The file format(s) in which you record, store, and transmit your data is a primary factor in one's ability to use your data in the future.
Since technology continually changes, researchers should plan for both hardware and software obsolescence. How will your data be read if the software used to produce it becomes unavailable?
Formats more likely to be accessible in the future are:
Consider migrating your data into a format with the above characteristics, in addition to keeping a copy in the original software format.
Examples of preferred format choices:
For examples of how data archives treat different file formats, see the UK Data Archive page on data formats and software. Note that not all repositories are able to migrate data files to newer file formats for preservation.
