Share this page

# Data format and MIME types

In the Administration Console, you can add and manage data formats and MIME types for Dimensions CM request and item types.

In this topic:

## About data format and MIME types

Define data formats and MIME types and assign them to Dimensions CM request and item types:

- To compel users to select from assigned formats when creating items of a particular type.

- To determine how the Dimensions CM desktop client and web client display requests or item files.

- To specify MIME types for the Dimensions CM web client.

If a data format is not assigned to a particular item type, you can use any format when you create an item, including formats that have not been defined.

If a data format is not registered, Dimensions CM assumes it to be of the BINARY type. Because binary files do not undergo end-of-line translation when moving from one operating system to another, it is important to plan and manage this information.

In the Data Format and MIME Types section of the Administration Console, you can:

- View the data formats and Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) types registered in the base database.

- Filter the list of data formats and MIME types based on user-defined criteria.

- Create (register) a new data format and MIME type.

- Edit an existing data format and MIME type.

- Delete a data format and MIME type.

- Assign item types to a data format and list the current assignments.

Required roles and privileges:

- To work with data format and MIME types, you need the Manage File Format Definition privilege.

- Only the Tool Manager can define data formats and MIME types, and only a Product Manager can assign them to item types.

To open the Data Format and MIME Types section, go to Administration Console > Configuration Object Management > Data format & MIME types. For details, see Data Format and MIME Types main window.

Back to top

## File classes

The file class specifies the way in which the data of a file is encoded.

For example, for the Dimensions CM desktop client, this value determines the mode in which item files are transferred between the client and the server. If you do not intend to use the desktop client, you may accept the default value, ASCII.

Dimensions CM includes the following file classes:

- ASCII

- BINARY

- MAC (Macintosh)

- VMS

- Windows

The classes are hard-coded and cannot be modified. All items that do not have a class of ASCII are transferred between Dimensions CM clients and servers in binary mode.

Back to top

## MIME types

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) type is an internationally defined data format. MIME types and subtypes are allocated by the Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA). The Dimensions CM web client uses these values to determine how to display a Dimensions CM request or item's content in a browser.

If you do not intend to use the Dimensions CM web client, you may not set a MIME type, in which case a default MIME type is used. But we recommend that you make a relevant choice from the available types.

MIME types comprise several broad categories. Each category has subtypes, defined by using a separator. For details, see MIME subtypes.

Common examples of MIME types are text/plain, text/html, application/msword and application/pdf.

The following table describes the MIME type categories.

Category | Description
--- | ---
text | Used to describe text of various types.
multipart | Indicates that the file contains multiple sections with potentially more than one MIME type.
message | Used for various types of messages.
application | A catchall description allowing for miscellaneous types of files.
image | Used for graphic files.
audio | Used for audio files.
video | Used for video files.
model | Multimedia modeling.

Back to top

## MIME subtypes

The MIME subtypes are subdivisions of the basic categories. The following table provides a list of the MIME subtypes.

Type | Subtypes
--- | ---
text | enriched | plain | html
richtext | sgml | tab-separated-values
vnd.fmi.flexstor | vnd.latex-z |
multipart | alternative | appledouble | byteranges
digest | encrypted | form-data
header-set | mixed | parallel
related | report | signed
voice-message |  |
message | external-body | http | news
partial | rfc822 |
application | activemessage | andrew-inset | applefile
atomicmail | cals-1840 | commonground
cybercash | dca-rft | dec-dx
eshop | hyperstudio | iges
mac-binhex40 | macwriteii | mathematica
msword | news-message-id | news-transmission
octet-stream | oda | pdf
pgp-encrypted | pgp-keys | pgp-signature
postscript | prs.alvestrand.titrax-sheet | prs.nprend
remote-printing | riscos | rtf
set-payment | set-payment-initiation | set-registration
set-registration-initiation | sgml | sgml-open-catalog
slate | vemmi | vnd.$commerce_battelle
vnd.businessobjects | vnd.ecdis-update | vnd.enliven
vnd.fdf | vnd.FloGraphIt | vnd.framemaker
vnd.hp-HPGL | vnd.hp-PCL | vnd.hp-PCLXL
vnd.ibm.MiniPay | vnd.intercon .formnet | vnd.intertrust.digibox
vnd.intertrust.nncp | vnd.japannet-directory-service | vnd.japannet-jpnstore-wakeup
vnd.japannet-payment-wakeup | vnd.japannet-registration | vnd.japannet-registration-wakeup
vnd.japannet-setstore-wakeup | vnd.japannet-verification | vnd.japannet-verification-wakeup
vnd.koan | vnd.lotus-1-2-3 | vnd.lotus-approach
vnd.lotus-freelance | vnd.lotus-organizer | vnd.lotus-screencam
vnd. lotus-wordpro | vnd.meridian-slingshot | vnd.mif
vnd.ms-artgalry | vnd.ms-asf | vnd.ms-excel
vnd.ms-powerpoint | vnd.ms-project | vnd.ms-tnef
vnd.ms-works | vnd.musician | vnd.music-niff
vnd.noblenet-directory | vnd.noblenet-sealer | vnd.noblenet-web
vnd.osa.netdeploy | vnd.powerbuilder6 | vnd.powerbuilder6-s
vnd.rapid | vnd.seemail | vnd.shana.informed.formdata
vnd.shana.informed. formtemplate | vnd.shana.informed. interchange | vnd.shana.informed.package
vnd.street-stream | vnd.svd | vnd.truedoc
vnd.webturbo | vnd.xara | wita
wordperfect5.1 | x400-bp | zip
image | cgm | g3fax | gif
ief | jpeg | naplps
png | tiff | vnd.dwg
vnd.dxf | vnd.fpx | vnd.net-fpx
vnd.svf |  |
audio | 32kadpcm | basic | vnd.qcelp
video | mpeg | quicktime | vnd.motorola.video
vnd.motorola.videop | vnd.vivo |
model | iges | mesh | vrml

Back to top

See also:

- Data Format and MIME Types main window
- Create and manage data formats

https://admhelp.microfocus.com Dimensions CM 8942
Tips to improve your search results... Dimensions CM Help Center CM Help 14.7 All View Local Help Center View Online Help Center Version: