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by kevin

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got a file from a friend recently with a .txt file extension. However, the file fails to open completely. The file opens I get the following.

S1A10ACURATL4D03 @  @ %  %   *        % ? @  @ <     %    <         <       %   *  ?  ? @ 

What can I use if anything to open this file so I can understand it?

13 replies

by retro77

The file is probably corrupted. Have him open the file on his end before he sends it to you.

by joshgamble

I would try opening it in various readers if I was you. Try opening it in word, adobe, using google's doc's, try renaming it to another format (rtf, doc) and see what happens. Also, I don't know if this will do any good, but try downloading a notepad alternative (my favorites are notepad++ and notepad2 and to find those google is your friend) and opening it in those.

Let us know how that goes.

Josh

by kevin

The renaming of the text file. Did not work. Word, adobe, notepad++, notepad 2 could not read the file. Even the file identifer could not identify the file.

by ic-it

or other Hex editor. Open the file in hexadecimal view and look at the first six characters.
A txt file should have this set 30 30 2D
if it is different check Google for a search string of 3 sets of hex example:
File Header D0 CF 11

(example was a doc file)
Also if the file is close to what it should be, you may want to edit the incorrect hex, example: If it reads 30 FF 2D, change the middle hex to 30

by entawanabi

I think it is a math formula for a computer operator to let a computer use to figure how far it ia from point A to point B if you know where points A and B are! Which one of those I don't know; nor do I know Where you would get an actual computer math equation around here with the low levels of education about! ENTA WANABI

by kevin

53 31 41 are the first six characters in the file

by ic-it

unknown. Perhaps someone is trying to interest you in an Accura TL ;-)
If it came from a known source ask them what it was suppose to be.
If it was a legit file, please responde with the type and OS.
Thanks

by dr dij

it could be a virus, if this was email and your friend didn't tell you they were sending it.

your friend should be able to tell you what application they created the file in.

e.g. notepad, .txt

i.e. you need the context to understand the file.

try a hex editor such as xvii to open the file also. it is either corrupt if your friend did indeed send it to you or a virus if they did not.

by the scummy one

the file ext. was changed from something else.

It looks like it may have been a copy/paste picture and then the ext. was changed to .txt for some reason before being sent out (or by a virus).

In any event, the file is corrupt unless you know what to change the ext back to. The best way to deal with it is to have it re-sent, and verified for what the content is supposed to be.

by thumbsup2

It's common to change the extension of a file name to get the email with an attachment to go out through spam filters, especially corporate ones. Most of the time, the sender gives instructions to rename the file back to 'whatever' when it is saved.

My guess is that it was originally a JPG.

by kevin

it is federal data sent to me on a cd. The feds claim the file was written in cobol. However, the file ends in .txt extension. hex editor, word, notepad, browser, etc nothing displays this file correctly.

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