You may have come across lots of files which you can open in different software’s. Every file extensions have certain applications they can open in. Some file extensions can open in multiple software’s too. For example a jpg or jpeg file can open in the default windows photo viewer or Photoshop or a custom software you have chosen.

When you install a software sometimes it is programmed within the installation to set up the software as the default viewer for a particular or multiple extensions. For example if you install a Internet Browser it will set itself as the default viewer for HTM and HTML files. Of course you can disallow this from happening in the custom / advanced options while installing the software or by modifying the options in your favorite software to set it as the default one.

If you do not use custom installation and any of the software’s you have installed have hijacked file extensions to open in themselves then you should definitely read how to reclaim your files to open in your favorite editor ^[1] which I had written earlier.

Getting back to file extensions, there are so many file extensions and so many different formats that different software’s use which makes it difficult to distribute and read files with unknown extensions.

For example some time back I had sent a compressed file to my friend which was compressed using WinRAR, but since he did not have WinRAR installed his PC could not identify the file it was shown as a unknown file. He emailed back to me asking what was the file type and which software it can be opened in. I explained to him that I was using a different compression called RAR which is better than the normal zip compression and he had to download a particular software to use that file.

It was just one of the times this has occurred. I have been subjected to unknown files from my friends or by downloading something which Windows does not recognize. I never have had to email back asking them what it is, because I could find everything about it just in the right place.

How many times do you receive or download such files that are unknown to Windows because no compatible software is installed? How many times have you just emailed back to ask what is this file? How many times have you simply deleted the files because you could not open it?

If you have been doing this for a while then here is how to easily find out yourself which software can open or run that unknown file extension.

Filext.com ^[2] is a simple solution which archives thousands of file extensions and gives you information about various file extensions. Here is what you can get to know about a particular extension.

1. What is the function of the extension.
2. Which company has innovated this extension.
3. Specific Notes about the extension.
4. MIME type of the extension.
5. Classification for the type of the extension.
6. Associated Links which link to the closest applications that can open or run this extension.

So now you have all the information you need about the file extension and also which application you would have to use about it. Isn’t it useful? Now you can stop deleting those files or make the sender a better geek by you having to ask him / her what file type is this.

So go ahead and start using Filext.com ^[2] to get more information about extensions you cannot recognize. You could also educate yourself more about different extensions that you use currently.

Do let me know if you have come across any unknown extensions which you have deleted? Was this information helpful? Your comments and views are always welcome.