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Different programs store information in different formats, the format is indicated by the extension to the file name, which is usually 3 characters (but in some cases can be 2 or 4 characters also). For e.g. a text file may be stored in a .docx or a .odt or a .txt format, a music file may be in a .wav or a .mp3 or a .ogg format. Y''<nowiki/>''ou may have a need to convert a file from one format to another, to use it. A video that plays on your computer may not play on your DVD player, or a music clip that plays on your computer may not play on your mobile phone. You may also want to convert a document from a closedfo 

Different programs store information in different formats. The format is indicated by the extension to the file name, which is usually 3 characters (but in some cases can be 2 or 4 characters also). For e.g. a text file may be stored in a .docx or a .odt or a .txt format, a music file may be in a .wav or a .mp3 or a .ogg format.  

 

''<nowiki/>''

===Objectives===

===Objectives===

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to

# know about open and closed file formats

# know about open and closed file formats

# publish your OER in open formats and convert a document to an open format.  

# publish your OER in open formats and convert a document to an open format.  

=== Open and closed formats ===

=== Open and closed formats ===

Some formats are ‘open’ while others are ‘closed’. An [https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format open format] is a "''file format for storing digital data, defined by a published specification usually maintained by a standards organization, and which can be used and implemented by anyone, whereas a non-open or closed format may not be possible to be implemented by anyone other than the vendor"'' (Source - https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format). Open formats should be preferred for OER, since they share the underlying rationale of being used/usable by anyone. Hence, you may want to convert your file from a closed format to an open format.  

Some formats are ‘open’ while others are ‘closed’. An [https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format open format] is a "''file format for storing digital data, defined by a published specification usually maintained by a standards organization, and which can be used and implemented by anyone, whereas a non-open or closed format may not be possible to be implemented by anyone other than the vendor"'' (Source - https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_format). Open formats should be preferred for OER, since they share the underlying rationale of being used/usable by anyone. Hence, you may want to convert your file from a closed format to an open format.  

Open and closed formats for the different OER you have learnt is provided in table below:

 

Open and closed formats for the different OER you have learnt is provided in table below

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|'''No'''

|'''No'''

|mpeg4

|mpeg4

|}

|}

=== Converting text files (LibreOffice) ===

=== Converting text files (LibreOffice) ===

The formats that LibreOffice saves files in, conform to the ‘[[wikipedia:OpenDocument|Open Document Format]]’ for text (odt or open document text), spreadsheet (ods or open document spreadsheet), and presentation (odp or open document presentation). You can convert a document which is in another format into these formats by simply opening the document in LibreOffice and then using <u>File → Save As</u> to save in these open formats.  

The default formats that LibreOffice saves files in, conform to the ‘[[wikipedia:OpenDocument|Open Document Format]]’ for text (odt or open document text), spreadsheet (ods or open document spreadsheet), and presentation (odp or open document presentation). You can convert a document which is in another format into these formats by simply opening the document in LibreOffice and then using <u>File → Save As</u> to save in these open formats.  

LibreOffice Writer can open a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office Microsoft Office] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Word Word]  document, in a doc or docx format. It can edit this file and 'save as' a odt file. It also lets you save it as a doc or docx file.  Similarly LibreOffice Calc lets you open a Microsoft Office [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Excel 'Excel']  'xls' file and save it as an 'ods' file.  LibreOffice Impress lets you open  a  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint 'PowerPoint'] 'ppt file and save it as a 'odp' file. You can thus use LibreOffice to convert files in text formats.

LibreOffice Writer can open a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office Microsoft Office] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Word Word]  document, in a doc or docx format. It can edit this file and 'save as' a odt file. It also lets you save it as a doc or docx file.  Similarly LibreOffice Calc lets you open a Microsoft Office [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Excel 'Excel']  'xls' file and save it as an 'ods' file.  LibreOffice Impress lets you open  a  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint 'PowerPoint'] 'ppt file and save it as a 'odp' file. You can thus use LibreOffice to convert files in text formats.