Shockwave (Director)

From Just Solve the File Format Problem
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(Added Director Cast Ripper and standalone projectors to Software section)
(Category->Animation)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{FormatInfo
 
{{FormatInfo
 
|formattype=electronic
 
|formattype=electronic
|subcat=Miscellaneous File Formats
+
|subcat=Animation
 
|extensions={{ext|dcr}}, {{ext|dir}}, {{ext|dxr}}, {{ext|cct}}, {{ext|cst}}, {{ext|cxt}}, {{ext|drx}}
 
|extensions={{ext|dcr}}, {{ext|dir}}, {{ext|dxr}}, {{ext|cct}}, {{ext|cst}}, {{ext|cxt}}, {{ext|drx}}
 
|mimetypes={{mimetype|application/x-director}}
 
|mimetypes={{mimetype|application/x-director}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/341}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/317}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/486}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/341}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/317}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/486}}
|type code={{Type Code|FGDM}}
+
|type code={{Type Code|MV93}}, {{Type Code|FGDM}}, {{Type Code|MC95}}, {{Type Code|FGDC}}
 
|released=≤1995
 
|released=≤1995
 
}}
 
}}
Line 11: Line 11:
 
'''Shockwave''' is a platform and format for multimedia applications, video games, etc. It was owned by Macromedia during most of its formative years, and is now owned by Adobe. It has many names, most of which involve permutations of the words "Macromedia", "Adobe", "Shockwave", and "Director". ''Director'' is the application usually used to develop it. It is distinct from [[SWF]] (Flash).
 
'''Shockwave''' is a platform and format for multimedia applications, video games, etc. It was owned by Macromedia during most of its formative years, and is now owned by Adobe. It has many names, most of which involve permutations of the words "Macromedia", "Adobe", "Shockwave", and "Director". ''Director'' is the application usually used to develop it. It is distinct from [[SWF]] (Flash).
  
The format seems to be based on the [[RIFX]] metaformat, though some DCR files are not[https://sites.google.com/site/reverseshockwave/home/dcr-format] actually valid RIFX files.
+
The format seems to be based on the [[RIFX]] metaformat, though some DCR files are not[https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://sites.google.com/site/reverseshockwave/home/dcr-format] actually valid RIFX files.
  
It might be that the DCR files don't work as valid RIFX files due to DEFLATE compression being used on some sections of the file using an undetermined scheme. Presumably a correct application of INFLATE would yield a valid file. AN old oreilly[https://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/web2/wdesign/ch26_07.htm] book reveals that this compression and decompression step used to be done by a Director Xtra plugin called "afterburner" before it was a built in feature. Afterburner is available on some mac abandonware sites.  
+
It might be that the DCR files don't work as valid RIFX files due to DEFLATE compression being used on some sections of the file using an undetermined scheme. Presumably a correct application of INFLATE would yield a valid file. An old oreilly[https://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/web2/wdesign/ch26_07.htm] book reveals that this compression and decompression step used to be done by a Director Xtra plugin called "afterburner" before it was a built in feature. Afterburner is available on some Mac abandonware sites.  
  
 
Shockwave also has a plugin system called "xtras" which may complicate the correct interpretation of some files in the future.
 
Shockwave also has a plugin system called "xtras" which may complicate the correct interpretation of some files in the future.
Line 20: Line 20:
 
File extensions:
 
File extensions:
 
* .DIR = Director file (holds an editable project)
 
* .DIR = Director file (holds an editable project)
* .DRX = [[Macintosh]] version of the Director file (Contains a <code>MV93</code> RIFX chunk)
+
* .DXR = Protected (compiled & read-only) Director file; most commonly seen on published CD-ROMs. (.DRX extension has also been seen)
* .DXR = Protected (i.e., read-only) Director file
+
* .DCR = Shockwave (protected & compressed) version of DIR; the normal format for distribution of Shockwave content over the Internet.
* .DCR = Shockwave (compiled/published) version of DIR; the normal format for distribution of Shockwave applications outside of the organization where they were made.
+
  
 
=== Cast Formats ===
 
=== Cast Formats ===
Line 29: Line 28:
 
File extensions:
 
File extensions:
 
* .CST = Editable Director cast
 
* .CST = Editable Director cast
* .CXT = Protected (read-only) Director cast
+
* .CXT = Protected (compiled & read-only) Director cast
* .CCT = Shockwave (compiled/published) cast; to be loaded after a reference by (presumably) a DCR file
+
* .CCT = Shockwave (protected & compressed) cast; to be loaded after a reference by (presumably) a DCR file
 
Sources: [https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://helpx.adobe.com/director/kb/common-questions-director.html] [https://forum.ragezone.com/f338/help-extracting-cct-files-280268/] [https://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/director/UsingScripting/director_reference.pdf]
 
Sources: [https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://helpx.adobe.com/director/kb/common-questions-director.html] [https://forum.ragezone.com/f338/help-extracting-cct-files-280268/] [https://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/director/UsingScripting/director_reference.pdf]
  
Line 47: Line 46:
 
== Sample files ==
 
== Sample files ==
 
* [https://archive.org/details/SfantaScripturabor2001EditieJubiliara Sfanta Scriptura (BOR 2001, editie jubiliara)]
 
* [https://archive.org/details/SfantaScripturabor2001EditieJubiliara Sfanta Scriptura (BOR 2001, editie jubiliara)]
* https://telparia.com/fileFormatSamples/archive/macromediaDirector/
+
* {{DexvertSamples|archive/macromediaDirector}}
 
* [https://archive.org/details/CREATOR_201808 Director, CXT and [[SWA]] samples]
 
* [https://archive.org/details/CREATOR_201808 Director, CXT and [[SWA]] samples]
  
Line 64: Line 63:
  
 
== Editors' notes ==
 
== Editors' notes ==
The [[PRONOM]] database claims that the PC version of Director creates files that begin with "RIFX" (i.e. big-endian), and the Macintosh version creates files that begin with "XFIR" (little-endian). This seems backwards. Either PRONOM is wrong, or something else is going on here.
+
The [[PRONOM]] database claims that the PC version of Director creates files that begin with "RIFX" (i.e. big-endian), and the Macintosh version creates files that begin with "XFIR" (little-endian). This is backwards.
  
 +
[[Category:Miscellaneous File Formats]]
 
[[Category:RIFF based file formats]]
 
[[Category:RIFF based file formats]]
 
[[Category:Document]]
 
[[Category:Document]]
Line 71: Line 71:
 
[[Category:Web]]
 
[[Category:Web]]
 
[[Category:Adobe]]
 
[[Category:Adobe]]
 +
[[Category:Macromedia]]

Latest revision as of 15:41, 28 April 2024

File Format
Name Shockwave (Director)
Ontology
Extension(s) .dcr, .dir, .dxr, .cct, .cst, .cxt, .drx
MIME Type(s) application/x-director
PRONOM x-fmt/341, fmt/317, fmt/486
Type Code MV93, FGDM, MC95, FGDC
Released ≤1995
For Shockwave Flash, see SWF.

Shockwave is a platform and format for multimedia applications, video games, etc. It was owned by Macromedia during most of its formative years, and is now owned by Adobe. It has many names, most of which involve permutations of the words "Macromedia", "Adobe", "Shockwave", and "Director". Director is the application usually used to develop it. It is distinct from SWF (Flash).

The format seems to be based on the RIFX metaformat, though some DCR files are not[1] actually valid RIFX files.

It might be that the DCR files don't work as valid RIFX files due to DEFLATE compression being used on some sections of the file using an undetermined scheme. Presumably a correct application of INFLATE would yield a valid file. An old oreilly[2] book reveals that this compression and decompression step used to be done by a Director Xtra plugin called "afterburner" before it was a built in feature. Afterburner is available on some Mac abandonware sites.

Shockwave also has a plugin system called "xtras" which may complicate the correct interpretation of some files in the future.

Contents

[edit] Identifiers

File extensions:

  • .DIR = Director file (holds an editable project)
  • .DXR = Protected (compiled & read-only) Director file; most commonly seen on published CD-ROMs. (.DRX extension has also been seen)
  • .DCR = Shockwave (protected & compressed) version of DIR; the normal format for distribution of Shockwave content over the Internet.

[edit] Cast Formats

One major element of Shockwave is "cast members", objects that can have scripts and other resources attached to them. These can be bundled together into a "cast" file for modularity.

File extensions:

  • .CST = Editable Director cast
  • .CXT = Protected (compiled & read-only) Director cast
  • .CCT = Shockwave (protected & compressed) cast; to be loaded after a reference by (presumably) a DCR file

Sources: [3] [4] [5]

[edit] Software

[edit] Sample files

[edit] Links

[edit] See Also

[edit] Editors' notes

The PRONOM database claims that the PC version of Director creates files that begin with "RIFX" (i.e. big-endian), and the Macintosh version creates files that begin with "XFIR" (little-endian). This is backwards.

Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox