FTP file and folder format glossary
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Ever wondered why we keep all the different files on the FTP and what they all mean? And what are all those folders? Here's a quick glossary...
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Main binary files:
media_*.rar: Main release file. Suffix indicates type of media:
- media_iso.rar ISO9660 image format. Contains only a single session, no copy protections. Often distributed originally by Microsoft.
- media_mdf.rar: Alcohol 120% image format. Supports all kind of tracks, even some copy protections. Also created and supported by Daemon Tools and DiscImageChef. Preferred optical disc format on BetaArchive!
- media_dic: DiscImageCreator fileset. Contains several formats (cue, bin, ccd) along with subchannel and metadata files. Requires specific optical drive brands and models to use. Preferred optical disc format on BetaArchive!
- media_mdx.rar: Same as media_mdf, but both .mdf and .mds file merged into single image file. Created by Daemon Tools, supported by Alcohol 120%.
- media_ccd.rar: CloneCD image format.
- media_bincue.rar: Multisession image file, originally created by CDRWin but supported by many tools. Supports multiple tracks.
- media_unpack.rar: Files that are a raw folder dump.
- media_img.rar: Raw floppy images. Supported by many tools like Winimage, Rawread, dd etc. Doesn't support custom sectors or copy protections.
- media_kf.rar: Kryoflux stream files. Contains track per track magnetic flux information for the entire floppy. Preferred floppy disk format on BetaArchive!
- media_encrypted.rar: Encrypted data file without any known decryption key. Kept for preservation in case decryption key or other decrypt methods are found.
Main artwork files:
artwork.rar: Contains all the scanned artwork for the release. Discs, floppies, boxcovers, media covers etc. All artwork is required to be scanned at
600dpi (or better) and saved as
PNG or TIF format.
Main documentation files:
documentation.rar: Contains all the scanned documentation for the release. As above, 600dpi (or better) and saved as PNG or TIF.
documentation_fix.rar: Contains scanned but unprocessed documentation.
Release support files:
extras_*.rar: Contains all kind of bonus materials and additional content and files:
- extras_patches.rar: Contains official patches for the release.
- extras_fixes.rar: Minor fixes and unofficial patches for the release.
- extras_bonus.rar: Bonus material for the release.
release_readme.txt: Contains extra information about the release, custom info by the leaker or special instructions.
release_license.txt: Contains license information about the release. Available only for freeware and beta releases, not for abandonware!
release_error.txt: Contains information about missing discs, corrupt data or missing content.
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Folders:
The folder structure is organised primarily by its type:
- (Abandonware)
- (Beta)
- (Media): Artwork, video and audio from ads, magazines etc.
- (Misc): Various official collection sets which can contain all of the above.
Within these folders the order is by brand primarily, for example
- Apple II
- Commodore Amiga
- Microsoft PocketPC
- PC
However some of these folders have additional suffix names:
- (AIX)
- (DOS)
- (Linux)
- (Windows)
They should all be pretty much self-explanatory,
(Abandonware) Applications\PC (DOS) are all abandonware applications for the Microsoft DOS/IBM PC DOS OS running on the PC architecture for example.
Finally, any of these can have one of these two final suffix folders:
- (Digital): Publishers can distribute their releases digitally on the web. The releases are all original and verified and should be tagged where they are from.
- (Downloads): Any non-original second hand download goes in this folder. These are all unverified and should be replaced as soon as possible. These releases are kept only for reference.
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This list will updated whenever there are changes to the FTP layout or additional information becomes available.