 | Comment: The list below is not exhaustive and certain extension names may have several functionalities. As for the programmes proposed for using these files, they are not necessarily the only ones or the most appropriate ones. |
| Extension | Description | Programme associated |
|---|---|---|
| 3ds | Studio 4 3d Autodesk files | Studio 3d max from version 3 |
| ace | The files with the .ace extension are compressed files. To decompress them, a decompressing programme must be used. | Decompressing programmes |
| aif | Files with the .aif, .aiff, .aifc extensions are audio clips and can be played using a multimedia player. | Multimedia player |
| aiff | Files with the .aif, .aiff, .aifc extensions are audio clips and can be played using a multimedia player. | Multimedia player |
| aifc | Files with the .aif, .aiff, .aifc extensions are audio clips and can be played using a multimedia player. | Multimedia player |
| ani | Files with the .ani extension are animated cursors and can be used as mouse pointers. | |
| arc | Files with the .arc extension are compressed files. To create or decompress them, a decompressing programme must be used. | Decompressing programme |
| arj |
Files with the .arj extension are compressed files and require a decompressing programme such as arj.exe.
The syntax for decompressing this type of file in a command line is:
The syntax for compressing a file with ARJ is:
| quickzip, WinArj |
| asp | Microsoft Active Server Pages. These are dynamic web pages generated on the web server. | Web browser for the customer, Web Server (Microsoft IIS) to interpret them. |
| avi | Video clip, they can be played using a multimedia player. | Multimedia player |
| bak | Back-up file; this is a copy of a file created by a programme as a precautionary measure. This type of file is not essential; it can be deleted though we recommended that you keep it as back-up. | |
| bmp | Image in Bitmap format. They can be viewed with almost any graphic programme. | |
| bat | Batch file. These are text files that contain a succession of MS-DOS commands executed one after the other.
The following batch file goes in the "c:/" directory and edits the "config.sys" file. c:
| Text editor |
| bin | File containing information in binary language
The CDR-WIN programme and some of the CD-burning software programmes use this extension for CD images. | |
| c | C language source file, they contain the programme in legible characters; these files are then compiled in order to be executed. | Text editor |
| cab | The files with the .cab extension are compressed files. It is a format used by Microsoft to compress applications. They can be decompressed using recent decompression applications or using the CabView utility supplied with the Tweak UI package. | CabView |
| cda | Files for Audio-CD | Multimedia player that plays CDs |
| cdf | ||
| cdr | Corel Draw drawing | |
| cfm | ColdFusion file These are dynamic web pages | |
| cgi | Common Gateway Interface Script | |
| cgm | Vectorised image | |
| chk | Cluster recovered using scandisk (or chkdsk in DOS) | |
| class | Java Applet | |
| com | Executable File Beware: this extension may mask a virus! | |
| cpe | This is a fax cover sheet | |
| cpl | Control panel module (it must be put in [c:\windows\system "c:\windows\system"] to see it appear in the control panel | |
| cpp | Source file C++ | Notepad, edit.exe |
| css | Style sheet | |
| cue | CDR-WIN image file | CDR-Win |
| cur | Mouse pointer | |
| dat | user.dat and system.dat are files in the registry; they are essential | |
| dvit | Independent DeVice; compiled text file format | dvi viewer |
| dbf | DBF - Data Base File/Query Database | dBase III+, MonTableur, Clarisworks, Paradox5, FoxPro Database, Psion, Aston-Tate, dBASE, dBFast, DataBoss |
| dib | Bitmap image | |
| divx | Empty file compressed in divx | video player + appropriate codec |
| diz | File containing information in text mode | |
| dll | System file | |
| doc | Document file (Microsoft Word or Wordpad) | Microsoft Word, OpenOffice |
| dos | File for MS-DOS system | |
| dot | Word document template | Microsoft Word |
| drv | Driver | |
| drw | Micrografx Draw or Designer drawing | |
| dwg | AutoCAD Autodesk file | AutoCAD |
| dxf | AutoCAD Autodesk file in "Autodesk Drawing Interchange" format | |
| ecd | Easy CD file | Easy CD |
| eps | PostScript image (Encapsulated PostScript) | |
| eqn | WordPerfect equation | |
| exe | Executable file Beware: this extension may mask a virus! | |
| fif | Fractal image | |
| flc | Animation Autodesk Animator | |
| fli | Animation Autodesk Animator | |
| fon | Character font | |
| for | FORTRAN source file | |
| fot | True Type font | |
| gif | Graphic Interchange Format image | |
| grp | Windows application groups | |
| gz | File Compressed using Gzip | winzip, quick zip |
| h | .C file header file | |
| hlp | Help file | |
| htm | Internet hypertext file | |
| html | Internet Hypertext file | |
| icc | colorimetric profile operated by the color management systems | |
| ico | Icon | |
| icm | colorimetric profile operated by the color management systems | |
| idf | Musical file in MIDI format | |
| iff | Deluxe Paint image | |
| iges | Initial Graphics Exchange Specification format image | |
| ilbm | Image | |
| inf | Information file (specifically for description of material) | |
| ini | Configuration file | |
| jar | Java container file. Deployment file on applicative web server. | |
| jav | Java source file | |
| java | Java source file | |
| jpeg | Image in JPEG format | |
| jpg | Image in JPEG format | |
| lha | Compressed file | |
| lbm | Deluxe Paint image | |
| lib | Data library for programming languages | |
| lnk | Shortcut to a document | |
| log | Journal of events | |
| lzh | Compressed file | Winzip |
| m | Matlab source | Matlab |
| m3u | Music | Winamp |
| max | 3D file | |
| mid | Audio file in MIDI format | Winamp |
| mkv | Matroska Video file. It may be played using a video player after installing the relevant codecs | Matroska.org |
| mod | Audio file (module) | Winamp |
| mov | QuickTime Movie file | Apple QuickTime |
| mp2 | Mpeg audio file | Winamp |
| mp3 | MP3 audio file (MPEG-1 Layer 3) | Winamp |
| mpg | MPEG video film (Motion Pictures Expert group) | |
| msi | Microsoft Installer Package | Microsoft Installer (Windows 9x), Microsoft Installer (Windows NT) |
| n64 | ROM by Nintendo 64 | |
| nfo | Information file | |
| nrg | CD image file (ISO image) | Nero Burning ROM |
| ocx | Customized OLE check | |
| old | Back-up (may usually be deleted) | |
| p | Pascal source file | |
| pcd | Kodak PhotoCD image | |
| pct | Macintosh PICT image | |
| pcx | Bitmap image | |
| Adobe Acrobat file | Adobe Acrobat Reader | |
| php | PHP Hypertext Processor version 4 (PHP4). These are dynamic web pages generated on the server. | Any web browser, web server that supports the PHP |
| php3 | PHP Hypertext Processor. These are dynamic web pages generated on the server. | Any web browser, web server that supports the PHP |
| pic | Macintosh PICT image | |
| pif | Configuration file of DOS applications in Windows 3.1 95 98. Beware: this extension may mask a virus! | |
| pl | Perl source file | |
| pls | Playlist | Winamp |
| png | PNG image (Portable Network Graphics) | |
| ppj | Project file | Adobe Premiere |
| pps | PowerPoint file | Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer |
| ppt | PowerPoint file | Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer |
| prj | 3D Studio Autodesk or Turbo C project | 3D Studio |
| ps | File in PostScript format | GhostScript Viewer |
| psd | Adobe Photoshop image | Adobe Photoshop |
| psp | Paint Shop Pro image | |
| pub | Microsoft Publisher file | Microsoft Publisher |
| pwl | List of passwords | |
| qt | QuickTime file | QuickTime |
| ra | File in Real Audio format | RealAudio |
| ram | File in Real Audio format | RealAudio |
| rar | Compressed file | rar.exe, unrar.exe, WinRAR |
| reg | Data file in the registry (installed in Windows 95 by right-clicking on the mouse then clicking on install). | |
| rtf | Rich Text Format | |
| scr | Screen saver Beware: this extension is in fact an executable and may therefore mask a virus! | |
| snd | Audio File | Winamp |
| sql | SQL language | |
| sys | System file | |
| swf | Multimedia file Macromedia Shockwave Flash | Browser comprising a Flash plugin |
| swp | SWAP file (can simulate memory on the disk when there is not much RAM) | |
| tar | Compressed file | untar.exe, UNIX tar command |
| tga | Targa image | |
| tgz | Tar file compressed using Gzip | |
| theme | Theme file for Microsoft Plus! or for Microsoft XP | |
| tif | Image | |
| tiff | Image | |
| tmp | Temporary File | |
| torrent | BitTorrent file | BitTorrent Customer |
| ttf | True Type Font | |
| txt | Text document | |
| url | Internet shortcut | |
| uu | ASCII file encoded with UUENCODE | |
| uue | ASCII file encoded with UUENCODE | |
| vbs | VBScript file. Beware: this extension may mask a virus! | |
| vivo | Compressed video | |
| voc | Audio File | SoudForge |
| vtc | File containing preferences for an audio file. | <a href="http://carrot.prohosting.com">Virtual Turn Tables</a> |
| vue | Animation | 3D Studio |
| vxd | 32-bit driver in protected mode | |
| wav | Audio File | Winamp |
| wiz | Wizard | |
| wmf | Vectorised image (Windows Metalife) | |
| wmv | Windows Media Video, high-definition video file | Media Player Classic, Windows Media Player, VLC,... |
| wpg | Image | |
| wri | Text file | Write |
| xi | Instrument File | |
| xls | Microsoft Excel file | Microsoft Excel |
| xm | Music File | |
| xmi | UML modelling file import format | |
| zip | Compressed file | gzip.exe, pkunzip.exe,pkzip.exe, Winzip, PowerArchiver, 7Zip, etc. |
| zoo | Compressed file |
