Not all file formats are open. If a file format requires specialty software to open or read, especially if the software costs money, then it is not open. The file format should also be machine readable to help with accessibility and ease of use.
Some examples of open file formats include:
- .csv/.tsv: these are common file formats for graphs which are easily machine readable.
- .csv files are charts with commas separating the different values, and .tsv files are charts with tabs separating the values.
- .txt: this is a type of text-based file format.
- They are often used for supporting documents that accompany a chart.
- Many datasets will use abbreviations for column titles, and having a document that explains what each column contains is incredibly helpful when interpreting data. It can also explain where and how the data was collected.
Some examples of closed file formats include:
- .doc/.docx: this file format requires access to Microsoft Word to edit, which is not a free software.
- .xls/xlsx: this file format requires access to Microsoft Excel to edit, which is not a free software.
- .pdf: these are usually readable by humans, and free to view, though they are not always readable by computers, so they are not completely open.
