LibTiff Mailing List
TIFF and LibTiff Mailing List Archive
December 1994
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Previous by Thread
Next by Thread
Previous by Date
Next by Date
Contact
The TIFF Mailing List Homepage
This list is run by Frank Warmerdam
Archive maintained by AWare Systems
Thread
1994.12.15 05:34 "TIFF File Naming Conventions/Standards?", by Brady Clark D
TIFF File Naming Conventions/Standards?
How many different file naming schemes have you run into? If you're like
me every time you turn around I have to adopt/adapt to a new convention or
variation of a convention.
Ever try to view multiple single page images that should viewed as one
document? It can be impossible without the creator application or without
opening each images individually. (Not cool!)
Since the naming convention tends to indicate sorted page order, it would
be nice to standardize. However, since it's difficult to force standards it
would be better to identify the naming convention and page through as if a
multi-page tiff were used.
The tendency to use (brain-dead, lowest common denominator) eight-dot-three DOS
file names limits the possible conventions however there are still too many
choices.
Alternative could include:
1) ########.tif 2) HHHHHHHH.tif 3) ZZZZZZZZ.tif
4) ########.### 5) HHHHHHHH.HHH 6) ZZZZZZZZ.ZZZ
7) batchnum.### 8) batchnum.HHH 9) batchnum.ZZZ
where # = decimal, 0-9 H = hexadecimal, 0-F Z = alphadecimal?, 0-Z
Then there's the problem of grouping files together - Normally taken care of
by placing all related files into a single directory and then ordering the
directories using yet another scheme....Most often information is stored in a
proprietary database.
The following question come to mind when considering this topic.
Q1) Do any standards/recommendations exist? These might be public or company
specific.
Q2) What other examples exist for naming schemes?
Q3) What group or organization could help set and communicate standards? Would
it make sense to propose a parallel document to the TIFF standard?
I would like to propose a discussion on tiff file naming standards that would
cover these and similar related questions. I'd be happy to consolidate
responses if that makes sense.
I would also be happy to do some development on a common API that could help
eliminate this type of problem. A frame work might include functions for:
number of pages, filename of next/prior page, scheme identity. The frame work
might also include definition for a document description file (this would be
to documents what tags are to tiff...)
Brain Bender....Ever want to move files from one location/directory to
another...how can this be done? Brute force of course, but shouldn't an
alternative exist? How about the case where a single page of a multi-file
images (on WORM or CD) needs to be replaced?
This is another area to investigate. Alternatives include:
1) Complete file description - server,volume,directories
2) Local file description - volume,directories
3) Abstracted file description - pseudo-volume, directories
What other alternatives exist?
Hope this is enough to start some discussions....
Thanks for reading this long message!
Clark Brady - Eli Lilly & Company - 317-277-1769
brady_clark_d@lilly.com