The Print Shop
The Print Shop is a desktop publishing application from Broderbund. Released with names "The Print Shop", The Print Shop Deluxe", The Print Shop Professional", "The Print Shop Ensemble", "The Print Shop Premier", along with others.
Early versions of it stored clip art libraries in a pair of files whose names begin with "GR", and which apparently use extensions ".NAM" and ".DAT". The .NAM file contains names, and the .DAT file contains graphics.
A version of it named The New Print Shop used a variant format with filename extensions ".PNM" and ".POG".
There are many other file extensions, for different graphics formats, format versions, border graphics, fonts, etc. These include .PNG, .CNG, .PBG, .PBD, .POB, .PFN, .PNF, and probably many others. More research is needed here.
Contents |
Format details
Format Compatibility
The Print Shop versions 20-23.1 can open files from the following[1]:
- The Print Shop® version 10 and newer
- American Greetings® CreataCard® 5 and newer
- American Greetings® Spiritual Expressions 3 and newer
- American Greetings® Print! Premium 3 and newer
- PrintMaster® version 7 and newer
Click Art
A DAT file consists of a 572-byte raw bitmap segment for each (bi-level, 88×52) image. It is usually a multiple of 572 bytes in size.
POG files are apparently the same as DAT files, except that they begin with a 10-byte header.
The Print Shop versions 1-4
Deluxe Versions 1 (1992) to version 4 (1996) uses 5 - 7 extensions to identify project types. File headers begin with ascii PSDeluxe or PrintShopDeluxe.
| Project Type | Extension | Project Type | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banners | .PDB | Stationary | .PDL |
| Calendars | .PDC | Signs & Posters | .PDS |
| Certificates | .PCC | Cards | .PDG |
| Labels | .PDA |
The Print Shop versions 5-6
Versions 5-6 (1997-1999) uses 15 different extensions, identical to earlier versions but different structure, to identify project types. Files are in a proprietary format, header begins with hex values "79 A6 00 00 49 49 49 49 38"
| Project Type | Extension | Project Type | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banners | .PDB | Letterhead | .PDL |
| Blank Pages & Signs | .PDS | Online Greetings | .PSO |
| Business Cards | .PCB | Pamphlets | .PDP |
| Calendars | .PDC | Photo Pages | .PHO |
| Certificates | .PCC | Postcards | .PCP |
| Envelopes | .PCE | Post-It Notes | .PPI |
| Greeting Cards | .PDG | Labels | .PDA |
The Print Shop versions 10-23.1
Versions 10-23.1 (2000-2010) uses 20 extensions to identify project types. All are in the "OLE2" document container format.
| Project Type | Extension | Project Type | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banners | .BAN | Half-fold Cards | .HCR |
| Booklets & Brochures | .BRO | Labels | .LBL |
| Business Cards | .BIZ | Letterhead | .LET |
| Calendars | .CAL | Newsletters, Resumes, Albums | .NWS |
| Cards | .CAR | Note Cards | .NOT |
| Certificates | .CER | Postcards | .PCR |
| Envelopes | .ENV | Quick Prints | .PHP |
| Fax Sheets | .FAX | Transfers | .TSH |
| Forms, Signs & Posters | .SIG | Web Pages | .WEB |
| Crafts | .CFT | Stickers | .STI |
The Print Shop versions 2-5
Versions 2.0 (2010) through 5.0 (2019) use the file Format .PSproj for all projects. Software cannot open previous versions.
See also
- PrintMaster (similar application)
- PrintPartner (similar application)
Specifications
- PM_PS_BS.ZIP → PM-PS-BS.DOC - Has a description of NAM/DAT format
Software
Sample files
NAM/DAT
- http://cd.textfiles.com/swinnund/disk3/CLIPART/ → PS?.EXE, PSCHURCH.EXE, PSFLAGS.EXE, PSGRAPH?.EXE, PSRGANG.EXE (Self-extracting ZIP format)
- http://cd.textfiles.com/hamradio/misc/hamgraph/
PNM/POG
- http://cd.textfiles.com/swinnund/disk3/CLIPART/ → NPS?.EXE (Self-extracting ZIP format)
- dexvert samples — archive/pog
- dexvert samples — archive/printShopDAT
Various
- Some files at http://cd.textfiles.com/640swstudio/CLIPART/ (index)
- Some files at http://cd.textfiles.com/somuch/smsharew/CLIPART/
- Some files at http://cd.textfiles.com/powerpakgold/GRAPHC_F/ (index)
