Tips to open FITS file
Can't open the FITS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open FITS files as well as a list of programs that support FITS files.
FITS file extension
The FITS file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the FITS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the FITS file on each system platform.
What is FITS file?
The file in the FITS format belongs to the Raster Image Files category. In addition to this file, the Raster Image Files category includes 522 related files. Flexible Image Transport System Format is supported by 4 operating systems. The file will work on , Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The main program that supports this format is GIMP. This was created by The GIMP Team. This file type can also be opened by 7 other programs. XnView, AVIS - FITS Viewer will apply when it is not possible to use GIMP.
How to open FITS file?
An often recurring problem with Flexible Image Transport System Format is that FITS is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open FITS, 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 FITS 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 GIMP
In this case, you should first verify that the GIMP application is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing GIMP 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 FITS with GIMP. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open FITS files.
Programs to open FITS file
Remember to download programs supporting FITS files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of GIMP with FITS files
If, despite the installed application, the FITS file does not start in the GIMP application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. 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. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the FITS file with the GIMP application.
Step 3. Update GIMP to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the GIMP program, it is possible that Flexible Image Transport System Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the The GIMP Team website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the FITS file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to FITS files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our FITS file. Sometimes virus-infected FITS files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the FITS files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged FITS files. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file FITS 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. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the FITS file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the FITS file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the FITS file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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