An introduction to file extensions
In an effort to be “user friendly” Windows (and perhaps some other operating systems) hides the most important part of a file name of new computer users: the extension. Well - we’re assuming that the reasoning behind hiding extensions is a “user friendly” because one can not reach any other reason to hide. There could never hurt to see an extension, but much of what could be learned. Fortunately you have this rule to guide you through some of the most common extensions you are going to run on.
But before you can see file extensions, you need to turn them. From Windows Explorer, click the “Tools” menu and select Options file. ” Click the View tab, then uncheck the box next to “Hide file extensions for known file types.” Click “OK” and you notice that the files in Windows Explorer shows and a group of three letters after their names. That point and the group of three letters is known as an “extension” and the extension explains what kind of file is.
A file may be a plain text file, image, audio, video, or program. But without seeing the extension, you do not know that unless you double-click on it. The following list defines some of the most common extensions found on his computer.
. au - This extension indicates a sound file. Most of the players sound load and play this kind of file.
. art - This extension indicates an image file that was compressed with AOL (americas Online) technology. Both Internet Explorer and AOL service software can show this kind of file, however, if you do not have AOL installed, Internet Explorer will show the same.
. avi - This extension indicates a video file reproduced by the majority of spectators including multimedia Microsoft Media Player.
. bmp - This extension indicates another image file that could have originated in the Paint program in Windows.
. dll - This extension indicates a dynamic link library that may contain programming code software. Many different programs often share Dynamic Link Libraries and find a bunch of them in the Windows / System directory (but never erase them)!
. exe - This extension indicates a program or an application such as Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer or Outlook Express. Use extreme caution when downloading. Exe of the Internet from malicious programmers to hide as well as viruses in these files.
. gif - This extension indicates another image file and that means “GIF” .. GIF files are smaller than often. bmp files (described above) and are commonly found on Internet web pages.
. jpg - This extension indicates an image file and that means “Photographers Joint Experts Group.” Like the. gif file, is frequently found on the Internet websites, however is much smaller than that. and the GIF image. BMP image.
. mid - This extension indicates an audio file created with a musical instrument digital interface. Windows Media Player will open and run these files, however not sound like normal. Wav O. MP3 files (described below). . Mid files are designed for products using synthetic sounds of a computer sound card.
. mp3 - This extension indicates a sound file that plays the authentic voice and / or music. Windows Media Player will open and run this type of file.
. scr - This extension indicates a screen saver file.
. sit - This extension indicates a file StuffIt Macintosh file. They will not open in a Windows system for a specific tool.
. ttf - This extension indicates a font specially designed for use on Windows. It stands for “True Type Font.”
. txt - This extension indicates a plain text file that can be opened with Notepad.
. wav - This extension indicates a sound file that, like him. mp3 file, can be opened with Windows Media Player or Windows Sound Recorder. . WAV files are much larger. MP3 files.
. zip - This extension indicates a file in Windows file WinZip. They will not open on a Macintosh for a specific tool.