The National Archives' DROID tool goes Open Source

The National Archives is pleased to announce the release of a new version o=
f DROID, its automatic file format identification tool. DROID is being rele=
ased for the first time under an open source license, and is freely availab=
le to download from the DROID project website (http://droid.sourceforge.net=
/).

DROID 1.1 incorporates a number of enhancements, resulting from user feedba=
ck, and new TNA requirements. These include:

* Enhanced signature syntax in PRONOM
* Enhanced identification algorithm to minimise multiple identification re=
sults
* Support for identifying URIs and streams
* Configuration of proxy server settings from the GUI
* Improved XML schemas

To support integration of DROID with other software systems, full documenta=
tion, including javadocs, is available from the project website.

Existing DROID users should note that the new DROID signature file schema i=
s not compatible with previous versions of DROID. Users are recommended to =
upgrade to DROID 1.1, in order to take advantage of future signature file u=
pdates from PRONOM.

TNA will continue to develop PRONOM and DROID as key parts of its preservat=
ion programme. Requirements are currently being defined for the next releas=
es and, as always, feedback is welcomed.

Further information on the PRONOM technical registry is available from http=
://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pronom/.