Overview of Common File Types
When you receive an attachment via email or a floppy on a disk or any file that comes your way and you are not sure of how to use it, first check the suffix of the filename. The suffix consists of the last 3 or 4 digits:
- syllabus_1.doc
- index.html
- cats.jpg
Follwing is a list of suffixes to check for if you receive a file and you are not sure what it is or how it is used. If you have suggestions for additional files to add to the list, please let us know.
File | Platform | Description |
---|---|---|
AI | Windows, Mac | Adobe Illustrator image file |
BMP | Windows | bit map image |
DB | Windows | Paradox database |
DOC | Windows, Mac | MS Word document |
DOT | Windows, Mac | MS Word template |
DVI | Unix, PC-DOS | low-level format |
EPS | Unix, Windows, Mac | Encapsulated Postscript file |
EXE | Windows, Mac | program (or "executable") file; this can also be a self-extracting zip file |
FLA | Windows, Mac | Flash movie |
GIF | Unix, Windows, Mac | An image format commonly used on the web. This format is limited to 256 colors. MS Word can also "read" this image file. |
HTM, HTML | Unix, Windows, Mac | HyperText Markup Language file: This is a text file that is read by web browsers (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge) |
JPG, JPEG | Unix, Windows, Mac | An image format commonly used on the web. MS Word can also "read" this image file. |
MDB | Windows | MS Access database |
Windows, Mac, Unix | Adobe Acrobat file | |
PICT | Mac | image file |
PNG | Unix, Windows, Mac | This is an image format used on the web but is not as common as GIF or JPG. |
PPT | Windows, Mac | MS Powerpoint slide show |
PSD | Windows, Mac | Adobe Photoshop document |
PST | Windows, Mac | MS Outlook export file |
RTF | Windows, Mac, Unix | Rich-text format: A file containing text plus some formatting; this file type is sometimes used to convert documents from one word processor to another. |
TEX | Unix, PC (DOS) | Text file used for LaTeX documents |
TXT | Windows, Mac, Unix | Text file (also sometimes referred to as an "ASCII" file) |
VBS | Windows | Visual Basic Script: BE AWARE! Do not open an email with a .VBS attachment as that is a common way that viruses spread |
WPD | Windows | WordPerfect document |
XLS | Windows, Mac | MS Excel spreadsheet |
ZIP | Windows | compressed file; requires WinZip or Pkzip to be opened |
Additional filetypes for reference