G L O S S A R Y O F F I L E N A M E E X T E N S I O N S Extensions give valuable clues to help identify file types. In fact, I believe that they are the key to computing success. However, these extensions are not written in stone. For example, on an MS-DOS system, a person can easily name or rename a file anything so long as the name is no more than eight characters in length, and the extension can't be more than three characters in length. Nevertheless, the file name extensions below are conventional and should help you identify file types. When I say "conventional," I mean that these extensions are used by the computer community at large to instantly communicate information. A person, who is knowledgeable about file name extensions, can take an unlabeled diskette and do a directory--DIR . From the directory, he or she can determine what programs are on the diskette and which files contain the manual, then proceed to sucessfully run the program--most of the time. So can you! .$$$ A temporary work file. Any file name extension that starts with a .$-- is probably a temporary work file. These are often erased (or should be) by the program which created them. .1ST Usually a text file with the name README.1ST. These often contain instructions for running software. .AFM An Adobe PostScript font support file. .ALL A WordPerfect file containing printer and font definitions. .ANS An ANSI graphics file. .ARC A compressed archived file. You can usually uncompress these by using PKUNPAK.EXE, by PKWARE, Inc., which is a shareware program. .ARJ A compressed archived file. You can extract these files using ARJ.EXE, by Robert K. Jung. This is a shareware program. .ART A graphics file for First Publisher. .ASC An ASCII text file. .ASM A file that is in assembly language source code. .ASP A script file used by Procomm. .AU Audio data file. .BAK A backup file. A backup file may save the day. .BAS Indicates the program is written in BASIC language. You need to load a BASIC language program to run these. .BAT A batch file. These can be run by just typing the file name. .BIN A binary file. .BIT A LOTUS Manuscript graphics file. .BLD A BSAVEd BASIC binary file. These are loaded with BLOAD. .BMP "Wallpaper" graphics file for Microsoft Windows. .C Indicates the source code for a program written in C language. .CAL A calendar file. .CAT A master catalog file used with MSBACKUP (DOS 6). .CDR A graphics file for Corel Draw. .CFG A configuration file. Sometimes it is necessary to modify these with your text editor. .CFN A configuration file. .CGM Computer Graphics Metafile. .CHK A file produced by the DOS CHKDSK command. These files are written to the root directory when you convert lost chains to files. .CLP A Windows file that has been saved to the clipboard. .COB A source code for COBOL language. .COD An object code file used by compilers. .COM A command file. These can be run by just typing the file name and pressing . .CPI Code page information files for foreign character sets. .CPL A Windows control panel file. .CRD A card file for Windows. .CRF A cross reference file. .CUT Halo I, II, III graphics file. Used by Dr. Halo program. .DAT A file containing data. .DB A Paradox data file. .DB2 A dBASE II file. .DB3 A dBASE III file. .DB4 A dBASE IV file. .DBF A database file. Used with dBASE or compatible programs. .DCT A dictionary file. .DEV A device driver file. .DHP A Dr. Halo PIC graphics format file. .DIB A device-independent bitmap graphics file. .DIC A dictionary file. .DIF Data Interchange Format. ASCII files used by spreadsheets. Or a differential backup catalog file used with MSBACKUP (DOS 6). .DIZ A text file found in shareware that describes the software. .DJP An HP softfont file for a Deskjet printer. .DLL Windows Dynamic Link Library file. .DOC Documentation text file. DOC files are often the manual for programs. It is IMPORTANT TO READ THESE FIRST. Use the DOS TYPE command, or you can use a text editor or most word processors. Just to keep you on your toes, Microsoft Word uses a .DOC extension for files it creates. .DRV Hardware driver. These interface your hardware. .DRW A graphics file used by Corel Draw. .DVP A DESQview configuration file. .DVR A device driver file. .DWG Autocad drawing file. .DXF An Autocad graphics file. .EPS Encapsulated PostScript file used by desktop publishing programs. .EXE Executable file. To run these, just type the file name and press . Look for these when you do a directory. .FMT A formatting file used by dBASE III. .FNT A font file. .FON A font file. .FOR A FORTRAN language source code file. .FOT A Windows file for a TrueType scalable outline font. .FOX A FoxBASE database file. .FRM A form file. .FUL A full backup catalog file used with DOS 6 MSBACKUP. .GDI A GEM Metafile. .GIF A CompuServe graphics file. Graphics Interchange Format. .GRP A Windows Group data file. .GX1 Show Partner graphics file. .H A C language header file. .HLP A help file. Sometimes these are text files. .HNT A file containing hints. Usually a game. .HPF HP/PCL printer Bitstream soft Fonts. .HPG A Hewlett Packard Graphics language file. .HST Often a text file showing the history of a particular program. .HYC A hyphenation list file for WordPerfect. .ICE A file compressed by LHice. .ICO Icon graphics file used by PROGMAN in Microsoft Windows. .IDX A FoxBASE database index file. .IFF A Deluxe Paint II graphics file. .IMG A GEM Paint graphics file which can often be used by desktop publishing programs. .INC An incremental backup file used with the DOS 6 MSBACKUP. .INF An INFormation file, usually a text file. Read it first. .INI A Windows initialization file. .ISF An IBM image support facility file. .JPG JPEG--Joint Picture Experts Group compressed graphics image file. .KEY KEYboard macro definition files. .LBM An IFF graphics file used by Deluxe Paint and others. .LIB A Library file used by a computer language compiler. .LST A text file consisting of a list of files. .LTR A letter file. .LZH A compressed archived file. To uncompress this type of file, you need LHA.EXE, by Haruyasu Yoshizaki. This is freeware. .MAC A MacPaint graphics file or a MACRO file. .MAN A file that contains the manual for a program. This is usually in the form of a text file. .ME Usually a text file with the name READ.ME. These can be read with the DOS TYPE command. You can also use an editor or word processor to view and print these files. .MID A MIDI audio file. .MNU A menu file or a mouse control file. .MOD A file to support data exchange between DOS and Windows. .MPG MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) movie files. You need an .MPG viewer like VMPEG by Stefan Eckhart for viewing. .MSP Microsoft Windows graphics file. .NAM A Print Shop "name file." .NDX A dBASE database index file. .NG A database file for Norton Guides. .NTX A dBASE index file. .OBJ An object code file. .OLD A file that has been backed-up by renaming the file. .OVL An overlay file. .OVR An overlay file. .P A text file that indicates Pascal language source code. .PAK A compressed archived file. To uncompress, you need a shareware program called PAK.EXE, by NoGate Consulting. .PAS A PASCAL programming file. The source code file. .PCC A graphics file used by Z-Soft. HINTūRename these with a .PCX extension, and you can often use them in other programs. .PCD Kodak Photo-CD graphics files used for their CD-ROM format. .PCX A PC Paintbrush (Z-Soft) graphics file. These can often be used by desktop publishing programs. .PDF A Printer Definition File. .PDV A Microsoft Paintbrush device driver file. .PDX A Paradox file. .PGM A program binary file. .PIC A LOTUS graphics file, or graphics file used by PC Paint +, Grasp, and others. .PIF A Windows Program Information File .PIM A permanent image file used by some graphics programs. .PNM A New Print Shop "name file." .POG A New Print Shop graphics file. .PRD A printer definition file used by Microsoft Word, etc. .PRG A programming source file. .PRN Usually a text file that should be printed. .PRS A WordPerfect printer definition file. .PRT A file to be printed. Sometimes these are text files and contain the documentation or manual. .PSO PostScript PDL printer Bitstream softfonts file. .REC A Windows macro recorder file. .RLE A Run-Length-Encoded graphics file. .SAV A file that has been backed-up or a saved position in a game. .SCR A script file used by a telecommunications program or a screen file. .SCT A Lotus Manuscript screen capture text file. .SCX Graphics file for RIX/EGA and ColoRix programs. .SDN A compressed archived file distributed by SDN International. This is Fidonet's Shareware Distribution Network. To uncompress .SDN files dated 1993 and later, use ARJ.EXE version 2.41 or later. ARJ.EXE is a shareware program. SDN files prior to 1993 require PAK.EXE, by NoGate Consulting, to uncompress. .SDR A Printmaster "name file." .SET A backup set used with MSBACKUP. .SFL An HP PCL 4 bitmapped SoftFont file (Landscape orientation). .SFP An HP PCL 4 bitmapped SoftFont file (Portrait orientation). .SFS A SoftFont file indicating a Screen font. .SHP A Printmaster graphics file. .SK A SideKick Plus utility file. .STY Style files for WordPerfect. .SYS A device driver file. Usually you need to add a line to the CONFIG.SYS file to install these. The CONFIG.SYS file resides in the root directory of the boot disk. .TGA A file used by Targa 16. .THS A thesaurus file for WordPerfect. .TIF A graphics file called Tagged Image Format. Used by Aldus Pagemaker and other desktop publishing programs. .TMP A temporary file. .TST A test file. .TTF A Windows header file for a TrueType scalable outline font. .TUT A tutorial file. .TXT A text file. These often contain the directions for how to run a program. ASCII text files can be viewed using the DOS TYPE command or loaded into most editors and word processors. .UC2 A compressed file archived using UltraCompressor II from Ad Infinitum Programs (The Netherlands). You should obtain the self-extracting shareware program called UC2R2.EXE which contains the file to uncompress .UC2 files. .UPD An updated text file usually containing history. .VBX A Visual Basic control file. .VOC A Soundblaster sound file. .WAV A Windows sound file. .WK1 A LOTUS spreadsheet file for version 2.0. .WKE A LOTUS educational worksheet file. .WKQ A QUATTRO spreadsheet file. .WKS A LOTUS spreadsheet file for version 1A. .WMF A Windows Metafile graphics format file. .WPG A WordPerfect Graphics file for version 5.0 and later. .WPK A WordPerfect keyboard macro file. .WPM A WordPerfect Macro file. .WQ1 A spreadsheet file for Quattro 1.0. .WRI A text file for Windows Write. .WRK A Symphony spreadsheet file. .XLS An Excel spreadsheet file. .XLT A file containing translation tables. .XTP An Xtree overlay file. .ZIP A compressed archived file. You need PKUNZIP.EXE to uncompress and use these files. This is a shareware program. PKUNZIP is by PKWARE, Inc. You will want to obtain the latest version. At this writing it is PKZIP204G.EXE. .ZOO A compressed archived file. Requires ZOO.EXE to uncompress. Note* Those on the Internet need to know about dozens of other file name extensions. "Steve's Essential Internet Tips" will show how to get information on these and more! ======================================================= This section is finished. Copyright (c) 1995 by Steven Woas. All rights reserved. Registered users of Modem Workshop receive "Steve's Essential Internet Tips" as a bonus. See OTHER PRODUCTS at the main menu for a description and pricing on these exciting products: Steve's Essential Internet Tips Detective Databases, 1995 edition Online Medical! Learning DOS for the Complete Novice, 2nd edition The Superhighwayman =======================================================