Re: How to convert files

[Jude DaShiell <jdashiel@shellworld.net>]

A binary file usually starts out with a hex 1Ah character in the DOS world 
at least.  Other clues will be many characters with values in the range of 
90H-FFH inclusive.  Unix has a file utility whose source code is available 
for examination and it's well worth the abundance of file format 
information that can be gleaned from that source code.  But the definitive 
source for all kinds of file format information is "the File Formats 
Handbook" available for purchase from its own web page and no 
self-respecting library that has technical as part of its name will be 
found without copies available (probably to use in the stacks).  The best 
edition of that book is always the most current since it gets larger with 
each successive edition.