File identification ...let's talk about the workflows
When receiving any new batch of files to add to the digital archive there are lots of things I want to know about them but "What file formats have we got here?" is often my first question. Knowing what you've got is of great importance to digital archivists because... It enables you to find the right software to open the file and view the contents (all being well) It can trigger a dialog with your donor or depositor about alternative formats you might wish to receive the data in (...all not being well) It allows you to consider the risks that relate to that format and if appropriate define a migration pathway for preservation and/or access We've come a long way in the last few years and we now have lots of tools to choose from to identify files. This could be seen as both a blessing and a curse. Each tool has strengths and weaknesses and it is not easy to decide which one to use (or indeed which combination of tools would give the best results) ...and once we've s