IFF

From Just Solve the File Format Problem
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 5: Line 5:
 
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000115}}
 
|locfdd={{LoCFDD|fdd000115}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/157}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/157}}
 +
|released=1985
 
}}
 
}}
 
:''This article is about the generic IFF metaformat. For the IFF '''image format''', see [[ILBM]].''
 
:''This article is about the generic IFF metaformat. For the IFF '''image format''', see [[ILBM]].''
  
−
'''IFF''' (Interchange File Format) is a file format introduced by Electronic Arts on the Commodore Amiga computer. Its structure is similar to [[RIFF]] or [[PNG]], using various self-contained chunks to contain different data. Multi-byte numeric values are [[Endianness|big-endian]]. The original version, released in 1985, is sometimes known as '''IFF 85'''.
+
'''IFF''' ('''Interchange File Format''') is a general-purpose binary file format introduced by Electronic Arts on the Commodore Amiga computer in 1985. It is sometimes known as '''IFF 85'''.
  
−
Although ''IFF'' is most commonly used as an image format (using the file extension <code>.iff</code>), it can actually hold a lot of different data types. Some examples of IFF files are
+
== Format details ==
−
*[[ILBM]] Interleaved bitmap image
+
An IFF file is composed of elements called "chunks". Each chunk consists of a 4-byte type identifier (represented by four ASCII characters), a 4-byte length, and the chunk's payload data. Some types of chunks contain a sequence of nested chunks. Multi-byte numeric values are [[Endianness|big-endian]].
−
*[[XMI (Extended MIDI)|XMI]] XMidi music files
+
 
−
*[[8-Bit Sampled Voice|8SVX]] audio sample data
+
IFF defines a number of standard chunks types. Additional types are invented as needed by IFF-based formats.
−
*[[Propellerhead Reason NN-XT Patch File|SX2]] Propellerhead Reason NN-XT patches
+
 
−
*[[ANIM]]
+
Of particular significance is chunk type <code>FORM</code>. Most IFF-based files are formatted as a single <code>FORM</code> chunk. A <code>FORM</code> chunk's data contains a four-byte "FORM type" code, indicating the data type, followed by a sequence of nested chunks.
−
Some other formats are largely or heavily influenced by the IFF standard, but are not compatible. These include, for example:
+
 
−
*Erlang [[BEAM]] compiled modules: Uses 4 byte alignment instead of 2 byte, and the root chunk has a different ID (<code>FOR1</code> instead of <code>FORM</code>)
+
An IFF-based format whose FORM type is ''xxxx'' might be referred to as "FORM ''xxxx''". FORM types may also be used as filename extensions.
−
*Microsoft's [[RIFF]] and [[RIFX]] formats are based on IFF (RIFF uses [[Endianness|little-endian]] byte order instead, and the root chunk is called <code>RIFF</code> instead of <code>FORM</code>)
+
−
*Apple's [[AIFF]] and [[AIFC]] formats are similar to IFF/RIFF as well
+
−
*[[Maya IFF]]
+
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
−
Most IFF files begin with the ASCII characters "<code>FORM</code>". There are also aggregate formats that begin with "<code>LIST</code>" or "<code>CAT&nbsp;</code>".
+
Most IFF files begin with the ASCII characters "<code>FORM</code>". The file type is then indicated by the 4-byte ASCII code beginning at offset 8.
  
−
==Resources==
+
There are also aggregate formats that begin with "<code>LIST</code>" or "<code>CAT&nbsp;</code>".
 +
 
 +
== IFF-based formats ==
 +
Formats based on IFF include:
 +
* [[ILBM]]: Bitmap image
 +
* [[8-Bit Sampled Voice|8SVX]]: Audio sample data
 +
* [[ANIM]]
 +
 
 +
See [[:Category:IFF based file formats]] for more.
 +
 
 +
== Variant formats ==
 +
Some other formats are largely or heavily influenced by the IFF standard, but are not compatible. These include, for example:
 +
* Erlang [[BEAM]] compiled modules: Uses 4 byte alignment instead of 2 byte, and the root chunk has a different ID (<code>FOR1</code> instead of <code>FORM</code>)
 +
* Microsoft's [[RIFF]] and [[RIFX]] formats are based on IFF (RIFF uses [[Endianness|little-endian]] byte order instead, and the root chunk is called <code>RIFF</code> instead of <code>FORM</code>)
 +
* Apple's [[AIFF]] and [[AIFC]] formats are similar to IFF/RIFF as well
 +
* [[Maya IFF]]
 +
 
 +
== Specifications ==
 
* [http://www.martinreddy.net/gfx/2d/IFF.txt The original EA spec] ([http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/ea.iff Another copy at textfiles.com])
 
* [http://www.martinreddy.net/gfx/2d/IFF.txt The original EA spec] ([http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/ea.iff Another copy at textfiles.com])
 +
 +
== Links ==
 
* [http://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/IFF_FORM_and_Chunk_Registry IFF chunk registry], defining all known chunks
 
* [http://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/IFF_FORM_and_Chunk_Registry IFF chunk registry], defining all known chunks
 
* [http://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/IFF_Source_Code IFF Source Code]
 
* [http://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/IFF_Source_Code IFF Source Code]
 
* [http://rewiki.regengedanken.de/wiki/.IFF REWiki: .IFF]
 
* [http://rewiki.regengedanken.de/wiki/.IFF REWiki: .IFF]
−
* [http://www.fileformat.info/format/iff/egff.htm IFF File Format Summary]
+
* {{EGFF|iff|IFF File Format Summary}}, from the [[Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats]]
 
* [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/admusfmt.pro 1994 "advanced music formats" discussion that covers some IFF formats]
 
* [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/admusfmt.pro 1994 "advanced music formats" discussion that covers some IFF formats]
 
* [http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-spec16/ IBM developerWorks: The Interchange File Format]
 
* [http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-spec16/ IBM developerWorks: The Interchange File Format]
 +
* [http://sandervanderburg.blogspot.com/2012/06/iff-file-format-experiments.html IFF file format experiments]
  
 
[[Category:IFF based file formats]]
 
[[Category:IFF based file formats]]

Revision as of 13:02, 15 February 2015

File Format
Name IFF
Ontology
Extension(s) .iff, many others
LoCFDD fdd000115
PRONOM x-fmt/157
Released 1985
This article is about the generic IFF metaformat. For the IFF image format, see ILBM.

IFF (Interchange File Format) is a general-purpose binary file format introduced by Electronic Arts on the Commodore Amiga computer in 1985. It is sometimes known as IFF 85.

Contents

Format details

An IFF file is composed of elements called "chunks". Each chunk consists of a 4-byte type identifier (represented by four ASCII characters), a 4-byte length, and the chunk's payload data. Some types of chunks contain a sequence of nested chunks. Multi-byte numeric values are big-endian.

IFF defines a number of standard chunks types. Additional types are invented as needed by IFF-based formats.

Of particular significance is chunk type FORM. Most IFF-based files are formatted as a single FORM chunk. A FORM chunk's data contains a four-byte "FORM type" code, indicating the data type, followed by a sequence of nested chunks.

An IFF-based format whose FORM type is xxxx might be referred to as "FORM xxxx". FORM types may also be used as filename extensions.

Identification

Most IFF files begin with the ASCII characters "FORM". The file type is then indicated by the 4-byte ASCII code beginning at offset 8.

There are also aggregate formats that begin with "LIST" or "CAT ".

IFF-based formats

Formats based on IFF include:

See Category:IFF based file formats for more.

Variant formats

Some other formats are largely or heavily influenced by the IFF standard, but are not compatible. These include, for example:

  • Erlang BEAM compiled modules: Uses 4 byte alignment instead of 2 byte, and the root chunk has a different ID (FOR1 instead of FORM)
  • Microsoft's RIFF and RIFX formats are based on IFF (RIFF uses little-endian byte order instead, and the root chunk is called RIFF instead of FORM)
  • Apple's AIFF and AIFC formats are similar to IFF/RIFF as well
  • Maya IFF

Specifications

Links

Retrieved from "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=IFF&oldid=21042"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox