By selecting an item, you will either be shown more choices, begin reading text from a document, or begin the retrieval process for a binary file. Directories Directories are items that contain other items. In other words, when you select a directory, you will be given more choices of items to choose from. By navigating through these directories, you will find information from all parts of the world. 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.