List of Frequently Asked File Extensions (link to common software links thread in square brackets)

Archive [ Software list for these type of files: Compression Tools ]
.7z - 7zip archive
.ace - WinACE, official way
.cbr
.cbz
.tar
.rar/.r01/.r##/.part01/.part##/.001 - If you find a directory with a bunch of files ending in .R##, it's a RAR archive split into multiple parts. This is commonly done for posting to Usenet newsgroups. Open the .RAR file and extract the contents with WinRAR
.zip

CD or DVD Image [ Software list for these type of files: CD / DVD Image Loaders ]
.bin/.cue - create cue sheet: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/7976
.cdi
.img, .ccd, .sub - created by CloneCD
.iso
.mdf/.mds
.nrg - Use Nero Image Drive (official way)

Documents [ Software list for these type of files: Office Productivity Software ]
.pdf - Adobe Reader
.xml/.xsl - Use a web browser to view
.doc - Use Wordpad, Yahoo! Mail, OpenOffice, Microsoft Word

Movies/Music [ Software list for these type of files: Audio Players | Video Players ]
.ape - need to install Monkey's Audio, built-in with foobar2000
.avi - it is a container, may contain various codecs, use GSpot to see what codec is used
.dat - usually VCD encoded MPEG
.ogm/.ogg - oggmedia, http://ld-anime.faireal.net/guide/ogm-en
.ram - Real Player (audio)
.rm/.rmvb - use Real Player 10 or install Real Alternative (don't install both, not recommended)
.m4a - use iTunes, foobar2000
.mkv - matroska
.mov - QuickTime, http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
.mpeg/.mpg - if MPEG2, need to install MPEG2(SVCD) decoder, Elecard is a good one
.vob (DVD) - use WinDVD, PowerDVD

Miscellaneous
.torrent - BitTorrrent, refer to BitTorrent Thread
.NFO - open the NFO file in Notepad, or any plain-text editor, DAMN NFO Viewer - Credit to Jimbitz
.SFV - try a program such as QuickSFV, fsum, WinAFV32: http://chrnutz.gmxhome.de/
.bc! - BitComet

List of common software links in this thread: http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=137138

If not listed here, please go to this site and search for it: http://www.filext.com/

Other useful sites:
- http://www.ace.net.nz/tech/TechFileFormat.html
- http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileFormatA/0...33,sid9,00.html
- http://www.stack.com/file/extension/
- Last but not least, do not forget Google

Credit to: acedriver, mitodna, lookie, d3x, Joey-kun, tanghm, []-mojo-sirap-[]. PM any of the software mods to report any dead links.

This post has been edited by shockw@ve: Oct 17 2005, 11:43 AM

The thread is just a couple of lines below this one.

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=38484

AVI is just a container. So it can contain any combination of audio/video codecs. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVI

It's even been posted in this thread before: http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...dpost&p=3677765

This thread is titled Frequently Asked File Extensions. Not video file formats.

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=38484

-threads merged-

You can have a look here: http://www.filext.com/detaillist.php?extde...c&Search=Search