Requires Free Membership to View
A particular extension doesn't have a meaning. There are several that have become recognized, but that is only because Windows has a mechanism to associate an application with a file extension to allow it to be directly launched and read. That doesn't prevent me from taking an executable file and renaming with an extension of .xls. If I tried to open the .xls file, Windows would launch Excel because of the association it understands and upon launching, Excel would promptly puke on the file, because it isn't the correct format. Unless you know what application generated the file, there won't be any way of accessing it. Everything can be opened in Notepad, but not everything is readable in Notepad.
For More Information
- Dozens more answers to tough SQL Server questions from Michael Hotek are available here.
- The Best Microsoft SQL Server Web Links: tips, tutorials, scripts, and more.
- Have a SQL Server tip to offer your fellow DBAs and developers? The best tips submitted will receive a cool prize. Submit your tip today!
- Ask your technical SQL Server questions -- or help out your peers by answering them -- in our live discussion forums.
- Ask the Experts yourself: Our SQL, database design, SQL Server, DB2, object-oriented and data warehousing gurus are waiting to answer your toughest questions.
This was first published in February 2004

Join the conversationComment
Share
Comments
Results
Contribute to the conversation