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Details for: Microsoft Internet Shortcut

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Summary
Name Microsoft Internet Shortcut
Version  
Other names  
Identifiers MIME:  text/plain
PUID:  x-fmt/454
Family  
Classification Text (Structured)
Disclosure Full
Description The Microsoft Internet Shortcut format (URL file format) is built upon a plain text file and adopts an "INI" or configuration file style 'section + key-pair' format, to provide machine-readable structure to describe a method of accessing a web page or website. The format enables the encapsulation of the information needed to connect to a website in a file-based object, which can be distributed or saved elsewhere on the user's hard-disk, for example, in enabling bookmarking of web-sites as a user's favorites. The Microsoft Internet Shortcut format included features such as hotkey instructions, allowing users to make use of a combination of keys on a keyboard to launch a website. The association of the '*.url' file-format extension with a web-browser application enabled double-clicking of the file object to launch a website.
Orientation Text
Byte order  
Related file formats None.
Technical Environment  
Released  
Supported until  
Format Risk  
Developed by Microsoft Corporation
Supported by Microsoft Corporation
Source Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Source date 06 Apr 2009
Source description Digital preservation research. Contains URL of network resource. Specific to MS Windows operating environment. Although this kind of file is not useful as a preservation target, it is important to identify it so it can be characterized as ephemeral data.; 04/2024 (v.118): Description and links added as part of PRONOM Research Week 2023. Submitted by Ross Spencer.
Last updated 17 Apr 2024
Note https://web.archive.org/web/20120906134656/http://www.fmtz.com/formats/url-file-format/article
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