PowerAlbum

File Format
Name	PowerAlbum
Ontology	Electronic File Formats Graphics PowerAlbum
Extension(s)	.alb
Released	1992

PowerAlbum is an image file cataloguing application for Windows. It was developed by Power Up Software, Spinnaker, and/or SoftKey. It has an .alb album file format.

There's also PowerAlbum Multimedia (its successor?), which supports additional media types.

Discussion

The history of acquisitions, mergers, and name changes regarding Power Up, Spinnaker, SoftKey, The Learning Company, Mattel, etc., is difficult to follow. Different sources do not all seem to be consistent with each other, or with the timing and branding of PowerAlbum releases.

Format details

More research is needed, but the ALB format appears to be fairly complex, as would be expected of a database format.

Identification

ALB files start with an ASCII identification string. The following strings are known:

PowerUp Album v1.00   Power Up! Copyright 1992.
PowerUp Album v1.02   Power Up! Copyright 1992.
PowerAlbum album v2.00

Software

• PowerAlbum 1.03: [1] (for Windows 3.x)
• PowerAlbum Multimedia 2.00: Multimedia Organizer ...

Sample files

• CALCREP4.ZIP → *.AL_ → ... (v1.00)
• Softkey Key Photos → KYPHOTOS.ALB (v1.02)
• Multimedia Organizer → *.ALB (v2.00)