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Format

Adobe Flash

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Summary

Name
Adobe Flash
Version
23
Identifiers
  • MIME: application/x-shockwave-flash
  • PUID: fmt/769
Description
The Adobe Flash format, SWF, previously known as Shockwave Flash or Macromedia Shockwave Flash, and alternatively known as the Small Web Format, is a file format primarily designed for creating interactive multimedia applications. The format iterates rapidly, often in line with new releases of Adobe Flash or Adobe Air. Prior to version 6 all SWF files were uncompressed, however version 6 introduced the option of using zlib compression. Version 13 introduced the option of using LZMA compression.
File extensions
swf
Submitted by
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Supported by
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Relationships

Is previous version of
Is subsequent version of

Internal signatures

SWF 23

Description
Header (FWS then version number) and end tag (..)
Provenance
http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/devnet/swf/pdf/swf-file-format-spec.pdf http://www.adobe.com/devnet/articles/flashplayer-air-feature-list.html

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
46575317
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Absolute from EOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
0000
Endianness
None

SWF 23 - zlib compressed

Description
Header (CWS then version number)
Provenance
http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/devnet/swf/pdf/swf-file-format-spec.pdf http://www.adobe.com/devnet/articles/flashplayer-air-feature-list.html

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
43575317
Endianness
None

SWF 23 - LZMA compressed

Description
Header (ZWS then version numbe
Provenance
http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/devnet/swf/pdf/swf-file-format-spec.pdf http://www.adobe.com/devnet/articles/flashplayer-air-feature-list.html

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
5A575317
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • V84

    Release date
    21 January 2016

    • Updated

      Adobe Flash 23: Corrected erroneous signature pointer. Error identified by State Records New South Wales.

  • V83

    Release date
    17 December 2015

    • Added format

      Adobe Flash 23: Full entry added.

    • Added signature

      Adobe Flash 23: Signature developed through PRONOM Research.