Internet file types

   The Internet offers many opportunities for downloading files from a huge number of Internet hosts. These files may have been generated on different computer systems, so before you spend time downloading a file, it is important to understand the type of file you are dealing with. Table I.1 lists many of the common file types you may encounter.

   INTERNET FILE TYPES

   A tape archive created by the tar utility.

   Z = A file created by the compress utility. You must use uncompress to restore the file before you can use it.

   tar.z = A compressed tape archive file.

   z = A file created by the pack utility. You must use unpack to restore the file before you can use it.

   zip = A file created by PKZIP or WinZip. You must unzip the file before you can use it.

   gz = A file created by the GNU gzip utility. You must decompress the file before you can use it.

   hqx = A compressed Macintosh file.

   sit = A Macintosh file compressed by StuffIt.

   tif/tiff = A graphics file in TIF format.

   gif = A graphics file in GIF format.

   htm/html = A Web page in HyperText Markup Language.

   jpg/jpeg = A graphics file in JPEG format.

   mpg/mpeg = A video file in MPEG format.

   txt = A text file.

   1 = An nroff source file.

   ps = A PostScript file ready for printing.

   uue = A uuencoded file. You must use uudecode before you can use the file.

   uue.z = A compressed uuencoded file.

   shar = A Usenet newsgroup archive file created by the shar utility.

   shar.z = A compressed shar file.