Tips to open BBL file

Can't open the BBL file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open BBL files as well as a list of programs that support BBL files.

BBL file extension

File Name TeX/BibTeX Bibliographic Reference Format
File Developer Oren Patashnik
File Category Misc Files

The BBL file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the BBL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the BBL file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is BBL file?

The BBL file has been categorized as Misc Files. It was designed by Oren Patashnik. Additionally, the Misc Files category contains 6033 of other files. TeX/BibTeX Bibliographic Reference Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use BibDesk to handle this file. This is a program created by BibDdesk Team. Alternatively, you can use 4 other programs. TeX Live, WibTeX, proTeXt, Bib2x will apply when it is not possible to use BibDesk.

How to open BBL file?

The most common problem when using TeX/BibTeX Bibliographic Reference Format is that a specific BBL is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open BBL, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the BBL file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install BibDesk

The first step is to check if the computer has the BibDesk program installed. This can be achieved by typing BibDesk into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file BBL with BibDesk. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open BBL files.

Programs to open BBL file

Remember to download programs supporting BBL files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of BibDesk with BBL files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the BBL file still does not use the BibDesk program, it means no association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the BibDesk application as the default for handling the BBL file.

Step 3. Update BibDesk to the latest version

If, however, after binding BibDesk with TeX/BibTeX Bibliographic Reference Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the BibDdesk Team website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the BBL file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The BBL file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the BBL file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the BBL file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected BBL file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the BBL files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged BBL files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Oren Patashnik
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file BBL except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. If possible, you can try to move the BBL file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.