DP document's file extension?

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Chao
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DP document's file extension?

Post by Chao »

What is DP document's file extension? I uploaded a project file to a sever (probably linux OS), but after I downloaded it to my Mac, DP can't open the files. I guessed it has something to do with the file extension, for example Sibelius document has .sib in the end of the file name.

Any idea?
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wurliuchi
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by wurliuchi »

Hey, I never even thought about what file extension DP has, and I don't even know how to find out. But can you just go to Get Info for that file and tell it to open it with DP? Will that work?
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martian
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by martian »

i usually zip sh!t before ftping it - habit formed with sd2 droppin to bits on the way to anywhere..
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James Steele
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by James Steele »

Chao wrote:What is DP document's file extension? I uploaded a project file to a sever (probably linux OS), but after I downloaded it to my Mac, DP can't open the files. I guessed it has something to do with the file extension, for example Sibelius document has .sib in the end of the file name.

Any idea?
Yes... I think there's still some resource fork stuff that goes on with Mac files that gets lost when FTP'd up to your typical Linux web host. ALWAYS ZIP the file or folder first. (Ctrl + Click on the file and choose "Archive"). This will preserve that info so the person on the other end will have no problem opening it once they download it to their Mac ad unzip it.
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Mr. Quimper
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by Mr. Quimper »

Everything I've seen in the finder just says "digital performer document" - the normal get info method of showing the file extension doesn't provide anything that I can tell. I was just looking at this today and wondering the same thing!
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dp-user
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by dp-user »

Chao wrote:What is DP document's file extension? I uploaded a project file to a sever (probably linux OS), but after I downloaded it to my Mac, DP can't open the files. I guessed it has something to do with the file extension, for example Sibelius document has .sib in the end of the file name.
As others have mentioned, you definitely to not want to upload DP project files via FTP (or SFTP or scp or other means like that) without first creating an archive out of them, for the resource fork issue.

However, to answer your question, DP (since version 5, I believe, or maybe even 4.5?) supports the filename extension ".perf". But like others have said, just setting the extension and uploading the file (via FTP or whatever) will result in loss of the resource fork, so some information will not transfer over (for example, I know DP stores aliases to soundbites in the resource fork). It may work for some stuff, and DP may be able to re-link the files even without the aliases, but you're playing it risky by doing so. Creating an archive from the file is the way to go...
carrythebanner
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by carrythebanner »

DP documents don't have a file extension, just Mac type/creator codes.

What is the Mac file type and creator for Digital Performer files?
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dp-user
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by dp-user »

carrythebanner wrote:DP documents don't have a file extension, just Mac type/creator codes.
By default, yes. But DP does support the filename extension ".perf". You can look in the application Info.plist and see, if you need to verify this.
carrythebanner
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Re: DP document's file extension?

Post by carrythebanner »

dp-user wrote:By default, yes. But DP does support the filename extension ".perf". You can look in the application Info.plist and see, if you need to verify this.
Oh, I'd always assumed that using .perf was an ad-hoc end-user thing; I didn't realize the extension was supported by the app. (".prf" is also apparently supported, in addition to ".perf".) Thanks.
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