FORMATS FOR DIGITAL PRESERVATION: A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVES AND ISSUES Submitted By CENDI Digital Preservation Task Group Revised
---

Title: FORMATS FOR DIGITAL PRESERVATION: A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVES AND ISSUES

Section 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Description 1: Summarizes the review of alternative formats and the issues related to digital preservation.

Section 2: BACKGROUND
Description 2: Provides context on CENDI Members' interest in digital preservation formats and the factors leading to this review.

Section 3: FORMAT ASSESSMENT FACTORS
Description 3: Outlines the factors used to assess the appropriateness of different digital formats for preservation.

Section 4: EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES
Description 4: Discusses the importance of avoiding external dependencies for digital preservation formats.

Section 5: IMPACT OF PATENTS
Description 5: Examines how patents can affect the sustainability of various digital preservation formats.

Section 6: TECHNICAL PROTECTION MECHANISMS
Description 6: Reviews technical protection mechanisms like encryption and their implications for preservation.

Section 7: INTEGRITY OF STRUCTURE
Description 7: Explains the importance of representing the logical structure of documents in digital formats.

Section 8: INTEGRITY OF LAYOUT
Description 8: Discusses the significance of preserving the layout of documents in digital formats.

Section 9: INTEGRITY OF RENDERING OF EQUATIONS
Description 9: Looks at how different formats handle the rendering of equations.

Section 10: BEYOND NORMAL RENDERING
Description 10: Explores the support for embedding media objects and other advanced features in digital formats.

Section 11: CONCLUSION
Description 11: Recaps the key points and considerations for selecting the most appropriate digital preservation formats.

Section 12: Introduction
Description 12: Describes the origins of the assessment request and the initial concerns regarding digital preservation formats.

Section 13: What is a Preservation Format?
Description 13: Defines preservation formats and the factors that make them suitable for long-term preservation.

Section 14: The Major Formats
Description 14: Provides an overview of major digital formats such as TIFF, PDF, PDF/A-1, and XML.

Section 15: TIFF
Description 15: Details the history, capabilities, and limitations of the TIFF format.

Section 16: PDF (Portable Document Format)
Description 16: Discusses the origins, features, and preservation suitability of PDF.

Section 17: PDF/A-1 (Portable Document Format/Archival)
Description 17: Explains the specific standards and benefits of the PDF/A-1 format.

Section 18: XML (Extensible Markup Language)
Description 18: Describes the structure, benefits, and use cases of XML for digital preservation.

Section 19: History of the Discussion
Description 19: Reviews the historical context and evolution of digital preservation format discussions.

Section 20: Status in 1999
Description 20: Summarizes the state of digital preservation formats and practices in 1999.

Section 21: Status in 2004
Description 21: Reviews advancements and continuing concerns in digital preservation as of 2004.

Section 22: The Advent of PDF/A-1
Description 22: Discusses the development of PDF/A-1 and its impact on digital preservation strategies.

Section 23: The Current Situation
Description 23: Details the current practices and ongoing efforts in the field of digital preservation.

Section 24: Format Assessment
Description 24: Provides an overview of the format assessment framework and its application.

Section 25: Technical Factors
Description 25: Outlines the technical considerations in evaluating digital preservation formats.

Section 26: Quality and Functionality
Description 26: Discusses the importance of content quality and functionality in preservation formats.

Section 27: Preserving Content for Re-use
Description 27: Explains the need and methods to preserve content for future re-use.

Section 28: Preserving Layout and Presentation
Description 28: Highlights the importance of maintaining the original layout and presentation in preservation.

Section 29: Striking a Balance
Description 29: Emphasizes the need to balance technical, quality, and functionality factors in choosing preservation formats.

Section 30: Preservation Formats as Part of the Archival Process
Description 30: Notes the importance of implementing preservation formats within broader policies and procedures.

Section 31: Conclusion
Description 31: Reiterates the factors to consider when determining the most appropriate format for preservation and making balanced decisions.