Choosing the right extension for the application

Question

I am working on an application that runs on both Windows and Mac. The application allows users to save their work to a file, and then upload it back to the application - like Word, Excel, etc.

What issues should be considered when choosing the appropriate file extension for a file?

So far, I am using http://filext.com/ to make sure that I do not select an extension that is already in use.

Answer 1

The 3-character limit no longer exists on Windows, so I would suggest using a longer extension, which will immediately make it clear that this is for your application. For instance. Suppose your application is called StreetBuilder, just use the .streetbuilder extension.

Beware of version issues. After a few years, you can change your file format due to the new functionality of the application. Do not be tempted to change the file format and file extensions (because in the end you get extensions such as .streetbuilder2, .streetbuilder3, ...). Instead, stick with a sequential extension (.streetbuilder) and specify the version number at the beginning of the file contents.

, , - ( , StreetBuilder): "STREETBUILDERV01" , , , .

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