Components of a RAW file

Please forgive the newby question. After years of film, I am learning digital and trying to establish a good workflow.

I have notice that my RAW files are accompnied by a text file (and on one machine a third file that appears to be some type of OpenOffice file).

Can someone tell me what those files are? Do they need to be copied and stored with the RAW file?

Thanks
RGS

A more accurate answer might be possible if you told us what camera and what program(s) you are using to view and/or edit the RAW files and what the suffixes of those files are. Many programs write a data file to a viewed folder in order to speed up loading for subsequent viewings and many converters store info regarding editing in an .xmp type file alongside the original RAW. Some cameras create a .thm thumbnail jpg as well as the RAW, but since the RAW itself contains another embedded jpg the .thm can usually be deleted.

When you open a RAW file in a converter program you may make some changes to the sliders. These "edits" are saved into a file so that when you open the RAW file again, the settings are remembered.

Photoshop for example, creates a *.XMP file of the edits you have made. Other converters may create a text file, DxO creates a .dxo file. Rawshooter creates a .rws file.

So if you want to keep the edits you made in the converter then you can copy and keep these files too. I do so I don't have to make the changes all over again when I go back to the RAW file.

Sorry I was not specific enough. The camera is a D60.

When I put the card in a computer and simply browse in, say, my computer, each RAW file has two files with it.

One is a .thm file which seems to be a lo res (thumbnail?) version of the RAW file. It will open in paint.

The other is a .xmp file which seems to be sort of a text file that contains data about the RAW file. I can open it with MS Word or NotePad.

What I am curious about is if these files need to stay with the RAW and if they are misplaced, what happens.

Thanks,
RGS

rgs wrote in post #3469809
What I am curious about is if these files need to stay with the RAW and if they are misplaced, what happens.

Thanks,
RGS

The THM file is the thumbnail preview so if you lose it then no biggie. The XMP file may be important depending on your own opinion. If you want to keep the settings you used to process the RAW file and tweak it after then keep the XMP. If you don't care about the RAW file tweaks you made then by getting rid of the XMP file will reset all the sliders back to their default setting when you edit them again.