Format evaluation and selection
Digital Media: managing formats and files

The aim of the following paragraphs is to provide a methodology for evaluating and selecting media formats suited to a given use (production, publishing, distribution, archiving...) and a given environment (Broadcast, Web...). The approach described here is based on work carried out first at the US Library of Congress (LoC), then at INA. Once the evaluation parameters have been defined, format selection assistance grids are proposed. Although some of the examples, formats and parameters are dated, the criteria and methodology are nonetheless valid.

The selection of a format (media essence format or container format) will be made through successive filters (figure 12 ) according to generic criteria of durability and interoperability (§