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Distinguish Between Formats

The provides a unique ID for each major format. For example, a call to would return 351.1.0 for a Microsoft Word XML format. The major format 351 is unique to this format.

Unlike , the formats.ini file distinguishes between formats by using the major version number. For example, in the formats.ini file, a Microsoft Word 2003 XML format is defined as 285.1.0.100.0. The major format 285 and file class 1 are the same values for generic XML. The major version 100 distinguishes the format as Microsoft Word 2003 XML.

The major version is used to specify the following formats:

• Microsoft Office 2003 XML. This format has the same major format and file class as generic XML (285.1). It is distinguished from generic XML by using the following major versions:

  • Word: 100
  • Excel: 101
  • Visio: 110
• The XHTML format has the same major format and file class as HTML (210.1). It is distinguished from HTML by using the major version 100.