Your file format influences your ability to open a file at a later date. Proprietary file formats require the proper version of the proprietary software. Non-proprietary, or open, formats are more inter-operable and thus more durable. Saving your data in open, unencrypted and uncompressed formats will make your data more usable for years to come. If you can’t save your data in an open format, consider including the software name, version, and parent company in the accompanying readme.txt file for future users.

For more in-depth discussion, see the Library of Congress’ Sustainability of Digital Formats web site.

File Format Considerations. Research Data Service. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://www.library.illinois.edu/rds/file-formats/