection
  • Fonts not embedded

File Migration

File formats in the Academic Archive will be reviewed every three years to confirm they are still current. Currency will be determined by consulting documentation by leaders in the field, including, but not limited to, FCLA, MIT, and the Library of Congress.

 

References

1. Florida Center for Library Automation. (2009). Table of FDA-supported data file formats. In Florida Digital Archive (FDA File Preservation Strategies by Format). Retrieved from http://fclaweb.fcla.edu/fda_format_landing_page

2. MIT Libraries. (2006). DSpace format reference collection. In Format Support. Retrieved from https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=176372&p=1158986

3. Library of Congress. (2007, March 7). Sustainability of digital formats: Planning for Library of Congress collections.