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File Extensions

File extensions are the letters after the period in a filename for example the ".doc" part of the filename "GreatAmericanNovel.doc " in your computer. These filenames are required by Widows computers to determine which application should open the file when it is double-clicked.

Macintoshes do not require filename extensions but will use them if they are provided (for example in a file sent from a PC.) Macs have another way to determine which Application should open the file, the user has control over this and can change the application in the Get Info window for the file. The Get Info window is opened by selecting the file and then using [Command]-I on the keyboard amongst other methods.

Extention File type Application(s) Comments
.cwk Text AppleWorks
ClarisWorks
Can be opened in Pages or TextEdit but not completely
.doc Text
Word Processor
MicroSoft Word Can be opened in Pages or TextEdit but not completely
.docx Text
Word Processor
MicroSoft Word 2007 and later Can be opened in Pages or TextEdit but not completely. Cannot be opened in earlier versions of MS Word!
.pages Text
Word Processor
Pages Part of Apple's iWork
.rtf Text
Word Processor
Any Word Processor Rich Text Format - recommended for files to be transfered to other computers.
.rtfd Text
Word Processor
Any Word Processor Rich Text Format with images - recommended for files to be transfered to other computers.
.pdf Portable Preview Portable Document File. Designed to contain Text, Graphics, and multimedia content and be readable on any computer system. Created from the Print option in most Mac Applications
.txt Text
Word Processor
Any Word Processor Contains plain text and no graphics
.text Text
Word Processor
Any Word Processor Contains plain text and no graphics
.zip compressed Zipeg
(freeware)
Will self open on a mac
.sit compressed Stuffit
Expander
(freeware)
Mac binary compression
.sea compressed Stuffit
Expander
(freeware)
Mac binary compression - will self expand on a Mac
.bin compressed Stuffit
Expander
(freeware)
Mac binary compression
.hqx compressed Stuffit
Expander
(freeware)
Mac binary compression
.exe Windows none Windows executable or compression file. No good on a Mac
.jpg Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Common lossy compressed graphic format
.jpeg Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Common lossy compressed graphic format
.gif Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Graphics Interchange Format - Common lossless compressed graphic format, limited to 256 colors.
.png Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Portable Networks Graphics - Common lossless compressed graphic format.
.tiff Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Graphics Interchange Format - Common lossless compressed graphic format, high resolution large files.
.pict Graphic Preview and
any graphics application
Apple graphic format that handles bitmap and vector graphics
.psd Graphic Adobe Photoshop
.psd Graphic Adobe Photoshop
.mov Video QuickTime Apple Format. Opens on most Movie applications
.mpg Video QuickTime Common Movie format. Opens on iTunes and iMovie
.mpeg Video QuickTime Common Movie format. Opens on iTunes and iMovie
.swf Video needs plugins on a Mac Adobe Flash format
.wmv Video Flip4Mac
(freeware plugin)
Windows video. A number of plugins for Mac.
.htm Web Page Safari Hyper Text Markup Language. Text files opened in any web browser or text editor
.html Web Page Safari Hyper Text Markup Language. Text files opened in any web browser or text editor
.xml Web Page Safari Extensible Markup Language. Text files opened in any web browser or text editor
.aiff Audio iTunes Apple's high resolution audio format
.mp3 Audio iTunes Common Compressed format
.m4a Audio iTunes Common Compressed format
.wav Audio iTunes Windows format
.key Presentation KeyNote Apple format
.ppt Presentation PowerPoint Microsoft format
.dmg Disk image file OS-X Used to transfer data in a compressed form - Macintosh only.
.wdgt Widget Dashboard Widgets are small apps for the Dashboard application.
.plist Preferences Preference files for applications. Usually stored in the Library. Do not use them unless you know what you are doing.
.workflow Script Automator Scripts created with the Automator application to handle repetitious tasks.

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Made on a Mac

©Macintosh Appreciation Group of Island County (MAGIC) 2011
last updated: 30 September 2011