However, since Gopher servers around the world are all set up differently, the menu structures don't always make sense to everyone. Text files are actual documents that contain information. Many Gopher servers house specific information, like medical, weather, etc. The information available is nearly infinite, but patience is often needed to wade through the information you don't want in search of the information you do want. Printing actually consists of saving the document to the already open file for the printer.
Binary files contain images, sounds, programs, etc.
When you retrieve a binary file, you can then look at it to find out what it contains. You must retrieve the file, then exit gopher and start a program that can read the type of file you've retrieved. All of the information provided here describes the use of the shareware gopher client software for DOS that is available on the campus networks. Many clients have been created that have the same functionality, but that uses different keystrokes. See your client's help system for exact keystrokes for your client.