Unit 1: Page 11: File Types

Question 1

What are file types used for?

Answer 1

Different file types are used to denote the forms or structure of the data stored within file.

Question 2

What information does the file extension hold?

Answer 2

> The file extension tells the user what type of data the file should contain.

> It tells the operating system which icon to display and which software to use to open the file when the user double clicks the icon.

Question 3

Name the four image file types.

Answer 3

> GIF
BMP
JPG
PNG

Question 4

Describe GIF

Answer 4

Small file size, but low quality due to limited number of colours. Can display basic transparecy and animation .

Question 5

Describe BMP

Answer 5

An uncompressed file format, so image quality is extremely high but file size is large.

Question 6

Describe JPG

Answer 6

Good compression, although compression is lossy so files cannot be decompressed.

Question 7

Describe PNG

Answer 7

Uses lossless compression to save high qualitty images in a low file size. Also allows transparency.

Question 8

Name the 4 types of video file types.

Answer 8

> MOV
AVI
MP4
MKV

Question 9

Describe an MOV file

Answer 9

> Designed for use with Apple QuickTime software, but it can be played using other software.
Can provide high quality but can also be compressed.
Good for streaming.

Question 10

Describe an AVI file

Answer 10

> Uncompressed, so is very high quality but very large file size.
Not good for streaming

Question 11

Describe an MP4 file

Answer 11

> Supports high - quality videos while still comperessing file size.
Works on a wide variety of devices and software

Question 12

Describe an MP4 file

Answer 12

> Supports high - quality videos while still comperessing file size.
Works on a wide variety of devices and software

Question 13

Describe an MKV file

Answer 13

> Supports high - quality video playback but is not well supported by some devices.
E.g ipads cannot play .mkv files

Question 14

Name the 6 types of application software file types

Answer 14

> DOC and RTF
PDF
PPT
XLS
ODF
MDB and ACCDB

Question 15

Describe an DOC and RTF

Answer 15

Commonly used file formats for documents created using word processing software

Question 16

Describe a PDF

Answer 16

A format that represents data independently of the originating software and/or hardware

Question 17

Describe a PPT

Answer 17

A common format for slideshows created using presentation software.

Question 18

Describe an XLS

Answer 18

A common format for files created using spreadsheet software

Question 19

Describe an ODF

Answer 19

An open source XML based formt used to represent office files such as spreadsheets, word processing, etc.

Question 20

Describe MDB and ACCDB

Answer 20

Common file types for database software

Question 21

What are the three implications of file types?

Answer 21

> Compatibility
Quality
FIle size

Question 22

Describe what compatibilty is and how it may be an issue.

Answer 22

> Compatibility refers to some file types only work with certain software.
The issue with this is the user may need to purchase new software and also complicates sharing files with others who do not have the required software.

Question 23

Describe what compatibiltiy is and how it my be an issue.

Answer 23

> Compatibility refers to some file types only work with certain software.
The issue with this is the user may need to purchase new software and also complicates sharing files with others who do not have the required software.

Question 24

Describe what quality means and how it may be an issue.

Answer 24

> Quality refers to different image, video, and audio file types provide varying levels of quality.
The choice will depend on intended use of the files.
- e.g. Is high quality the priority or small file size

Question 25

Describe what file size is and how it may be an issue.

Answer 25

> The file type affects the file size - some types are very effecient in the way they strore data whereas others use lots of storage space.
The file size may hve implications for storing, transmitting or displaying files.