File
extensions are the
3 letter code after a "." in Windows,indicating which program those files
belong to. You will not always be able to see these or even all of the files
that are available. The file extension shows the "association" made between
the file and the program using it - so for instance NOTEPAD.exe uses .txt
files. The .EXE shows that Notepad is an EXECUTABLE file and that
it uses TEXT (.txt) files. Whether or not you are able to see file extensions
depends what viewing mode you are in. In order to make sure you can see the
file extension it is necessary to choose TOOLS from the Menu Bar on Explorer
and select Folder Options then click the VIEW tab and make sure "Hide extensions
for known file types" does not have a check mark in it. The extensions should
then show in any explorer view which displays files in a folder,you may also
note that there are small icons next to the files which show which program
they are associated with. The "File Types" tab on "Folder Options" indicates
which files are known to the system and which program they open with. It
is not a good idea to change any information in that section unless you know
what you are doing,otherwise you may find that when you click on an icon
for a file it's associated program will not open,or another program that
cannot read the file will attempt to open and use the file. Only rename files
with their extensions showing if you know what you are doing,again,a wrong
extension name will foul up the association between the file and its program.
What you will be able to see from the "File Types" tab is the complete listing
of all the files that your computer currently knows about,some of the ones
below may well be in that list.
Note that more than one program may use the same file extension - so for instance Word may use .txt as well as .doc,Paint programs mainly use .gif or .jpg,the types of files will be explained later,for now lets have a look at some extensions and their associated programs:
22/03/09 File Extensions
.act | MONEYSMITH Account files |
.all | Cubasis Wave+midi file |
.ani | animation files |
.ann | |
.art | Internet Explorer image files |
.asf | |
.asp | |
.au(d) | Audio files |
.bak | Backups of files |
.bas | Basic Program files |
.bat | Batch files |
.bin | Binary files |
.bkp | Backups of files |
.blt | AIM settings |
.bmp | Bitmap Image files |
.bok | Chess Prog files |
.cab | image file |
.cag | Gallery files ? |
.cal | Calendar files (Cakewalk CAL scripts) |
.cat | Catalogue files |
.cda | CD Audio Files |
.cdr | Corel Paint Drawing |
.cdl | Audio Rack CD Playlists |
.cfg | Config files |
.chm | Compiled HTML |
.clk | FACEMAKER files |
.clp | CLIPBOARD files |
.cls | CLASS file |
.cod | Coded files from the CODER.BAS program |
.com | Binary Programme files |
.cmp | Colour Palette files |
.cms | |
.cnt | |
.cpl | Control program language |
.crd | CARDFILE files |
.csv | Text file |
.cur | Cursor |
.cut | Halo Picture files |
.cvf | Compressed Volume files (Disk Compression) |
.css | |
.cwb | Cakewalk bundle (.bun) |
.cwp | Cakewalk project |
.cwt | Cakewalk template (.tpl) |
.dat | Data files |
.dcd | Decoded files from the CODER.BAS program |
.dcx | Intel Fax Files |
.dib | Device Independent Bitmap files |
.diz | File ID files |
.djvu | Deja Vu Compressed Files |
.dll | Dynamic Link Library files |
.dob | Active X/Vbasic Document files |
.doc | WORD Document files |
.dot | Document Template files |
.dpp | Draw Plus Picture |
.drv | Device Driver files |
.dxf | L-system image files |
.exe | Executable (Runnable) files |
.fax | FAX files |
.fdf | Adobe Form document |
.flt | WORD Graphic Conversion Filter files |
.fnd | FIND Search files |
.fnt | Font files |
.fon | Font files |
.fot | Font files |
.frm | Visual Basic form |
.frx | VB resource file |
.ged | GEDcom geneology files |
.gem/.img | VENTURA files |
.gif | Compuserve pictures .Graphics Interchange Format |
.gra | WORD Graph files |
.grp | WINDOWS Group files |
.gz | Compressed file |
.hlp | Help files |
.ht | Hyperterminal files |
.htm(l) | Hyper Text Markup Language for Internet Explorer |
.icm | Image colour management |
.iff/.lbm | Amiga files |
.ifs | Fractint Iterated files |
.ind | Index |
.inf | Info files |
.ini | WINDOWS Initialisation files |
.jbf | Paint Shop Pro Browser files |
.job | Scheduler Task |
.jpe | |
.jpg | Jpeg Image files |
.kbd | Keyboard mapping files |
.l | Fractint L-system files |
.log | Logging files (Dr Watson etc) |
.lst | List |
.mac | MACPAINT files |
.mat | |
.map | Colour map files |
.mdb | Microsoft ACCESS database |
.mhtml | Meta HTML - (One file with pictures) |
.mid | Midi files |
.mp3 | Mpeg Sound files |
.nvm | AOLPress image map files |
.msp | Microsoft Paint files |
.pcd | Kodak Photo CD |
.pal | PAINT Palette files |
Acroread document | |
.pcx | Picture files |
.pif | WINDOWS Program Information files |
.pic | PCPAINT/PICTOR files |
.png | Portable Network Graphic |
.pps | Power Point Slideshow |
.prn | Printer Disk File |
.psd | Photoshop files |
.pub | Microsoft PUBLISHER document |
.pwl | Password Listing |
.psp | PAINTSHOP PRO Image files |
.qbw | |
.ram | Radio stations (REAL AUDIO) |
.qic | BACKUP files |
.reg | REGEDIT files |
.rar | |
.rem | EARLY BIRD Reminder files |
.rle | Run Length Encoded graphic files |
.rtf | Rich Text format files |
.rmf | Rich Music Format: Beatnik Music file |
.scp | Script files (Dial network) |
.set | Cakewalk Playlist |
.sci | Sci Fax files |
.scr | Screensaver files |
.swf | Shock Wave Flash |
.swp | Windows swap files |
.snr | Sound recorder files |
.sys | System files |
.syx | System Exclusive (MIDI) files |
.tar | Compressed files |
.tga | Truevision files |
.thm | Thumbnail Files |
.tmp | Temporary files |
.tif | Tagged Image files |
.tpl | Ulead Template files |
.trm | Terminal files |
.tsk | Task files |
.ttf | True Type Font files |
.url | Universal Resource Locator (weblinks) |
.txt | Text files (NOTEPAD etc.) |
.vbd | Visual Basic Document? |
.vbx | |
.vbp | Visual Basic project |
.vsl | Voyetra Sound files |
.vml | Voyetra music list |
.vxd | Virtual Device Driver |
.wav | Wavetable Sound files |
.wcm | Microsoft WORKS Communication document |
.wdb | Microsoft WORKS Database document |
.wif | Cubasis Wave Information File |
.wks | Microsoft WORKS Spreadsheet document |
.wpd | Printer Driver files |
.wps | Microsoft WORKS Wordprocessor document |
.wpl | Windows Play List |
.wpg | WORDPERFECT Graphic files |
.wri | WRITE Document files |
.xbm | |
.xls | Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet |
.xms | |
.zip | Zip Compressed file |
File Types | Description |
|
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Audio | Any file which is used to make Sound or Music. |
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Binary | A file which has only 1's and 0's in it,usually for low level processor instructions. |
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Image | Any file which holds graphics or pictures. |
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Text | Basic character files which contain words and letters. |
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Font | A file that indicates a style of lettering such as Courier or Arial. |
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Template | A file which gives the default layout of a document,such as a letter or form. |
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Compressed | Files that use some sort of compression to render them smaller in size. |
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Help | Files that give user help for programs,defining concepts or showing how to carry out a task. |
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Executable | Files that are programs like Word or Excel or Notepad. |
|
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Audio
Files - There are various formats of Audio files around.The most common
is .wav,which itself has several sub-formats.Currently the audio format MP3
is being used and this is a form of compressed
file,which makes audio files much smaller with a play off of loss of
quality of the sound.The
MIDI format is also current
and has several sub-formats,this is used for controlling synthesizers either
internal or external to the PC.
.mid - File format which triggers synthesizers -the MIDI code is a whole language in itself that needs to be learned separately.Files stored in this format use one of a couple of formats depending on whether there are multiple phrases in the music.They can be played back on the computers internal synthesizer if there is no external device and you have a sound card. Use control panel "Sounds and Audio Devices "to control your MIDI setup
.wav - Wav files are digitised version of sound or "samples" that are played back through a D/A converter which changes the data back into sound.
.mp3 - These are currently in use and able to be downloaded from the web.They are a compressed version of .wavs and the file sizes are therefore commensurately smaller than .wavs,though some sound quality maybe lost by the compression system.
.ram - Real Audio Player files,these are for use with Streaming technologies for broadcasting over the web.
.cda - CD Audio files.Nominally your audio CD will have these on it,though these days a CD maybe multi-media and may have it's own DVD/CD player on it and its own format files. There are also multiple video formats for using video/audio at the same time. .MPG,.AVI and .WMV are current video formats.
Binary
Files - Binary
Files are often used by the computer's system,as the contents of the file
may contain computer code used at a low level to control the microprocessor.It
is therefore not advisable to access or open such files unless you are an
expert with the contents of them. Binary files may therefore be
executable. Other forms of binary file may be another
type - such as images - which maybe binary encoded.Ultimately,all computer
files are binary in nature,even text files which use a form of coding for
each letter and symbol,but raw binary files are best not used unless you
are a programmer.
Image Files -
Image files can be stored in several formats and using several
mechanisms.The various formats and benefits and drawbacks and it is well
worth studying
them,especially if you intened to make webpages,as your webspace is highly
dependent on how big your files are to be uploaded and often you will be
using images. The smaller the images file is,the better,and different file
formats use different amounts of space to store the image.
The following is taken from the Paintshop Pro HELP file on image formats:
Raster Image Formats
A raster format breaks an image into a grid of equally-sized pieces, called "pixels", and records color information for each pixel. The number of colors that the file can contain is determined by the bits-per-pixel: the more information that is recorded for each pixel, the more shades and hues that the file can contain. Bits-Per-Pixel and Color Depth Most raster formats support more than one level of bits-per-pixel, and therefore more than one level of color. The following table lists the bits-per-pixel ratios in the raster formats that Paint Shop Pro supports, and shows the corresponding maximum number of colors.
Most raster formats record color information on pixel-by-pixel basis, but some formats use color planes. Each color plane contains all of the pixel information for a single color. Color planes are also called "color channels". Formats that use color planes are called "planar" formats. The bits-per-pixel are determined by the bits-per-plane times the number of planes. If the resulting number is not a power of two (expressible as 2x, where x is an integer), then the bits-per-pixel are "promoted" to the next- highest power of two. For example, if there are two bits-per-plane and three planes, the bits-per-pixel are promoted to eight: 2 x 3 = 6, and 22 < 6 < 23. Supported Formats The following table lists the raster file formats supported by Paint Shop Pro.
= Paint Shop Pro can open files of this specification = Paint Shop Pro can save files to this specification Format Sub-Format / Description Source/Standard Bits-Per-Pixel and Color Type 1 4 8Grey 8Color 16 24 32 BMP RGB encoded OS/2 BMP RGB encoded Microsoft Windows BMP RLE encoded Microsoft Windows CLP Bitmap Windows Clipboard CLP Device Independent Bitmap Windows Clipboard CUT Dr. Halo DIB RGB encoded OS/2 DIB RGB encoded Microsoft Windows DIB RLE encoded Microsoft Windows GIF Ver. 87a (interlaced) CompuServe GIF Ver. 87a (non-interlaced) CompuServe GIF Ver. 89a (interlaced) CompuServe GIF Ver. 89a (non-interlaced) CompuServe IFF Compressed Electronic Arts IFF Uncompressed Electronic Arts IMG Old Style GEM Paint IMG New Style GEM Paint JIF Huffman compressed Joint Photo. Expert Group JPG Huffman compressed Joint Photo. Expert Group LBM Compressed Deluxe Paint LBM Uncompressed Deluxe Paint MAC With header MacPaint MAC Without header MacPaint MSP New version Microsoft Paint MSP Old version Microsoft Paint PBM Portable Bitmap UNIX PCD Kodak Photo CD PCX Version 0 ZSoft Paintbrush PCX Ver. 2 (with palette info.) ZSoft Paintbrush PCX Ver. 3 (without palette info.) ZSoft Paintbrush PCX Version 5 ZSoft Paintbrush PGM Portable Graymap UNIX PIC Pictor/PC Paint PNG Portable Network Graphics PPM Portable Pixelmap UNIX PSD RGB or indexed Photoshop RAS Type 1 (Modern Style) Sun Microsystems RAW Un-encoded pixel data RLE CompuServe CompuServe RLE Windows Microsoft Windows TGA No compression Truevision TGA Compressed Truevision TIFF Huffman compressed Aldus Corporation TIFF No compression Aldus Corporation TIFF Pack bits compressed Aldus Corporation TIFF LZW compressed Aldus Corporation TIFF Fax Group 3 compressed Aldus Corporation TIFF Fax Group 4 compressed Aldus Corporation WPG Version 5.0 WordPerfect WPG Version 5.1 WordPerfect WPG Version 6.0 WordPerfect
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Meta and Vector Image Formats
Meta and vector image formats can both contain vector information. Vector information is a collection of geometric shapes that combine to make an image. The information is recorded as mathematical formulas. Vector data cannot reproduce photo-realistic images, but for other types of images it has two advantages over raster data: it is scaleable without distortion (the "jaggies" that come with re-sizing a bitmap), and it produces smaller files. In the strictest definition, a vector format can only contain vector information. In common practice, many formats that are considered to be vector allow the user to include non-vector data, such as raster images or text. Meta formats explicitly allow more than just vector data. For example, a typical Windows metafile might contain a bitmap, vector information, and text, with the bitmap constituting the majority of the image, and the vector and text data providing annotation. Paint Shop Pro can read vector data, but it cannot write vector data. When you view a vector image from Paint Shop Pro, what you are seeing is a raster image based on the vector data. Paint Shop Pro imports the vector image and converts it to an internal raster format. Paint Shop Pro can write to the Windows metafile format, but the resulting files contain raster data only. Supported Formats The following table lists the meta and vector formats supported by Paint Shop Pro. = Paint Shop Pro can open files of this format = Paint Shop Pro can save files to this format Format Source/Standard Open/Save CDR CorelDRAW! CGM Computer Graphics Metafile DRW Micrografx Draw DXF Autodesk GEM Ventura/GEM HGL Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language PIC Lotus Development Corp. WMF Microsoft Windows Metafile * WPG WordPerfect * When you save data in the Windows metafile format, the file contains raster data only. JASC has provided this capability at the request of its customers.
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Other Formats: External Import Filters
In addition to the file formats that it supports directly (see Raster Image Formats and Meta and Vector Image Formats), Paint Shop Pro can also read other image file formats if the appropriate external import filters are installed on your system. Most major software applications, such as Microsoft Word®, install external import filters. A common file type that Paint Shop Pro can support via external import filters is the Macintosh® PICT format (".PCT"). In Paint Shop Pro's dialog boxes, the file types that are supported via external import filters have "EXT:" after the file extension. For example, the Macintosh® PICT format appears as "PCT - EXT: Macintosh PICT (.PCT)". |
Text
Files - There are various text formats which hold more or less
information and do different jobs. The most basic text format is .txt
which is used by NOTEPAD for basic note taking.The more sophisticated
wordprocessing formats use .doc or some other extension. Several formats
are supported by WORD.Some of the more well-known are listed here with
descriptions of their pros and cons.
The following is taken from Word2000's HELP file - if you wish to know more about text file formats,it is worth using the WORD helpfile to read about them.
About file formats in Word 2000 This topic provides reference information about:
Understanding file formats A file format is the way in which information is stored in a file so that a program can open and save the file. A file's format is indicated by a three-letter extension after the file name. For example, when you save a new document in Microsoft Word 2000, Word by default stores it in Word 2000 format with a .doc file extension. If you want to convert a document to a different format so that you or someone else can open it in another program or in an earlier version of Word, you can select that file format when you save the document. When you install Word 2000, many file formats are included by default unless you or your administrator choose to make them unavailable on your computer. If the format you want isn't in the Save as type list (click Save As on the File menu), you can install additional file format converters. Using other file formats to share documents When you need to share documents with people who use other programs or who use versions of Word that have a different file format (such as Word 6.0/95 or Word for the Macintosh), you can save documents in other file formats. For example, you can open a document created in WordPerfect, make changes to it in Word, and then save it in either Word or WordPerfect format. How to share documents created in different versions of Word or convert files between Word and WordPerfect. Changing the default file format If you always save documents in a different format for example, if you need to share all the documents you create with coworkers who are using a previous version of Microsoft Office you can change the default file format Word uses to save new documents. This setting affects only new documents you create. Word saves existing documents in the same format they were opened in. |
Font files - Font files are those which contain
a style to change how lettering appears on a page.For instance the
webpage that you are viewing now is showing this type in Times New Roman,but
the face or font of the characters can be changed to
Arial by use of HTML. The current nominal Font
file is .TTF which is a True Type Font.
Template files - Template files are those which
dictate a format or style for a letter or document and save having
to re-write the basic form of a text file.The most likely form of a template
is .DOT but there will be others depending on what program you are using.Some
image programs may have a template,which may allow superior editing abilities
for later merging.
Compressed
files - Compressed files are a way of reducing the size of an existing
file by using a squashing algorithm. .DOC files for instance can become
rather large when they have pictures embedded in them.With the use of .ZIP
files the same document can use up much less space.The drawback is that the
file has to be "unzipped" first before the program can read it. Compressed
files are often used when making
attached documents for
emails as this reduces the transmission time needed to send the file to someone
else.
Help files - .HLP files are the most common
extension,though today .HTM is becoming a format used as a help system because
like .HLP it can contain links to other subjects within the document system
which allows cross referencing of notions that someone may need help on.
To find out more about .HLP files look at one of the files used with WORD
and pick HELP from the Menu bar.
Executable
files - .EXE files are the main program files within Windows.All
the programs that run under windows will have this format.It is not therefore,
a good idea to rename the extension name of a .exe as this will stop your
system from running. EXE format files along with DLL and some others
(.SYS) are SYSTEM files and as such may well be hidden from view -
they can be unhidden by use of the File Options menu - but this is
not recommended.Unless you are a programmer,system files should be left alone
to do the job for which they were intended-supplying the user with applications
that they can use.
Glossary - Nonalphabetic Terms & (ampersand) - Bitwise-AND operator. Two ampersands (&&) denote the logical-AND operator.
.APS - A binary version of the current resource file that is created by the Microsoft Visual C++ and used for quick loading of resources. Microsoft Visual C++ gives this file an .APS filename extension. .BAT - An unformatted text file that contains one or more commands, either internal operating-system commands or program names. A batch file is executable and can be run from the command line. .BMP - A file that contains a collection of structures that specify or contain the following elements:
Bitmap files usually have a .BMP filename extension. See also bitmap, device-independent bitmap file. .BSC - A file created from source browser information (.SBR) files, using the Microsoft Browse Information File Maintenance Utility (BSCMAKE). Browse information files can be examined in browse windows and usually have a .BSC extension. .bss - A predefined data section of an executable file that contains uninitialized data, including all variables declared as static within a function or source module. The linker combines all the .bss sections in the object (.OBJ) and library (.LIB) files into one .bss section in the executable file. .C - A text file containing C language code. .CLW - A file that ClassWizard generates, containing information needed to edit existing classes or add new classes to a project. ClassWizard also uses the ClassWizard file to store information needed to create and edit message maps and dialog data maps, and to create prototype member functions. ClassWizard files have a .CLW filename extension. .COM - An executable binary (program) file whose code is limited to a single 64-kilobyte segment. Compact executable files usually have a .COM filename extension and are often used for utility programs and short routines. See also executable file. .CPP - Or .CXX file. A text file containing C++ source code. .CUR - A file that contains an image that defines the shape of a cursor on the screen. Cursor resource files usually have a .CUR filename extension. .DEF - A text file that contains one or more statements describing various attributes of an executable module. Module-definition files usually have a .DEF filename extension. See also dynamic-link library file. .DIB - A file containing an array of bits combined with several structures that specify the width and height of the bitmapped image (in pixels), the color format of the device where the image was created, and the resolution of the device used to create that image. The DIB file format ensures that bitmap graphics created in one application can be loaded and displayed in another application exactly the way they appear in the originating application. See also bitmap, bitmap file. .DLG - A file that contains dialog-box source code. Note that a dialog file is not required for a Visual C++ project because Visual C++ keeps this code in the resource-definition file. .DLL - A file that contains one or more functions that are compiled, linked, and stored separately from the processes that use them. In Win32, the operating system maps the dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) into the address space of a process when the process is starting up or while it is running. The process then executes functions in the DLL. Dynamic-link library files usually have a .DLL filename extension. .DSP - Formerly known as the .MAK file. The project build file that specifies how to build a particular project in a project workspace. The file contains source file names and locations, build settings, and debug settings, including breakpoints and watches. In terms of source control, .DSP files can be shared. .DSW - A file created and maintained by Visual C++ that contains information formerly stored as part of the .MDP file. The file contains information about the project workspace such as a list of all the projects. This file is used by Visual C++ and should not be edited by the user. In terms of source control, the .DSW file can be shared. .EXE - A program file created from one or more source code files translated into machine code and linked together. The MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT operating systems use the .EXE filename extension to indicate that the file is a runnable program. .EXP - A file that contains information about exported functions and data items. The Microsoft 32-Bit Library Manager tool (LIB.EXE) generates the exports file from the module-definition (.DEF) file. The linker uses the exports file to build the dynamic-link library (.DLL) file. Exports files have a .EXP filename extension. .H - An external source file, identified at the beginning of a program, that contains commonly used data types and variables used by functions in the program. The #include directive is used to tell the compiler to insert the contents of a header file into the program. See also C++ header file. .HLP - A file that contains text and graphics needed to communicate online information about an application. Each help file contains one or more topics a user can select by clicking hot spots, using the keyword search, or browsing through topics. Help files have a .HLP filename extension. See also Help topic. .HM - A file that defines Help context IDs corresponding to the IDs of dialog boxes, menu commands, and other resources in an application. A custom build rule on a project's RESOURCE.H file in AppWizard projects calls the MAKEHM tool to generate the .HM file based on any change in the contents of the RESOURCE.H file (the MAKEHELP.BAT file performed this function in prior versions of Visual C++). The Help map file has a .HM filename extension. See also Help project file. .HPJ - A project file that controls how the Windows Help Compiler creates a Help (.HLP) file from topic files. The Microsoft Help Workshop is used to create a Help project file. The filename extension of a Help project file is .HPJ. .HPP - Or .HXX file. An external source file, identified at the beginning of a C++ program, that contains commonly used data types and variables used by functions in a program. The #include directive is used to tell the compiler to insert the contents of a header file into the program. .ICO - In Windows, a file that contains a bitmap of an icon. Icon files usually have a .ICO filename extension. .ILK - A state file generated to hold status information for later incremental links of the program. The file has the same base name as the executable file or dynamic-link library and the filename extension .ILK. The incremental status file is created the first time the Incremental Linker (LINK.EXE) runs in incremental mode. LINK updates the file during subsequent incremental builds. LINK is the only tool that uses the .ILK file. See also incremental link. .INI - In Windows, a file that an application uses to store information that otherwise would be lost when the application closes. Initialization files typically contain information such as user preferences for the configuration of the application. Initialization files usually have a .INI filename extension. .LIB - A Common Object File Format (COFF) file generated by the Microsoft 32-bit library manager tool, LIB, for standard and import libraries. The default filename extension for these files is .LIB. See also dynamic-link library file, static-link library. .MAK - (VC++ version 4 and earlier) A file that contains all commands, macro definitions, options, and so on to specify how to build the projects in a project workspace. The makefile can be used to build using an application other than Visual C++. A makefile has the filename extension .MAK and usually has the same base name as the workspace configuration (.MDP) file. Visual C++ 6.0 converts .MAK files to .DSP files. .MAP - A text file that contains information about the program being linked, including the groups in the program and a list of public symbols. The linker names the mapfile with the base name of the program and the filename extension .MAP. .OBJ - A file containing object code and/or data generated by a compiler or an assembler from the source code of a program. Object files generated by the Visual C++ compiler have a .OBJ filename extension. See also Common Object File Format (COFF). .ODL - In OLE Automation, text files containing a description of an application's interface. Object description language scripts are compiled into type libraries using the MkTypLib tool included with the OLE Software Development Kit. .OGX - A C++ Component Gallery component that has been exported to a file so it can be shared. The resulting file contains classes and resources for the component. .OLB - A dynamic-link library with a type library resource. An object library file typically has a .OLB filename extension. .OPT - The workspace options file, which stores information about the physical layout and characterisitics you've determined for Visual C++, such as window layout. In terms of source control, the .OPT file is not shareable. .PBI - In a profiling operation, a file that provides condensed information to the Visual C++ profiler (PROFILE). The PREP program generates a profiler batch input file the first time the profiler is run on a program. The default filename extension for profiler batch input files is .PBI. See also profiler batch output file, profiler batch text file. .PBO - An intermediate file generated by the Visual C++ profiler (PROFILE) and used to transfer information between profiling steps. See also profiler, profiler batch input file, profiler batch text file. .PBT - In a profiling operation, the file generated by the PREP program and used as input to the PLIST program to generate a human-readable profile of the source code. See also profiler, profiler batch input file, profiler batch output file. .PCH - A file containing compiled code for a portion of a project. Subsequent builds combine this file with the uncompiled code, thus shortening the overall compile time. The default filename extension for a precompiled header file is .PCH. .PDB - A file used by the build tools to store information about a user's program. The program database file speeds linking during the debugging phase of development by keeping the debugging information separate from the object files. .RC - Or resource script file. A text file containing descriptions of resources from which the resource compiler creates a binary resource file. For Microsoft Windows applications, resource-definition files usually have a .RC filename extension. For Apple Macintosh applications, such files are typically named with a .R extension and written with the Apple Rez script language. See also compiled resource file. .REG - In OLE applications, a text file description of the classes supported by a server application. When a server application is installed in a system, the contents of its registration entry file are merged with the system registry. Registration entry files usually have a .REG filename extension. .RES - Or binary resource file. A binary file that contains a Windows-based application's resource data and is created by the resource compiler from the resource-definition (.RC) file. Compiled resource files usually have a .RES filename extension. See also Macintosh binary resource file, resource compiler. .RSC - A Macintosh resource file that has been created from a Windows resource script (.RC) and compiled using the Windows Portability Library version of the Windows Resource Compiler (RC.EXE). By default, .RSC is the filename extension for Macintosh binary resource files. .RTF - A file that contains encoded, formatted text and graphics for easy transfer between applications. The rich-text encoding format is commonly used by document-processing programs such as Microsoft Word for Windows and for generating online Help files. Rich-text format files usually have a .RTF filename extension. .SBR file - An intermediate file that the compiler creates for use by the Microsoft Browse Information Maintenance Utility (BSCMAKE). There is one .SBR file for each object (.OBJ) file. BSCMAKE uses the .SBR files to create a browse information (.BSC) file. .TLB - Or OLE library. An OLE compound document file containing standard descriptions of data types, modules, and interfaces that can be used to fully expose objects for OLE Automation. The type library file usually has a .TLB filename extension and can be used by other applications to get information about the automation server. .TXT - A human-readable file composed of text characters. A text file is usually identified by a file extension of .TXT. See also binary file, rich-text format file. .WAV - A Microsoft standard file format for storing waveform audio data. Wave files have a .WAV filename extension. .WRI - A document file that is associated with the Windows Write text editor. The default filename extension for Windows Write files is .WRI @ (at sign) - In e-mail addresses, separates the user name from the domain name. See also address. Points to the input command file used by CL or LINK, as in LINK @LINK.RSP. See also command file. 16-bit application - A program written for a system (such as MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows version 3.1) that uses a 16-bit segmented architecture, in which each memory address points to a 16-bit word. 16-bit character - A character that is 2 bytes in size, unlike an ANSI character, which is 1 byte in size. Sixteen-bit characters are found in Unicode sets, multibyte character sets (MBCS), and double-byte character sets (DBCS). 32-bit application - A program written for a system (such as Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 95) that uses a 32-bit architecture, in which each memory address points to a 32-bit word. 8.3 filename convention - The naming convention for filenames in MS-DOS that allows up to eight characters, with an optional period and three-character extension. See also base name, filename extension. |
Points to remember about File Extensions: