Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2013 January 9

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January 9

Filename extensions

Let's say I have created a new program that relies on its own unique file format. What prevents others from storing a different kind of information in that format, using the same extension? Is there some international computing body that controls and regulates extensions? And, as a further question, what will happen when all 18,279 possible extensions are taken? Pokajanje|Talk 00:37, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Regarding the limit, you can have more than 3 characters in them, as in *.mpeg files. StuRat (talk) 00:45, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Indeed, given that formats do tend to follow a predictable, known pattern, you don’t even need to rely on an extension to identify them. ¦ Reisio (talk) 01:27, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

There’s nothing actually enforcing what each specific extension is for (which is why you can and will find overlaps), but by making a little effort to pick something unique will help it become popular enough to be the only associated format. At some point you might also look into an RFC. ¦ Reisio (talk) 01:27, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Filename extension#Improvements has some examples of overlaps. There is also the vague .bin which usually just means a binary file – that doesn't say much about the actual format. PrimeHunter (talk) 04:00, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

List of file formats (alphabetical) shows a lot of overlaps, though also, surprisingly, a lot of unassigned three-letter extensions. -- BenRG (talk) 16:57, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

random note: as one may notice, files often have incorrect extensions; this is particularly the case in graphics files, where windows dosn't seem to notice or care, but Irfanview (just an example because that's what I use) for instance comes up with the info that blahblah.jpg is actually a .bmp file and do you want it to correct the extension? Gzuckier (talk) 03:43, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

Best shareware/freeware program for .swf or flash audio download

Hi all. I am pulling out my hair over here on trying to find a good program for downloading or even identifying the audio part of a flash presentation online. I have tried URL Snooper and also Freecorder the URL Snooper is great at iding some of the flash items but not really downloading them nor getting the needle out of the haystack, Freecorder seems to work great on downloading youtube and other wav or mpeg audio but seems not to even recognize flash audio. I have always understood that flash was very difficult to download or save but that was years ago, any editor knows of a freeware/shareware program that can do the trick? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: or even a program that simply records any computer audio "closed circuit" (I realize you could always play the file or program and then have several apps record the sounds coming from the computer on the computer through the air but that degrades the recording. ^{Market St.⧏} _{⧐ Diamond Way} 03:20, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

You could try http://swftools.org/, or possibly http://jackaudio.org/jack_on_windows. If the audio isn’t embedded within the SWF, you could try http://www.downloadhelper.net/. ¦ Reisio (talk) 03:30, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for the helpful suggestions Reisio I will try them out! ^{Market St.⧏} _{⧐ Diamond Way} 06:19, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

Firefox browser crashing

I usually use Google Chrome, but swap occasionally (usually after a crash) and have been using Firefox the last week or so and very recently updated it to Ver. 17.0.1. However I am finding that it crashes without warning. Chrome at least says "I've stopped responding, wanna restart?" or words to that effect. Firefox is just 'bang', gone, and then a window about restarting the browser comes up.

My OS is Windows 7, Home Premium, 32 bit, Ver 6.1, Build 7600.
PC is Toshiba laptop, Intel Core i3, 4Gb ram (2,7 Gb useable). I usually hibernate it rather than switch off, and notice that my Memory Usage, as measured by Task Manager/Performance tab, keeps slowly going up, from about 900 Mb in use on re-boot, to about 2.5 Gb at the moment.

Is this a known problem? - 220 of ^Borg 15:35, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Since they only recently went to a whole number upgrade, I would expect some issues until the first incremental upgrade to, for example, 17.1. I expect that of all software going to the next whole number though. Not just Firefox. Dismas|^(talk) 16:04, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Also, they're up to version 18 now. So you might want to try that if 17 is giving you problems. Dismas|^(talk) 16:10, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes, and if that doesn’t do it, go back to 16. ¦ Reisio (talk) 16:34, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Further question about connection problems

I recently wrote about problems with connections to Wikipedia. I now just found out that at the same time when I'm now rarely able to edit Wikipedia, editing WikiMedia Commons isn't working. And I'm not even trying to upload a file, only edit the description of a file that was already uploaded. What could be causing this? JIP | Talk 19:27, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Link to previous descriptions of problems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Archives/Computing/2013_January_2#Persistent_connection_problems

JIP, you haven't given us enough info to help diagnose the problem. If you are able to edit, which options to you have for editing, which are functioning and which are not? Are you located in Finland now or somewhere else? What kind of device and connection are you using, and do you have alternative options? --NorwegianBlue ^talk 22:31, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

I think he is located in Finland, as he is referring to Elisa Kotiboxi. I found some instructions for accessing the settings of the modem here (in Finnish), but the available settings seem pretty limited, and don't seem to provide the option of putting the modem in "bridged mode", like I previously suggested. Have you tried contacting the ISP's helpdesk? They provide basic troubleshooting for free, and have tools to check the "health" of your connection (be warned though that they might want to offer you paid in-person assistance also, which you can decline.) --hydrox (talk) 07:37, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

I wonder if something is happening too. I've had some weird issues that resolve when page caches are purged. It's subtle, and small, and I don't have enough information of a problem to submit a bug report, but if anyone else is perhaps it should be. Shadowjams (talk) 08:31, 10 January 2013 (UTC)

I simply rebooted my ADSL modem. So far that seems to have helped, but I'll have to do further tests to be sure. JIP | Talk 18:17, 12 January 2013 (UTC)