What is it?
A file extension is simply the suffix at the end of a filename. It tells the user what type of file it is, and comes after the period at the end of the filename. For example, if a filename ends in “.txt”, it means that the file is a text document. Most file extensions are three letters long, but they can be as long as twenty letters or as short as one. For example, “.DESKTHEMEPACK” is used for Windows 8 desktop themes. The file extension determines what program is needed to open the file. By changing the file extension, you can change the type of program used to open the file.
How to
Opening a file extension is incredibly easy. You simply go to the file you are trying to open, double click it, and watch it open. There will be a time, however, when you need a document from one program to be accessible in another program. To do this, you need to be able to change a file extension. To start, make sure you know which document you want to change. Make a copy of it so you can still access it in the original program. Select the “Start” button and go to the control panel. Click the “Appearance” link, go to “Folder Options”, and then choose that tab that says “View”. Uncheck the option that says “Hide extensions for known file types”, and select the “Apply” option. Right-click on the file you wish to change, select “Rename”, and change the file extension manually. If it doesn’t work, you may have to use a free online file conversion program or website.
Why do it?
The main reason to change the type of file extension is to use a program that isn’t accessible in its current format. This is a very valuable tool for all people, especially for students in university or college. Perhaps they need to access an important journal article for an assignment, but it won’t open in the proper format. By changing the file to a PDF or word document, they should be able to access the journal, which could be extremely important. This also applies to other important business documents, or any file that you are trying to access that won’t work in the extension it is currently in.
Risks
If you are uncomfortable changing a file name or don’t know very much about various computer operations, you may want to get a professional to do it for you. Changing a file extension can, at times, corrupt the file. If the file corrupts, you lose access to the document all together. It is also incredibly important to make a copy of the document, even if you do have a lot of computer knowledge. That way, if the file does corrupt or something else goes wrong, you still have access to the original document. If it doesn’t work and you need to use a file converter site, try to use one of the more reputable ones to avoid any potential security risks. They are easy enough to find with a quick Google search.
