Release of PRONOM4 File Format Registry and DROID Digital Record Object Identification

Information obtained from PADIFORUM-I Mailing list

National Archives of the UK is pleased to announce the release of PRONOM 4, the latest version of its web-based technical registry to support long-term preservation. PRONOM 4 (which is available at ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/) incorporates a number of significant enhancements. It now holds detailed technical information about individual file formats, including links to the full format specifications where available. PRONOM now also supports the use of unique identifiers, in anticipation of the launch of the PRONOM Unique Identifier scheme later this year. The PUID scheme will provide persistent unique identifiers for file formats recorded in PRONOM, and has already been adopted as the preferred encoding scheme for describing formats within the e-Government Metadata Standard in the UK. Further details of the PUID scheme will be released shortly.
PRONOM 4 also sees the release of the first in a planned series of tools, which use the content of the registry to provide specialised preservation services. DROID (Digital Record Object Identification) is an automatic file format identification tool, which uses byte signatures stored in PRONOM to identify and report the specific file format versions of digital files. DROID detects the addition of new signatures to the PRONOM database and automatically downloads updates via the Web, ensuring that it is always up-to-date. DROID can currently identify c. 150 formats using internal signatures, and a further 400 using external signatures, and new signatures are regularly added. It is designed for batch processing, and can be used via a GUI or a command line interface, to support integration with other systems. DROID is a standalone, platform-independent Java tool, and is freely available to download from the PRONOM website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/aboutapps/pronom/droid.htm.

There is an ongoing programme of development for PRONOM, and we very much welcome all feedback, including ideas for future enhancements. We are also always interested to hear from anyone who is either using, or would like to use, PRONOM content or services. Please send all enquiries and feeback to pronom@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Adrian Brown
Head of Digital Preservation, The National Archives
T: +44 (0) 20 8392 5330 x2189
F: +44 (0) 20 8487 9206
M: +44 (0) 7968 269 350

Web: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/preservation/