SHAPE uses several different types of auxiliary files, with different extensions. When reading files, the extensions are not mandatory, and you can usually choose a different extension when saving a file, or specify "all files" when browsing or searching for a file.
Crystal data files (.shp). These hold the information on individual crystals and intergrowths. The Open, Save and Save As commands in the File menu of the Graphics window pertain to these files.
Internal files. These are for SHAPE internal use and should not normally be modified by the user (but see section IV-8 of instructions for special cases) . SCRPTR is the main start-up file which saves current settings. DEFAULTS saves default display variables for use with the New command. PPLOT contains data on pen plotters. CPSHAPE.HLP is the help file, which is in condensed format and not modifiable by the user. SCRPTR and DEFAULTS are replaced after the first startup with a user- and platform-specific file.
Cartesian symmetry files (.sym). These contain Cartesian point-symmetry matrices generated by the auxiliary program SYMGRP. They are for input only.
Palette files (.pal). These contain RGB values for the 16-color palette which forms the basis for 8-bit (256-color) palettes, and which is used to simplify color selection. They can be modified, read and written with the Palette commands in the Settings menu.
Text output files (.shd). These are (1) RESULTS.SHD, containing the output from the List Results command in the File menu, which gives most of the input data and results for normal views of crystals and intergrowths; and (2) SECTOUT.SHD, containing corner coordinates and other information on sectors and growth zones if this type of output is selected in the Sections and Growth Zones dialog (Input1 menu).
Graphics output files. SHAPE can write graphics output files of various types: raster files (.bmp, .pcx, .tif); encapsulated PostScript files (.eps); HPGL vector files (.pgl) and Windows metafiles (.wmf).
Import files . SHAPE can obtain crystallographic information from a number of database and structure-refinement file types - see Import Files for further information.
File Locations
SHAPE expects to find certain files in the "home" directory, which is the directory containing the SHAPE program file (wxShape.exe). These files are SCRPTR, DEFAULTS, PPLOT, HALL.DAT and palette (.pal) files.
The "data" directory is the directory containing the crystal data (.SHP) file. The data directory is reset whenever you read or write a crystal data file. If you are using Cartesian symmetry files (.sym), they should be in the data directory. Most output files, including EPS, raster, HPGL and metafiles, will be written to the data directory. However, the data output files (.shd) are written to the home directory, to avoid cluttering the disks. To save these files permanently, use Save As to give them new names in the directory of your choice.