Transfer of data [data: information without context, eg a list of students with numbers beside their names is data, when it's made clear that those numbers represent their placing in a 100 metre race, the data becomes information ] files containing pictures (graphics), text, sound, or numbers is possible from one computer to another, one make ofhardwarehardware: The physical components of a computer.to another, and one application to another. This is possible because standard file types and data formats have been developed.

Data does not need to be transfered on physicalmediamedia: Forms of mass communication, particularly television and newspapers; people that work for these., it can be transmitted at rapid speeds around the globe.

Data file types

Data files are stored in a number of formats, the formats depend on which application [application: applications serve a specific purpose, eg Microsoft Word is used for word processing ]created the file to begin with. For example, Microsoft Word stores files as *.doc but Adobe Photoshop stores files in a different format - *.psd. The file extension identifies the file's format.

Opening files of different formats

When data is transferred from one computer to another, the computer receiving the data file may not be able to read the format without the right application installed. For example, an image created in Adobe Photoshop and saved as a *.psd file (Photoshop's format) would not be readable by Microsoft Paint.

This is becoming less of a problem as standardisation matures and applications expand the list of file types they're able to read.

Translating between file types

Data [data: information without context, eg a list of students with numbers beside their names is data, when it's made clear that those numbers represent their placing in a 100 metre race, the data becomes information ] can be stored temporarily in a computer's RAMRandom Access Memory (RAM): Memory that is constantly being written to and read from. It does not retain its contents without a constant supply of power, ie when a computer is turned off, everything stored in its RAM is lost. as a means of transfer from one application to another. In Microsoftoperating systemsoperating system: an interface between hardware, eg a computer, and the user this feature is called the clipboard and it can copy data from one application[application: applications serve a specific purpose, eg Microsoft Word is used for word processing ] and paste it into another. Nearly all other operating systems support this functionality.

For example you can create a graph using aspreadsheetspreadsheet: A spreadsheet is made up of cells, rows and columns. Each cell holds a piece of numeric (numbers) or alphanumeric (text) data. Cells can also contain formulae to calculate their contents. application and then use the clipboard to copy the graph to a desktop publishing[desktop publishing: an application that allows text and images…