What do I need to know about file formats in order to transfer files?

When you are transferring a file from one computer to another, you need to know what format the file is in:

• Is it ASCII or binary? Images, music, video, spreadsheets, and word-processing documents are binary files, while HTML documents and text files are typically ASCII. Some FTP software will automatically download ASCII and binary files correctly, but sometimes you will need to specify the file type. Consult the documentation for your software or the references in the "Also see:" section below.
  
  
• If it has been compressed or is an archive of several files, you'll need to know what program was used so you can uncompress ("unarchive") it. Examples of compression formats include zip (.zip), StuffIt (.sit), GNU Zip (.gz), and tar (.tar). For more information, see What are compressed or archived files, and how do I open them?

Also see:

• When using FTP, why might programs and files fail to transfer properly?
• What is BinHex, and how can I decode a BinHex (.hqx) file?
• In Mac OS and Mac OS X, how do I encode a file in MacBinary format?
• What is MacBinary, and how can I decode it?
• What are some common FTP commands?
• What is FTP, and how do I use it to transfer files?
• In Netscape Messenger and Netscape 7, how do I send attached files?
• In IU Webmail, how do I use attachments?
• What is SFTP, and how do I use it?