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Writing a File Format Specification

If you are going to write a graphics file format specification, the first thing to do is to make a list of the types of information you are going to store. Then make a second list, of all the auxiliary data a program will need in order to render the data you wrote down in the first list. Get the picture? In compiling the second list, you'll almost certainly find that you forgot something in the first--and vice versa.

The next thing to do is to look at all the format specifications like yours and notice where the writers went astray. Now go back and fix up your list. Now iterate. This is an exercise in honesty, intelligence, and diligence. Nobody--and we mean nobody--has gotten it right yet. Maybe you'll be the first.

Suggestions for Writing Specs

When you read through your pile of format specifications you'll find out that no two are alike (unless they are written by the government or military--in that case they are all alike). And you will discover that most are poorly written and quite complex as well. How can you avoid making the same mistake? Here are a few suggestions.

Examples of some well-written format specs that we've encountered include TGA, TIFF, PNG, EPSF, and PostScript.

We've also found that some specs are well-written, but contain so much extraneous information that they are overly complex and too tedious to read. Most government and military formats are in this group, as are those created by committee; examples in this category are CALS, NITF, NAPLPS, IGES, GKS, and CGM.

And finally, format specs such as PCX, GIF, JFIF, and Sun Raster definitely fall into the "don't let this happen to you" category.

Suggestions for Good Technical Writing

Here are a few, more general, guidelines on good technical writing:


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