Aquileo | Recent posts to news

Aquileo | DROID 6.1 released and new project hosting

2012-09-07T01:14:43Z

DROID 6.1 has been released. New project hosting for the project can be found on GitHub: http://digital-preservation.github.com/droid/

DROID Mailing lists have been closed. Queries and support for the tool can now be found on Google Groups: https://groups.google.com/forum/#\!forum/droid-list

The DROID 7 user consultation continues over at wikispaces.com: http://droid7.wikispaces.com/

Aquileo | DROID 6.01 Released

2011-02-14T17:08:22Z

After a period of down-time DROID 6.0 has now been re-released. The tool now correctly handles the latest signature files and has been regression tested against previous files to ensure it doesn't meet the same problem again.

DROID 6.01 is the latest release of a free file profiling tool from The National Archives. You can use to manage your digital information to ensure it remains usable (see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/digitalcontinuity\) and to support digital preservation.

Aquileo | DROID 6.0 temporarily off-line

2011-02-09T18:14:54Z

DROID 6.0 has been taken temporarily off-line for a crucial bug-fix to be applied. An issue was discovered in the handling of signature file V46 which has also been taken off-line. DROID 6.0 will be made available again as soon as the problem has been identified and resolved.

Aquileo | DROID 6.0 Released

2011-02-04T15:15:52Z

DROID 6.0 is the latest release of a free file profiling tool from The National Archives. You can use to manage your digital information to ensure it remains usable (see www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/digitalcontinuity) and to support digital preservation.

You can use DROID to find out what versions of files you have, their size, and when they were last updated. This helps you to identify risks (and therefore plan mitigating actions). It can also help you to save money, for example by supporting data reduction.

DROID 6.0 produces a wider range of information and reports, with significant improvements in performance and usability. For example it can help you to find duplicate files, using content hashes. It can also more accurately identify complex file formats like Open Document and Microsoft Office files, by looking inside ZIP and OLE2 file containers. A summary of the new features can be found in the DROID 6.0 user documentation.

*Please note, profiles from older versions of DROID will not work with DROID 6.0.

Aquileo | DROID using YourKit to improve performance

2010-11-22T12:02:36Z

YourKit is kindly supporting open source projects with its full-featured Java Profiler.

YourKit, LLC is the creator of innovative and intelligent tools for profiling Java and .NET applications. Take a look at YourKit's leading software products:

YourKit Java Profiler: http://www.yourkit.com/java/profiler/index.jsp

and

YourKit .NET Profiler: http://www.yourkit.com/.net/profiler/index.jsp

Aquileo | DROID 5.0.3 Released

2010-05-18T11:42:53Z

The National Archives has released the very latest version of DROID, DROID 5.0. Enhanced by the National Archives in support of the Planets project, (Preservation and Long-term Access through Networked Services, see, http://www.planets-project.eu/\). The automatic file format identification tool is freely available to download from the DROID project website.

The focus of the latest major release is improvement of previous DROID 4.0 functionality including the seamless integration of format identification and collection profiling and enhancing usability.

DROID 5.0 has undergone some significant front-end and back-end architectural changes that we hope will benefit users and developers alike.

Aquileo | DROID 4.0 Released

2009-06-09T09:45:18Z

The National Archives has released the very latest version of DROID, DROID 4.0. Enhanced by the National Archives in support of the Planets project, (Preservation and Long-term Access through Networked Services, see, http://www.planets-project.eu/\). The automatic file format identification tool is freely available to download from the DROID project website (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=160809&package_id=180966).

The focus of the latest major release is the inclusion of the DCS (Digital Continuity Service) and Planets, Collection Profiler.

DROID now runs in two modes. The original file identification mode, and the new “profile” mode that allows users to obtain file format information gathered from large distributed sources of digital files, providing users with aggregated statistical data and reports to help them take appropriate management decisions regarding risk associated with such large collections of files.

Aquileo | DROID 2.0 development starts

2006-11-16T11:48:24Z

The National Archives has begun development work on the next version of DROID, its automatic file format identification tool, as part of its Seamless Flow programme (see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/seamless_flow/default.htm\), which is developing end-to-end processes for managing and preserving electronic records. The current version of DROID is freely available to download from the DROID project website (http://droid.sourceforge.net/).

DROID 2.0 will include a number of enhancements resulting from user feedback, as well as the following new features:

· Support for indirect offsets in internal signatures

· Reporting of MIME types in identification results

· Support for the forthcoming PUID resolution service in PRONOM

· Improved performance when processing very large files

The new version of DROID is expected to be released on SourceForge by May 2007.

Further information will be made available on the project website as development progresses.

Aquileo | DROID 1.1 released

2006-08-14T08:55:36Z

The National Archives has released a new version of DROID, its automatic file format identification tool. DROID is being released for the first time under an open source license, and is freely available to download from the DROID project website (http://droid.sourceforge.net/).

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

- Enhanced signature syntax in PRONOM
- Enhanced identification algorithm to minimise multiple identification results
- 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 documentation, including javadocs, is available from the project website.

Existing DROID users should note that the new DROID signature file schema is 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 updates from PRONOM.

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

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

Please send all comments and feedback to pronom@nationalarchives.gov.uk.