file formats


Bean determines a file's format by looking at the file name's extension, and, if available, the HFS file type code.


RTFD Format

Rich Text With Graphics format allows you to combine formatted text with graphics (or other attachments). This format is accessible to any computer running OS X (through Text Edit), but cannot be opened natively on Windows or Unix machines.


BEAN Format

Bean format is identical to RTFD, except for the extension. A file ending in '.bean' will open up in Bean automatically. Change the extension to '.rtfd' if you wish to share your file with another user of Apple computers.


RTF Format

Rich Text format allows formatted text, but cannot save graphics or attachments (use RTFD format if graphics are necessary). RTF files can be opened by most word processors.


Word 97 Format (.doc)

Bean uses Apple's conversion services to open and save Microsoft Word 97 format files. With this format in Bean, document-level formatting (page size, margins) and graphics are neither read-in nor saved. Bean will warn you about this before overwriting a file originally created in Word, so that information is not lost. Please bear in mind that while Bean reads and saves formatted text in the Word 97 format well, its compatibility with other aspects of the format is either less-than-perfect (example: tables) or non-existent (example: footnotes).


Word 2003 XML Format (.xml)

Microsoft Word 2003 XML Format (WordML) behaves similarly to Word format, except that document-level formatting is read-in and saved (although graphics are not). Users of versions of Microsoft Word previous to Word 2003 may not be able to open this format.


WebArchive

An archive format for web pages (generally, HTML files) that saves graphics. Safari can save web pages to this format.


Web Format (.html)

Bean reads and saves HTML format as 'source code.' Bean can also export other formats to HTML format (under File > Export to HTML).


Text Format (.txt)

Bean reads in and saves most Unicode text files easily. For legacy encodings, you will be asked to specify the encoding. Bean will attempt to read in unknown file formats as UTF-8 (Unicode) text. Note that changes to font attributes (font family, color, bold, etc.) are applied to the whole document when editing plain text files. Also note: page, margin, and paragraph formatting are not saved in TXT files, but can be printed before closing a document.


export formats


Export to HTML

Saved documents can be exported to HTML format (web pages). Images will not be exported, although references to the images will exist in the HTML code. See 'Tips and Tricks' on how to make image references work.


Export to PDF

This works the same as the PDF > Save to PDF function in the Print dialog. Use this export format is you want absolute fidelity to the appearance of the original document in Bean.


Export to RTF (with Pictures)

The document is saved to RTF with contained pictures encoded in the file. The RTF file can then be opened in MS Word with images intact. (Bean's native RTF format does not support images. In other words, if you reopen a document in Bean that has been exported to this format, the pictures will not be included.)


Export to DOC (with Pictures)

The document is saved to a file that is readable by MS Word with contained pictures encoded in the file. The file can then be opened in MS Word with images intact. (Bean's usual support for the .DOC format does not support saving or opening images. In other words, if you reopen a document in Bean that has been exported to this format, the pictures will not be included.)