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How can I open files with the extension .ef?

File Extension Choice for Tab Separated Values Files?

  • I am about to distribute some tab separated values files. I read online that the extension for these types of files is often '.tsv.' I did some further looking and it seems that '.tsv' is not a recognized extension in programs like MS Excel, etc. So, I am wondering if it would be better to use '.txt' instead. Or do you think I should just include instructions on how to import the '.tsv' into Excel (e.g. "Set the open file filter to 'All Files', to see the tsv files, then open")?

  • Answer:

    CSV. Most applications will recognize it.

William Emmanuel Yu at Quora Visit the source

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Personally, on Unix and OS X I prefer to use the extension .tabbed, e.g. "exported_data.tabbed". When sending to Windows systems (and especially for use with Excel), then I append .txt, resulting in "exported_data.tabbed.txt"

Alistair Israel

Tab separated values are rare enough that you must include instructions on how to open the file; in which case the extension will not matter. There is no "standard" extension that will make it unnecessary to include instructions. However, if you have any control over the format, I would strongly advise against using tab-separated values. Comma separated values (CSV) is a standard, well-known format that most programs will have no trouble opening.

Navin Kabra

I agree with Kevin - .txt will do, with a hint like "fileTsv.txt". I believe, however, that Excel will recognize the file as tab separated properly even if you save it as .csv, but I know for a fact Open Office will implode if it even tries to open such a conundrum.

Bruno Skvorc

.txt is the way to go. Excel exports tabs to this extension and defaults to tab delimited import automatically when it opens a a .txt file with tabs. You could include a clue to non excel users in the file name. e.g. example_tab_delimited.txt

Kevin Ernest Long

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