I have a collection of files from the late ´90s and early ´00s. Many of them are .JPG, .MP3, .WAV, instead of .jpg, .mp3, and .wav. Why was that the norm at the time? I usually just change the extension myself.

  • schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    36
    ·
    3 days ago

    Others have correctly explained that this is because filenames (on DOS) used to have only uppercase letters.

    Interestingly, it’s not completely outdated. Many standalone digital cameras, even ones produced in the 2010s or 2020s, still produce filenames like IMG_1234.JPG or DSC00011.ARW or similar.

    • AskewLord@piefed.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      edit-2
      3 days ago

      isn’t that because they are using FAT file systems on their local storage?

      I haven’t used a newer digital camera, but I recall most of them require a FAT32 format for their memory cards.

      • schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        3 days ago

        I think you’re right; the point is that those files will then probably be copied on other file systems that could handle long (and lowercase) file names too, so that may be one way to end up with them without the files coming from the 1990s.