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Search by lifecycles

PRONOM stores support and release information on all software products and file formats. This allows users to check whether a software product or file format is still supported, either by the original vendor or by a third party. This information is important in planning migration or archiving strategies, as errors in the software product or file format will no longer be corrected after the support period has ended.

1. Search by support period

Select "software products" or "file formats" from the drop-down list, then select "supported" or "unsupported", enter a date and click 'search' to view a report of the software products/file formats which are supported/unsupported on that date.
A search for supported components will include all software products or file formats which do not have a "support end" date determined yet, and all software products or file formats which have a "support end" date which is later than the date you entered.
A search for unsupported components will include all software products or file formats which have a "support end" date which is determined and is before the date you entered, as well as software products or file formats that were released after the date you entered.
Components which have had support withdrawn from them, but on an unknown date in the past, will appear in all searches, except those for components supported on a date in the future.

2. Search by release dates

Select "software products" or "file formats" from the drop-down list, then select "before", "after" or "between", enter a date (and a second date if "between" is chosen) and click 'search' to view a report of all software products or file formats which were released before or after that date or between the two entered dates. Any software product or file format whose release date is unknown will not be included in the results.
The results of searches for components released after a given date will include components released on the given date as well.
For searches for components released between two dates, the second date should be the same as, or later than, the first date. Components released on either the first or second date will also be included in the report.