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Tool on a MAC
Hello,
I’m wondering if Mac users are running Droid the file format identification tool? It’s a free Java app from the UK national archives.
I’m in a digital preservation class and the professor has recommended it, however I think most of my work group is Mac-based. I’ve had problems trying to install Java on my Mac’s and get the GUI version of Droid to run. Any Mac folks using Droid?
Thanks for your time,
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3 Replies
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I cannot find Droid for Mac – the utility you are referring to. Please post the link, and I will try to tell you what to do.
bob Zelin
Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com -
do you mean this –
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/manage-information/preserving-digital-records/droid/then based on this –
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204036this is the link you need to get Java on your Mac –
https://www.java.com/en/Bob Zelin
Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com -
In the Unix world, we refer to that as the “magic” file and it’s been around for 50+ years.
If you want to determine what a file type is on Mac OS, try this:
file /path/to/file
In a Terminal. For example:$ file /Volumes/ArGest\ Cube/dislocated-boy-backing-track.mp4
/Volumes/ArGest Cube/dislocated-boy-backing-track.mp4: ISO Media, MP4 v2 [ISO 14496-14]No need for any other software unless the file is incredibly “esoteric”. And, since the /etc/magic file is simple text, you can add your own signatures as needed and maintain your own changes, or send them upstream to the maintainers to get it pushed out over time.
Tim
—
Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.tolisgroup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!
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