User Guide
The Digital Resources Library provides multimedia and text files to the OHSU community for teaching, research and private study. Digital Resources Library staff do not provide technical support for viewing or re-using items from this collection; however, some information on file formats is provided below.
- Users not affiliated with OHSU visiting the DRL via the on-campus VLink terminals will not be able to access video, sound and some still image files on those machines. Please visit the Reference Desk for further assistance.
- These resources are provided "as-is". Files are offered in the format donated by the creator, and some files may be available in more than one format. It is up to the user to obtain software for accessing and using these files, such as PhotoShop, SoundForge, FinalCutPro or Premiere.
- In each file's metadata record, the field "Format:Use" will describe specific software/settings needed to view that individual file. To view this field, click on the file's title, or click on the thumbnail, then click on the "Description" tab. For example, if the still image were a proprietary Photoshop file the Format:Use field would say: "Adobe Photoshop 6.0 needed."
- Commercial use requires prior written permission from the contributor. Please e-mail the Library at library@ohsu.edu for more information. (please include "DRL" in the subject line).
- If you are experiencing technical difficulties viewing or downloading files from an on-campus computer, please contact the Help Desk at 503-494-2222 during regular working hours.
- The OHSU Edu-Tech department offers classes in digital graphic design and use of graphics in PowerPoint; see http://www.ohsu.edu/bicc-edutech/classes/cc_classes.shtml for more information.
- For high-end graphics for publication, photographic/slide support, and other custom image services, contact OHSU Medical Photography, http://www.ohsu.edu/medphoto/medph.htm.
- For further information contact the Library at library@ohsu.edu. (please include "DRL" in the subject line).
Technical Information on File Formats and Platforms
Still Image Formats:
Most Internet browsers automatically display .gif and .jpg formats. Other still image formats require a special viewer. All of the graphics formats in the DRL can be viewed or manipulated with commercial graphics software such as PhotoShop. Most can also be edited GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program, http://www.gimp.org/) a free program that can be used to create, edit, and retouch images.
.eps Encapsulated Postscript Vector graphics
Adobe Photoshop proprietary format. GIMP has a plug-in that can be used to manipulate these files.
.gif Graphics Interchange Format
The most common graphics format for images on the Internet. Most web browsers can view .gif files.
.jpg Joint Photographic Experts Group, also called .jpeg
Most web browsers can view .jpg/.jpeg files.
.png Portable Network Graphics (pronounced "ping")
PNG is a file format for image compression that is expected to replace .gif files. May require a separate viewer such as Photoshop.
.tif Tag Image bitmap File, also called .tiff
High quality image format. Requires a separate viewer such as Photoshop or Quicktime.
Video (Moving Image) Formats:
All video files require special viewers, though many newer computers come with video viewing software built-in (such as Quicktime for Apple and WindowsMediaPlayer for Windows). In order to edit/manipulate video a commercial software package such as Adobe Premiere or Apple's FinalCutPro is necessary.
.avi Audio Video Interleaved movie file for Windows
Needs Windows Media Player to view.
.mov Movie (Macintosh native movie platform)
Needs Quicktime to view.
.mpg Motion Pictures Expert Group, also .mpeg
High-quality films are often presented in the .mpg format. Films presented in this format are of a higher resolution and better quality. MPEG1 and MPEG2 formatted films play on a variety of viewers.
.qt QuickTime
This format offers smaller, downloadable files and allows films to be viewed on lower-end computer systems. Needs Quicktime to view.
.rm Real Movies, also .ram
RealMedia proprietary format, needs RealPlayer to view. Due to file compression, RealMedia files are generally not of sufficient quality to be reused.
Sound Formats:
The most popular sound file format on the Internet is .mp3 for both Mac and Windows.
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format, also .aif
Needs Macintosh Sound Player or Windows Waveform Hold and Modify to listen.
.au Sun/NeXT/DEC/UNIX or Audio U-law sound file
Needs Macintosh Sound Player or Windows Waveform Hold and Modify to listen.
.cda Compact Disc Audio file
Needs Windows Media Player to listen.
.midi Musical Instrument Digital Interface, also .mid
Crescendo is an audio application for Macintosh or Windows. Quicktime or Windows Media Player will also play .midi files.
.mp3 MPEG Audio Layer 3 (Motion Pictures Experts Group)
MP3 uses compression to create downloadable or streaming audio files which is supported by most audio applications.
.ram Real Audio file, also .ra
Needs RealPlayer to listen.
.wav Wave (Windows) sound file
Needs Windows Media Player to listen.
Text/Other Formats:
Most text collections do not require special viewers. Your Internet browser automatically displays text presented in HTML.
.pdf Portable Document Format
Needs Adobe Acrobat Reader to view files.
.ppt PowerPoint presentation file
Needs Microsoft PowerPoint to view.
.rtf Rich Text Format document
Used for exchanging text documents across platforms. Works with many word processing applications.
.txt ASCII text-formatted data (plain text file)
Works with many word processing applications.
.xls Worksheet/spreadsheet file
Needs Microsoft Excel to view.
More File Format Information:
File Formats and Extensionshttp://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/34filext.htm
Every File Format in the World
http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileFormatA/0,289933,sid9,00.html
Common Internet File Formats
http://www.talltech.com/student/shared/Common_Internet_File_Formats.htm
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This page last updated June 15, 2005.