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APH Repository File Extensions/Types

The APH File Repository contains an assortment of file types including:

1. Publisher text files
2. Ready-to-emboss braille files
3. Braille production files

1. Publisher text files

• These are plain ASCII files or word processor files.
• Some of these files have markup.
  • Some transcribers use markup and find it helpful to identify pages, subheadings, etc. using the "find" feature of their word processor.
  • Others discard markup and do all work manually.
• Import options are available in Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT), MegaDots, and ED-IT PC/Braille 2000. (See software documentation for importing options and instructions.)

2. Ready-to-emboss braille files

• Braille files ready to be embossed with embosser utilities, such as DOS copy command, PokaDot em.exe program, or Duxbury's Embossit.
• Embosser must be configured to match file data.
• When imported into some braille production programs like Duxbury Braille Translator, ED-IT PC/Braille 2000, or MegaDots, these files may change format and page layout.
• APH braille files are 25 lines by 38 cells. Other agencies braille files are generally 25 lines by 40 cells but other configurations exist.

3. Braille production files

• Files that have been produced by specific braille production software. These are best edited and embossed through the original software, such as DBT, ED-IT PC/Braille 2000, or MegaDots.
• Production software may import files produced by different software with varying results.
• Most production software is capable of producing ready-to-emboss files.

The following is a list of programs to use with the various file types. (To view this information in table form, see Table 1-1 below)

ABT = ED-IT PC/Braille 2000 Annotated Braille File
Should be used with ED-IT PC or Braille 2000.

ASC = ASCII File
ASCII braille files should be used with an embossing utility, but can also be used with ED-IT PC or Duxbury.
ASCII text files can be used with ED-IT PC/Braille 2000, Duxbury, or MegaDots.

BRF = Duxbury ASCII-Braille File
Should be used with an embossing utility, but can also be used with ED-IT PC/Braille 2000 (if there are no missing lines in the pages), Duxbury, Microbraille, MegaDots, or Pokadot.

DOC = Microsoft Word File or WordPerfect File
Can be used with Duxbury (only if it is a Word Perfect, Word 6.0/95 or Word 97 file) or MegaDots.

DXP = Duxbury Print File
Can be used with ED-IT PC/Braille 2000 or Duxbury.

MEG = MegaDots Braille File
Can be used with MegaDots.

RTF = Microsoft Rich Text Print File
Can be used with ED-IT PC/Braille 2000 or MegaDots. Also with Duxbury if it is imported into Word and changed into a .DOC file before opening it in Duxbury.

WP5 = WordPerfect File
Can be used with Duxbury and MegaDots.

Table 1-1

1 Definitions of File Extensions/Types:
ABT = ED-IT PC/Braille 2000 Annotated Braille File
ACN = PokaDot ASCII-Braille file
ASC = ASCII File
BFM = Megadots ASCII-Braille File
BRF = Duxbury ASCII-Braille File
BRL = MicroBraille (Non-ASCII-Braille) File
DOC = Microsoft Word File or WordPerfect File
DXB = Duxbury Braille File
DXP = Duxbury Print File
ICADD-22 = International Committee on Accessible Document Design File (uses 22 SGML codes) (not a file extension but a file type)
MEG = MegaDots Print/Braille File
POK = Pokadot Braille File
RTF = Microsoft Rich Text Print File
TXT = Generic ASCII Print File
WP5 = WordPerfect File
WPD = WordPerfect File

2 Must have complete pages throughout (no missing lines in pages).

3 Handles very well if they use standard styles only.

4 ASCII braille files are handled fine. Print files cannot be edited by ED-IT PC/Braille 2000. You cannot view the print directly. These types can be inserted and automatically become Grade 2 braille (Only with Edit-PC with translation option.)

5 WordPerfect 6.1 only. New versions are not supported.

6 Only if it is an older Microbraille file and a converter is used. Newer Microbraille files are not supported.

7 Only if it is a Word Perfect, Word 6.0/95 or Word 97 file.

8 This will only work if it is imported into Word and changed into a .DOC file before opening in Duxbury.

Contact Information for Braille Software Companies

Duxbury Braille Translator, MegaDots, and Embossit
Duxbury Systems, Inc.
270 Littleton Rd., Unit 6
Westford, MA 01886-3523
Tel: 978-692-3000 Fax: 978-692-7912
www.duxsys.com

ED-IT PC/Braille 2000
Computer Application Specialties Company
P.O. Box 22219
Lincoln, NE 68542-2219
Tel: 402-423-4782 Fax: 402-423-5154
http://www.ets.org/testcoll/

Pokadot
National Braille Association
3 Townline Circle
Rochester, NY 14623-2513
Tel: 716-427-8260 Fax: 716-427-0263
E-mail: nbaoffice@nationalbraille.orgm

Download it free from www.braille-pokadot.com/

Special thanks to Warren Figueiredo and Susan Christensen
for taking the time to compile much of this data.

©2004, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.