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Operating systems - File formats and extensions



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:
arj x name_of_file_to_decompress.arj target -va -r
The -va attribute specifies that archives in several volumes will be processed automatically
The -r attribute specifies that the tree structure will be rebuilt

The syntax for compressing a file with ARJ is:
arj a name_of_archive.arj name_of_file_to_decompress -va -r

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:
cd \
edit config.sys

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" 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 colour management systems  
ico Icon  
icm colorimetric profile operated by the colour 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 Customised OLE check  
old Back-up (may usually be deleted)  
p Pascal source file  
pcd Kodak PhotoCD image  
pct Macintosh PICT image  
pcx Bitmap image  
pdf 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. Virtual Turn Tables
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  

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