Date created: | Last Updated:

Category: Communication

Description: Based on a series of online workshops presented by the Open Preservation Foundation in 2017, this workshop that will equip participants with the tools required to submit new entries to PRONOM. Participants will learn the theory behind format signatures, how signatures are created, and how they are shared and used. Each of the workshop’s topics is explained through both lecture and demonstration. Participants engage directly in the signature development process through a series of hands-on activities, using a set of sample files provided by the workshop. Participants will examine these files with hex editors, compare their contents to existing specifications, create draft signatures in XML, and test them using format identification tools such as FIDO and Siegfried. Workshop leaders will also share strategies and resources on how to engage the wider community for assistance. The workshop will help participants gain practical skills in appraisal and analysis of digital files. This relevant real-world experience will help to foster a more knowledgeable user base and improve the the PRONOM registry. To close the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills using files from their own collections that are not identified in PRONOM tools. Instructors will be available to answer questions as participants explore their files.