Information on Types Of Files

On the CSMT Web site; teachers can download following five different types of files:

1. Braille
2. PDF
3. Audio
4. RTF
5. DAISY

1. Braille: The first type of electronic files is braille files of state adopted textbooks that are produced by transcribers. These are produced and sent to CSMT for a majority of state adopted textbooks, including many workbooks and study guides. Electronic braille files extensions are Braille 2000 Braille File bml , Annotated Braille Text File abt, ED-IT PC kind of ABT file abt, ASCII-Braille File acn, bfm, brf, or  txt, Micro Braille File brl, or Duxbury Braille File dxb. These Braille files can be opened and read using braille software such as Braille 2000, MegaDots or Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT). CSMT Braille ZIP file may also include title pages, and electronic tactile files in Adobe pdf , tiger tactile in Microsoft word or CorelDRAW image file in cdr format.
2. PDF: The second type of electronic files is Adobe PDF files. The PDF file can be opened and read using free Adobe reader. The PDF files can be used as Large Print format as the PDF files page can be enlarged using zoom in feature in Adobe reader. The CSMT PDF files are either Publisher submitted digital PDF files or Large Print Contractors submitted Large Print Ready scanned PDF files. The contractor PDF files fonts are already enlarge according to CSMT Large Print Materials production guidelines, and the PDF files are print ready for Large Print productions.
3. Audio: The third type of electronic files is Audio files.The CSMT Audio files are in MP3 format and can be played with any MP3 software in PC or Mac or on any other portable media devices that supports mp3.
4. RTF: The forth type of electronic files is rich text files (RTF), which come from the publisher and are unformatted text files (or raw text files). These files can be opened with most word processors (e.g. MS Word, WordPad, Notepad, etc.) and then read aloud with any screen reader, enlarged or converted to braille with other braille software. Many CSMT RTF files are converted from National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) files available on National Instructional Materials Access Center . repository to RTF file format.
5. DAISY: The fifth type of electronic files is Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) standard files. The CSMT DAISY files are DAISY 2.02 and DAISY 3 (ANSI/NISO Z39.86 specification for the Digital Talking Book) text with graphics files. DAISY files can be opened and played using any of the free (such as Adaptive Multimedia Information System (AMIS) or commercial DAISY players on the Computer, or many commercial portable DAISY player devices. The CSMT DAISY files may be played on DAISY Mobile Applications as well depending on mobile application specifications. More information about DAISY files is available on DAISY Consortium .

Note: All these files except Audio files are zipped and the end user needs zip software/utility to unzip them after they are downloaded. 

If you have any questions about the type of the files CSMT have in the repository, please contact Jonn Paris-Salb, Education Administrator by phone at 916-323-2202 or by e-mail at jparissalb@cde.ca.gov. For technical assistance, please contact Ravi Thakkar, Associate Information Systems Analyst, by phone at 916-323-4735 or by e-mail at rthakkar@cde.ca.gov.

 Last reviewed: Thursday, February 14, 2012