Resource Forks

Explanation

A file's resource fork contains various bits of information about a file, including creation and modification date, and what application should be used to open the file.

Unlike Windows, which uses file extensions to identify file types and default programs for accessing each file type, the classic Mac OS relies on individual resource forks for this information.

You can use ResEdit or FileTyper to create and edit resource forks. FileTyper is mostly for working with Type and Creator codes. ResEdit can modify any part of a file's resource fork.

File Type and Creator Codes

Known file types are listed below. Please add to this list!

Note: Type and Creator codes are case-sensitive!

Archive and Encoding

`File`	`Type`	`Creator`	`Application`
`BIN`	`BINA`	`SITx`	`StuffIt`
`HQX`	`TEXT`	`SITx`	`StuffIt`
`SIT`	`SIT5`	`SIT!`	`StuffIt`
`ZIP`	`ZIP`	`SIT!`	`StuffIt or MacZip`

Disk Images

`File`	`Type`	`Creator`	`Application`
`SMI`	`APPL`	`oneb`	`OS Native`
`IMG`	`dImg`	`dCpy`	`Disk Copy 4`
`IMG`	`dImg`	`ddsk`	`Disk Copy 6`
`DSK`	`dimg`	`ddsk`	`Disk Copy`

Documents

`File`	`Type`	`Creator`	`Application`
`Read Me`	`ttro`	`ttxt`	`SimpleText`
`TXT`	`TEXT`	`ttxt`	`SimpleText`
`PDF`	`PDF`	`CARO`	`Adobe Acrobat`
`Document`	`CWWP`	`BOBO`	`AppleWorks 5`