Original LXSeries Forum

I've been using LXFree and LXFree Java for awhile. I noticed under Save As there are three file type options: .lxplot, .lxx, and .lxxplot. I believe the first is the preferred file type for LXFree, the second is what works in the Java version.

What is .lxxplot file type for? Are there particular advantages and disadvantages to each type?

".lxplot" files store a plot in a Cocoa keyed archive format. This archive is only compatible with OS X applications. This archive cannot be used by Windows, Java, or even iOS applications. ".lxx" or ".lxxplot" files are XML based files that can be read and used by many possible systems.

Lxx and lxxplot refer to the same type of file like .jpg and .jpeg or .tif and .tiff. The reason for the additional lxxplot extension is that there is a utility application related to XCode that started using lxx as an extension. Its not likely there would be confusion but it could be resolved using the longer extension.

The current latest versions of these files are able to store pretty much the same information although they do it in different ways. In general, lxplot files are more compact than lxx files and that is why they are the default format for LXFree and LXBeams on Mac OS X. Lxplot files cannot be used by LXFree for Java, which uses the more cross platform compatible lxx format.

Lxplot and lxx files contain Mac OS specific information. This data is optional in an lxx file. LXFree for Java does not create this information but is preserved if it is present in a file. An example of this type of data is Printer setup options that apply specifically to printing on Mac OS X.

The largest difference in lxplot files and lxx files is in how they store imported graphics. Lxplot files archive imported graphics in their original form. But, not every graphic format supported by OS X is available on other systems. In particular TIFF and PDF support is varied or missing from many Java systems. So, lxx files store imported graphics by converting them to either JPEG or PNG format which are essentially universal. The latest builds of LXFree and LXBeams have an option in the export preferences that allows you to also store a copy of an imported PDF along with the JPEG or PNG version. This makes the file bigger but means that a plot can be edited using LXFree for Java without losing the resolution of the original imported PDF when the file is again opened on OS X.

The .lxx extension is defined in the coreTypes of the OS X system as belonging to a different application. Therefore, it is necessary for LXSeries to discontinue using this extension.

With version 2.0.12 LXFree and LXBeams will no longer allow saving with an lxx extension. They will still, for now, allow opening .lxx files. But will default to the lxxplot extension for xml type plot files.

The files are identical except for the extension. So, if necessary, an" abc.lxx" file can simply be renamed "abc.lxxplot".