Note: This topic is for Document/Medical only.

Prior to version 14.5, annotations could be saved using the AnnCodecs.Save method in one of three formats:

• AnnCodecsFormat.Native - a text-based file format for storing annotations
• AnnCodecsFormat.Encoded - a binary file format for storing annotations
• AnnCodecsFormat.Serialize - a .NET Serialize format

  Prior to version 14.5, the Native format was the preferred format for storing annotation files. Beginning with version 14.5, a text-based format became available for annotations - AnnCodecsFormat.Xml. This is a text-based format for storing LEAD annotations that follows the XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. The XML format is replacing the Native format as the preferred format for storing annotations. There are many advantages of using the XML format:

  • Unlike the Native format, the XML is both forward- and backward-compatible.
  • It is human readable.
  • Files using the XML format can be easily modified using a standard text editor (i.e. notepad.exe).
  • It can be easily parsed using any standard XML parser.
  • It can be used with any of the growing number of utilities that work with XML.