# Calamus

> desktop publishing application

**Wikidata**: [Q1026230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1026230)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamus_(software))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/calamus

## Summary
Calamus is a desktop publishing application classified as software. As a non-tangible executable component, it functions as a tool for computers to perform specific publishing operations.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of software.
- **Primary Function:** Desktop publishing application.
- **Website:** http://www.calamus.net
- **Wikipedia Title:** Calamus (software)
- **Sitelink Count:** 4
- **Internet Archive ID:** dmc-calamus-v1.09n
- **Freebase ID:** /m/047mjfh
- **Language Availability:** Available in German (de), English (en), French (fr), and Polish (pl).
- **Logo Resource:** CalamusKerning.png (hosted on Wikimedia Commons).
- **Authority Control:** NL CR AUT ID is ph117436 (label: 'Calamus (software)').

## FAQs
### Q: What specific file formats can Calamus read and write?
A: Calamus supports a wide array of proprietary formats for both reading and writing, including Calamus Document, Calamus Vector Graphic, Calamus Raster Graphic, and Calamus Font Data. It also utilizes specific data structures like the Calamus Ruler List, Calamus textStyle List, and Calamus Farb (Colour) Table.

### Q: How is Calamus identified in major knowledge bases?
A: It is indexed under the Freebase ID `/m/047mjfh` and possesses a specific Dutch authority control identifier (ph117436). It is also archived under the identifier `dmc-calamus-v1.09n` at the Internet Archive.

### Q: In which languages is Calamus available?
A: The software has Wikipedia entries and presence in German, English, French, and Polish.

## Why It Matters
Calamus serves as a specific implementation of software within the desktop publishing domain, illustrating the versatility of the "software" class as both a creative work and a functional product. Its extensive list of readable and writable file formats—ranging from vector and raster graphics to font data and color tables—demonstrates a comprehensive architecture designed to handle complex document manipulation. By defining specific formats for elements like ruler lists and ASCII translation tables, Calamus highlights the granular level of data organization required in specialized publishing tools. Its inclusion in multiple language-specific knowledge bases and archival systems further underscores its relevance and recognition in the history of software utilities.

## Notable For
- **Comprehensive Format Support:** Distinguished by its ability to handle a vast ecosystem of proprietary file types, including Calamus Vector Document, Calamus Raster Information, and Calamus Codepage Table.
- **Archival Presence:** Maintained in the Internet Archive with a specific identifier (dmc-calamus-v1.09n), ensuring historical accessibility.
- **Multi-language Recognition:** Documented across German, English, French, and Polish knowledge bases, reflecting a diverse user base or origin.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
Calamus is explicitly defined as a desktop publishing application. It falls under the broad class of software, which is characterized as the non-tangible executable component of a computer system. As an instance of software, it shares the fundamental properties of being a creative work and a written work that serves as a means for a computer to perform logical operations.

### Technical Specifications and File Formats
The software is notable for its extensive proprietary file format ecosystem. It is capable of both reading and writing a wide variety of specific file types essential for desktop publishing. These formats include:
- **Document and Graphics:** Calamus Document, Calamus Vector Document, Calamus Vector Graphic, Calamus Raster Graphic, and Calamus Raster Information.
- **Layout and Styling:** Calamus Ruler List, Calamus textStyle List, and Calamus Farb (Colour) Table.
- **Data and Configuration:** Calamus Font Data, Calamus Codepage Table, and Calamus ASCII Translation Table.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Calamus maintains a distinct digital footprint across various knowledge and archival platforms. Its official online presence is anchored at `http://www.calamus.net`. Key identifiers include:
- **Wikidata and Wikipedia:** Known under the title "Calamus (software)" with a sitelink count of 4.
- **Language Versions:** It is documented in German, English, French, and Polish Wikipedia iterations.
- **External Authorities:** It holds a Freebase ID (`/m/047mjfh`) and an NL CR AUT ID (`ph117436`).
- **Archival Data:** The software is preserved in the Internet Archive with the identifier `dmc-calamus-v1.09n`.

### Visual Assets
The visual identity of the software is partially captured in its logo resource, available as `CalamusKerning.png` on Wikimedia Commons. This asset is linked to the entity's structured data, providing a graphical representation of the brand.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013