How to Export a File

We, as a planet, created 59 trillion gigabytes of data in 2018. That’s an unfathomable amount of zeros and ones. The main way that we store and share this data is in files. The way we export a file is vital for us to do this.

For us to read the data in a file, our application needs to understand it, and that is where different file types step in. We export word documents, JPEGS, bitmaps, PDFs, XML files, all so we can process them in other places.

So how do you export a file? What file types are most common? How can you create a PDF?

Read on for your bite-size guide.

Information Terminology: Import or Export a File

When you import a file, you prep it for use in your computer’s workspace. For your system to read a file, it needs to understand it. Programs convert a file to a usable format when they import them, for example, HTML to XML.

When you export a file, you convert and save it to a format that is easier for other programs to use. For example, we can export an Apple Pages file as a Microsoft Word document. Other word processing applications can now read it.

Here is a guide to different types of files businesses use today. 

How to Export Different File Types

Most applications feature a Save As or Export function. For example, in Microsoft Word, this is under the File tab.

When we select this, the application gives us options for the file extension we want to use. Common export options are word documents to PDF, JPEG to PNG for the web, and spreadsheets to XML data tables.

There are several reasons we would export a file. We might want to save size, boost compatibility, embed in web video, or share on specific platforms. Youtube states its default format is 16:9 MP4, so we need to export to this. 

How to Create a PDF file

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are readable in a vast variety of applications. They avoid the formating issues word documents can have. Their smaller size makes them ideal for sharing and emails.

A PDF is an image file, and we can use them to hold info from long documents, scanned JPEGs, graphic designs, you name it.

Because of their wide compatibility, PDF files are ideal for use in most projects. For ASP.NET, console, and desktop applications, we can use techniques like vb.net pdf, to do the heavy lifting.

This saves time and leverages a Visual Basic code library to generate our PDF files. Once you have them converted, you can use and edit them for deployment. Many applications can export a PDF file, but VB is more efficient.

Export Complete

We hope our guide helped you export a file to the right format. It is a vital skill in any technology environment. Even if you work in a different field, you will need to export a file at some point. It is how we share our knowledge.

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