April 13, 1994 (yes...I've already done *my* tax return)
VendorTC is a quick-reference database of Macintosh file types and creators. Types and creators are the four-character identifiers that tell the operating system what kind of file you are manipulating (moving, clicking on, etc.), and what application program created it.
The first encounter most users have with types & creators is when they double-click on a file, and are presented with a dialog saying, "The document ___ cannot be opened, because the application that created it could not be found." This means you don't have the original software that was used to create the file, and you'll either have to obtain a copy or find another application that can substitute (do the same thing). VendorTC can help you in this task, by finding the original application that created it. Once the original application is identified, you can either contact the vendor for product information (where to purchase a copy, or what other applications can substitute), or possibly find someone at your place of business or in a local user group that can convert it to something you can use. Apple Computer can put you in touch with a local user group by calling the 800 number listed.
Other options to contacting the original application vendor are explained in the "Help" portion of VendorTC. Dataviz offers a utility called "Easy Open," which will be useful to people who deal with many different file types, by offering on-the-fly conversion of many file types to ones you may have, but it's an expensive option ($70-80) for the casual user. The main intent of VendorTC is for a quick-reference to help you find out the original application, so you can identify a solution provider.
VendorTC is FREEWARE! I've had the data included in it for a couple of years, but it should still be useful for identifying most major application and document types, which don't change that much. I don't intend to update (or support) VendorTC, because I don't have access to the original database it came from.
As I've indicated in the "About VendorTC" portion, the phone numbers for vendors listed in VTC are just as stale as the data, so some may be out-of-date (i.e., wrong!). If you're real interested in an up-to-date reference for phone numbers, you should download VendorDA (VTC's big brother) from an on-line service or BBS near you! VendorDA lists 1245 vendors and their main, sales, and tech support/FAX/BBS numbers. VDA is NOT free, but is a shareware product. The main difference between VDA and VTC is support. I actively support and update VendorDA, because I *do* have access to that information. If you are a support person, consultant, or just need to contact vendors, you really should have VendorDA under your Apple Menu!
If you can't find VendorDA (version 1.43 was shipping at the time of this writing) on your local network/BBS, it can be ordered directly from FourArts by sending a check or money order for $15, made out to "Bill Baldridge" to:
