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Format

AppleSingle

Download XML

Summary

Name
AppleSingle
Version
2
Identifiers
  • MIME: application/applefile
  • PUID: fmt/968
Description
Apple Computers created the AppleSingle format (as well as the AppleDouble format) to represent and preserve the attributes of files across files systems that do not support the same attributes of the file’s home systems. AppleSingle is primarily a storage format and contains both a file’s contents and attributes. It consists of a header and one or more optional data entries followed by the byte stream of the file it is storing. It maintains the original Macintosh filename and file type (e.g. Mydoc.pdf). The AppleSingle format can store a number of different kinds of formats.
File extensions
as
Source
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by
Apple Computer, Inc.
Supported by
Apple Computer, Inc.

Relationships

Is subsequent version of

Internal signatures

AppleSingle v2

Note
BOF: 4 byte AppleSingle Magic Number 0x00051600, then 4 byte version number 0x00020000

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
0005160000020000
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V108

    Release date
    5 September 2022

    AppleSingle (2): New external signature .as added. Submitted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  • Added in V88

    Release date
    27 September 2016

    AppleSingle 2: Signature developed by Archives New Zealand.

    AppleSingle 2: Full entry added. Submitted by Archives New Zealand.