Tips to open BIL file
Can't open the BIL file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open BIL files as well as a list of programs that support BIL files.
BIL file extension
| File Name |
ESRI BIL Format |
| File Developer |
ESRI |
| File Category |
GIS Files |
The BIL file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the BIL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the BIL file on each system platform.
What is BIL file?
The file with the extension BIL is the GIS Files file type. The creator of this file is ESRI. Additionally, the GIS Files category contains 255 of other files. ESRI BIL Format appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use Global Mapper to handle this file. This is a program created by Global Mapper Software LLC. There are also 3 alternative programs to handle the BIL file. GDAL, ArcView, Total GIS Converter will apply when it is not possible to use Global Mapper.
How to open BIL file?
An often recurring problem with ESRI BIL Format is that BIL is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that BIL files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the BIL 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 Global Mapper
The first step is to check if the computer has the Global Mapper program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Global Mapper in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file BIL with Global Mapper. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open BIL files.
Programs to open BIL file
Remember to download programs supporting BIL files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Global Mapper with BIL files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the BIL file still does not use the Global Mapper program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. 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. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the BIL file with the Global Mapper program.
Step 3. Update Global Mapper to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the Global Mapper program, it is possible that ESRI BIL Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Global Mapper Software LLC website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the BIL file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the BIL file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
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 BIL file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover BIL files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the BIL files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular BIL file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting ESRI, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted BIL files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the BIL file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with 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. However, some background programs may block the BIL file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
Was this page helpful? YesNo
