What is MIME type "text/x-pcboard"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

text/x-pcboard is the MIME type for files created by the PCBoard software.
It signals that the file is plain text that includes special formatting codes for message boards.
These files store posts and data from bulletin board systems.
They are mostly found on legacy systems and among retro computing projects.
Files using this type often have the extension PCB.

Key use cases:

Archival of historical BBS messages
Data exchange between legacy bulletin board systems
Conversion to modern text formats for preservation

This MIME type helps software identify and correctly process embedded control codes for display and formatting.
For more on PCBoard, check out PCBoard on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.pcb

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: text/x-pcboard

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="text/x-pcboard">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/x-pcboard');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.pcb

FAQs

What is the purpose of the text/x-pcboard MIME type?

This MIME type is used to identify files created by PCBoard, a legacy Bulletin Board System (BBS) software. It signals that the file contains plain text mixed with proprietary PCBoard color and formatting codes, typically found in files with the .pcb extension.

How do I open a file with the text/x-pcboard content type?

Because the underlying data is text-based, you can view the raw content in any standard text editor like Notepad or Vim. However, to see the intended colors and layout, you need a specialized viewer capable of interpreting PCBoard specific control codes (often referred to as @-codes).

Will web browsers display text/x-pcboard files correctly?

No, standard web browsers do not natively render PCBoard formatting codes. If a browser opens the file, it will likely display it as raw text, showing the visible control characters (e.g., @X04) alongside the message. To display these correctly on the web, you would need a JavaScript-based parser to convert the codes to HTML/CSS.

How do I configure Apache to serve .pcb files?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct header for these legacy files, add the following line to your .htaccess or httpd.conf file: AddType text/x-pcboard .pcb. This helps client applications identify the specific format rather than treating it as a generic binary stream.

What does the "x-" prefix indicate in this MIME type?

The x- prefix signifies that text/x-pcboard is a non-standard or experimental type not officially registered with the IANA. It was commonly used by developers to define custom formats, such as the proprietary data structures used by the PCBoard software suite.

Is text/x-pcboard safe to open?

Generally, yes, as these are text files containing formatting instructions rather than executable code. However, as with any file from a legacy source or unknown origin, you should ensure you are not opening a disguised executable file. Always verify the file signature if possible.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.