Common Filename Extensions

(Notes: Some programs may use these extensions for other types of files. Never delete a file unless you have a ready backup or are absolutely sure what it is. Also, there are many other types of files that are not listed here; this is just a sample list of some of the most common extensions.)

??_ =  LZW Compressed file for use with Expand command

CUR =  Cursor

??K =  Usually, if an extension ends with K, it is a backup file for a

DA0 =  Registration backup file particular program (except BMK--Help Bookmark)

DAT =  Program data file

??T =  Possibly a Template file for the format that starts with the same

DBF =  Database file (originally Dbase, but used by many programs) two letters

DCT =   Adobe Illustrator Spelling Dictionary

3GR =  Enhanced mode video grabber

DCX =   DCX Image (Kodak Imager, maybe??)

ACL =  MS Office AutoCorrect list

DES =   Database description file (ACT!)

ACM =  Microsoft Setup file

DIB =  Windows Device Independent Bitmap

ACM =  Audio Compression Codec

DIC =  Custom dictionary

ACP =  MS Office Assistant Character Profile (Actor)

DIF =  Data Interchange Format

ACT =  MS Office Assistant Character Actor file

DLL =  Dynamic Link Library, program module that can be called by any

ADI =  AutoCAD plotter file executable

AFM =  Adobe Font Metrics

DOC =  Documents (usually Microsoft Word for Windows)

AI  =  Adobe Illustrator drawing

DOT =  Document template (usually Microsoft Word for Windows)

AIP =   Adobe Illustrator Plugin

DRV =  Device drivers

AKF =   Adobe Acrobat Key file

DTB =  Uninstaller smartlinks file

ANI =  Animated cursor

DUN =  Dial Up Networking configuration file

ANN =  Help annotation file

DXF =  AutoCAD drawing

APF =   Adobe Acrobat Profile file

EPS =  Encapsulated Postscript drawing file

ART =   MS Internet Explorer Artwork

EXE =  Executable program (application)

ASF =  Streaming Audio/Video file

FAV =  MS Outlook Bar shortcut

ASX =  Streaming Audio/Video Shortcut

FDF =   Adobe Acrobat Forms Document

AU =  Digital recording file

FLI =  Animation file

AVB =  MS Chat Character

FLT =   Adobe Illustrator Filter

AVI =  Audio/Video Interleave (MS Movie), video clip

FLT =   Graphics import/export filter

BAK =  Backup files

FM =   Adobe FrameMaker file

BAS =  Basic program. Requires proper version of Basic language to run

FND =  Windows Explorer saved search

BAT =  Batch file of executable DOS commands

FON =  Bitmap? Font

BFC =   Windows Briefcase

FOT =  TrueType Font reference file (also requires a .TTF file)

BGB =  MS Chat Background

FRM =  Form definition

BIN =  Binary file (usually a program supplement)

FTG =  Win95 Help Index file

BMK =  Help file added bookmark file

FTS =  Win95 Help Index file (allows word search within Help file)

BMP =  bitmaps (Paintbrush picture)

GID =  Windows 95 Help setup info file. Created first time you use the

BOOK =  Adobe FrameMaker Book file. Modified when you access Help.

CAB =   Cabinet files (compressed files for use by an installation program)

GIF =  Graphics Image Format (CompuServe) bitmap

CAL =  Calendar file

GRA =  MS Graph chart

CBT =  Computer Based Training (tutorial)

GRB =  Grabber file (usually for Windows to interface with hardware)

CCC =  MS Chat Conversation

GRP =  Program Manager Application group (defines which icons are in

CCH =  CorelChart which window)

CDA =   CD Audio Track

HAV =  High Quality Audio Video (movie)

CDF =   Channel File

HGL =  Hewlett Packard Graphics Language

CDR =  CorelDraw drawing

HLP =  Windows help files

CDT =  CorelDraw template

HT =   HyperTerminal file

CER  =  Security certificate

HTA =   HTML Application

CFG =  Program configuration file

HTM =  Hyper text markup language (web page)

CGM =  Computer Graphics Metafile (vector graphics)

HTML = Hyper text markup language (web page)

CHM =  Compiled HTML file (often used for Help programs)

HTT =   Hypertext Template

CHW =  Compiled HTML help file index (can always be deleted safely)

HYP =   Adobe Illustrator Hyphenation Dictionary

CIL =   MS Clip Gallery Download Package

ICC =  Windows 95 color management profile

CLB =  Corel Draw compressed drawing library

ICL =  Icon library

CLP =   Clipboard Clip

ICO =  Icon file (note: many .exe and .dll files also contain icons)

CMD =  Windows NT command script

IDB =  Quicken Inventory Database

CMP =  lossy bitmap compression format

IDF =  MIDI Instrument Definition

CMX =  Corel Presentation Exchange

IDX =  Index file

CNT =  Windows Help Contents file

IIF =  QuickBooks for Windows export file

CNV =  File format converter file

INF =  Setup information

COM =  Executable DOS commands or programs

INI =  Windows initiation files (information the system uses at program

CPE =  Cover Page Editor document (Microsoft Fax) startup; user settings)

CPL =  Control Panel Library (contains code for Control Panel functions)

ISP =   Internet Communication Settings

CPS =  Central Point Virus Checker tracking file

ITS =   Internet Document Set

CPT =  Corel Photopaint bitmap

JFF =  JPEG bitmap

CRD =  Cardfile card stack file

JFIF =  JPEG image

CRT =  Security certificate

JOB =  Task Scheduler task object

CSS =   Hyper Text Style Sheet

JPE =  JPEG image

CSV =  Comma Separated Value text data file

JPG =  JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) lossy bitmap

QUE =  Task Scheduler Que Object compression format

REC =  Recorder macro file

LDB =  MS Access library file

REG =  Registration information

LEX =  Dictionary or thesaurus file

REP =   Report template (ACT!)

LIB =  Library file

RLE =  Run Length Encoding, lossless bitmap/video compression format.

LNK =  Win95 shortcut

RMI =  Some kind of media player music file (similar to MIDI)

LOG =  Log

RNK =   Dial-up shortcut

LSF =  Streaming Audio/Video file

RTF =  Rich Text Format

LSX =  Streaming Audio/Video Shortcut

RWZ =  Outlook Rules Wizard Rule File

LZW =  Lempel-Ziv-Welch, lossless bitmap compression format

SAM =  Ami Pro document

M3U =  Media Player media file

SBM =  X bitmap image

MAD =  MS Access Module Shortcut

SBX =   Adobe Illustrator Tsume File

MAF =  MS Access Form Shortcut

SCD =  Microsoft Schedule+ calendar file

MAM = MS Access Macro Shortcut

SCF =  Windows Explorer Command

MAQ =  MS Access Query Shortcut

SCR =  Screen saver

MAR =  MS Access Report Shortcut

SCT =  Windows Script component

MAT =  MS Access Table Shortcut

SET =  MS Backup settings file

MDA =  MS Access Database Wizard or Template

SGI =  Silicon Graphics Image

MDB =  MS Access database

SHB =  Shortcut into a document

MDW = MS Access workgroup information

SHD =  Printer spooling file

MID =  MIDI (Musical instrument digital interface) sound file

SHS =  Scrap object

MIF =   Adobe FrameMaker Interchange File

SLK =  MS Excel Data Import

MIX =  MS PhotoDraw graphic metafile

SND =  Sound file

MMM = Multimedia clip

SNP =  MS Access Report Snapshot (compressed)

MMM = Multiple Master metrics (Adobe)

SPL =  Printer spooling file

MOV =  QuickTime Movie

SPL =  Shockwave Flash Object

MP3 =  MP3 music file

SST =   Certificate Store

MPC =  MS Project calendar

STL =   Certificate Trust List

MPD =  MS Project Database file

STS =  Windows Startup System File (deleted upon successful start)

MPG =  MPEG compressed video

SWF =  Shockwave Flash Object

MPP =  MS Project project file

SWP =  Swap file

MPT =  MS Project template

SYD =  Backup configuration files created by using SYSEDIT

MPW =  MS Project Workspace

SYS =  either text system files (like CONFIG.SYS) or system drivers

MPX =  MS Project Exchange file

TAX =  Tax program file

MSG =  MS Exchange (Outlook) message

TGA =  Targa bitmap

NK2 =  MS Outlook AutoComplete entries list

TGA =  Targa bitmap image

OAB =  MS Exchange Offline Address Book

TIF =  Tagged image file format (TIFF) bitmap format for scanned

OCX =  Active X appletimages and photos

OFT =  MS Outlook form template

TMP =  temporary files. TMPs that start with ~ are Windows temp files

OLD =  Copy of configuration file made during program installation

TPL =   Template file (ACT!)

OPX =  MS Org Chart file

TRM =  Windows Terminal settings

OSS =  MS office saved search

TRN =  Translator

PAB =  Win95 Personal Address Book

TTF =  True Type font (note: also requires .FOT file)

PAL =  Color pallette

TUT =  Tutorial file

PAR =  Windows Swap File

TXT =  Text files (ASCII characters)

PAT =  Bitmap pattern for filling drawing objects

UDL =  Uninstaller backup file

PBK =   Dial-up Phonebook

ULS =  Internet Location Service

PCD =  Kodak Photo CD bitmap

URL =  Internet Shortcut (Uniform Resource Locator)

PCL =   Printer Control Language file

VCF =  MS Outlook vCard file

PCS =  Microsoft Office Clipart Gallery

VCS =  MS Outlook vCalendar file

PCX =  PC Paintbrush bitmap

VIR =  Norton Antivirus backup file

PDF =   Adobe Acrobat Portable Document file

VSD =  Visio drawing

PDX =   Adobe Acrobat Catalog Index

VSS =  Visio stencil

PFB =  Printer Font binary (Adobe)

VXD =  Virtual device driver

PFM =  Printer Font Metrics (Adobe)

WAV =  Wave digital audio sound file

PIC =  Lotus graphics, or QuickTime picture

WBK =  MS Word Backup

PIF =  Program Information File (tells Windows how to run DOS apps)

WDB =  MS Works database

PLT =  HP plotter print file

WHT =  MS NetMeeting Whiteboard

PM? =  Performance Monitor file

WIZ =  MS Word Wizard

PNG =  Portable Network Graphics file (Internet bitmap)

WK* =  Lotus 123 worksheet files

POL =  Windows System Policy File

WKS =  MS Works spreadsheet

POT =  Powerpoint 95 presentation template

WLL =  MS Word Add-In

PPA =  MS PowerPoint Add-In

WLL =  MS Word Link Library

PPS =  MS PowerPoint slide show

WMF =  Windows Metafile (vector graphics - clipboard format

PPT =  Powerpoint slide show

WPD =  Word Perfect Document (also used by ACT)

PRN =  Printer file

WPS =  MS Works document

PST =  MS Exchange (Outlook) profile

WRI =  Microsoft Windows Write documents

PT =  Kodak Precision Transform

WSC =  Windows Script component

PWL =  Password Library file

WSH =  Windows Scripting host settings

PWZ =  MS PowerPoint Wizard

XIF =  Wang(?) Image

QBB =  QuickBooks for Windows backup file

XLA =  Microsoft Excel for Windows add-in macro sheet

QBW =  QuickBooks for Windows file

XLB =  Microsoft Excel for Windows settings

QPC =  Kaleidagraph plot file

XLC =  MS Excel chart

QT =  QuickTime video

XLD =  MS Excel Dialog Sheet

XLK =  MS Excel Backup

XLV =  MS Excel VBA module

XLL =  MS Excel Add-In

XML =  XML web page markup language

XLM =  Microsoft Excel for Windows macro sheet

XNK =  Microsoft Exchange Shortcut

XLS =  Microsoft Excel for Windows worksheets (spreadsheets)

XSL =  XML style sheet

XLT =  Microsoft Excel for Windows templates

ZIP =  PKZip compressed file

If you're itching to delete those directories that start with a dollar sign. In a word, don't! Those files hold the information of your NTFS volume. Below is a list of all the files used by the file system:

$MFT—Master File Table

$MFTMIRR—A copy of the first 16 records of the MFT

$LOGFILE—Log of changes made to the volume

$VOLUME—Information about the volume, serial number, creation time, dirty flag

$ATTRDEF—Attribute definitions

$BITMAP—Contains drive cluster map

$BOOT—Boot record of the drive

$BADCLUS—A list of bad clusters on the drive

$UPCASE—Maps lowercase characters to uppercase version

Basic Linux Commands

Linux commands are still and they will always be very useful in a Linux system. I will try to list here, for linux beginners, some of the most important console commands:

Starting & Stopping 

shutdown -h now - Shutdown the system now and do not reboot.

halt - Stop all processes - same as above. 

shutdown -r 5 - Shutdown the system in 5 minutes and reboot.

shutdown -r now - Shutdown the system now and reboot.

reboot - Stop all processes and then reboot - as above.

startx - Start the X system.

Accessing & mounting file systems

mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom - Mount the device cdrom and call it cdrom under the /mnt directory.

mount -t msdos /dev/hdd /mnt/ddrive - Mount hard disk "d" as a msdos file system and call it ddrive under the /mnt directory.

mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt/cdrive - Mount hard disk "a" as a VFAT file system and call it cdrive under the /mnt directory.

umount /mnt/cdrom - Unmount the cdrom

Finding files and text within files

find / -name fname - Starting with the root directory, look for the file called fname.

find / -name "*fname*" - Starting with the root directory, look for the file containing the string fname

locate missingfilename - Find a file called missingfilename using the locate command - this assumes you have already used the command updatedb (see next).

updatedb - Create or update the database of files on all file systems attached to the linux root directory.

which missingfilename - Show the subdirectory containing the executable file called missingfilename.

grep textstringtofind - Starting with the directory called dir, /dir look for and list all files containing textstringtofind.

Moving, copying, deleting & viewing files

ls -l - List files in current directory using long format.

ls -F - List files in current directory and indicate the file type.

ls -laC - List all files in current directory in long format and display in columns.

rm name - Remove a file or directory called name.

rm -rf name - Kill off an entire directory and all that includes files and subdirectories.

cp filename /home/dirname - Copy the file called filename to the /home/dirname directory.

mv filename /home/dirname - Move the file called filename to the /home/dirname directory.

cat filetoview - Display the file called filetoview.

man -k keyword - Display man pages containing keyword.

more filetoview - Display the file called filetoview one page at a time, proceed to next page using the spacebar.

head filetoview - Display the first 10 lines of the file called filetoview.

head -20 filetoview - Display the first 20 lines of the file called filetoview.

tail filetoview - Display the last 10 lines of the file called filetoview.

tail -20 filetoview - Display the last 20 lines of the file called filetoview.

Installing software for Linux

rpm -ihv name.rpm - Install the rpm package called name.

rpm -Uhv name.rpm - Upgrade the rpm package called name.

rpm -e package - Delete the rpm package called package.

rpm -l package - List the files in the package called package.

rpm -ql package - List the files and state the installed version of the package called package.

rpm -i --force package - Reinstall the rpm package called package having deleted parts of it (not deleting using rpm -e).

tar -zxvf archive.tar.gz or tar -zxvf archive.tgz - Decompress the files contained in the zipped and tarred archive called archive

./configure - Execute the script preparing the installed files for compiling.

User Administration

adduser accountname - Create a new user call accountname.

passwd accountname - Give accountname a new password.

su - Log in as superuser from current login.

exit - Stop being superuser and revert to normal user.

List of the keyboard shortcuts that are available in Windows

Windows system key combinations

• F1: Help
• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
• ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
• ALT+F4: Quit program
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently
• Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows program key combinations

• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+V: Paste
• CTRL+Z: Undo
• CTRL+B: Bold
• CTRL+U: Underline
• CTRL+I: Italic

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects

• SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
• SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
• ALT+double click: Displays properties
• SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General keyboard-only commands

• F1: Starts Windows Help
• F10: Activates menu bar options
• SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
• CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
• CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Opens Windows Task Manager
• ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
• ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
• SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
• ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
• ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window'sSystem menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
• CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
• ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
• ALT+F4: Closes the current window
• CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
• ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell objects and general folder/Windows Explorer shortcuts

For a selected object:

• F2: Rename object
• F3: Find all files
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+V: Paste
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
• ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General folder/shortcut control

• F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
• F5: Refreshes the current window.
• F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
• CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
• CTRL+Z: Undo the last command
• CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
• BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
• SHIFT+click+Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer tree control

• Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
• Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
• Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
• RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
• LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties control

• CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility shortcuts

• Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Microsoft Natural Keyboard keys

• Windows Logo: Start menu
• Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
• Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
• SHIFT+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
• Windows Logo+F1: Help
• Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
• Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders
• Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
• CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer
• CTRL+Windows Logo+TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
• Windows Logo+TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
• Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box
• Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType software installed

• Windows Logo+L: Log off Windows
• Windows Logo+P: Starts Print Manager
• Windows Logo+C: Opens Control Panel
• Windows Logo+V: Starts Clipboard
• Windows Logo+K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
• Windows Logo+SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys
• Windows Logo+S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Dialog box keyboard commands

• TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
• SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
• SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
• ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
• ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
• ALT+underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

APPLIES TO

• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Standard
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Starter Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition