Tips to open GTL file

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

GTL file extension

File Name Gerber Top Layer
File Category 3D Image Files

The GTL file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the GTL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the GTL file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
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What is GTL file?

The file in the GTL format belongs to the 3D Image Files category. Additionally, the 3D Image Files category contains 622 of other files. Gerber Top Layer is supported by 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Altium Designer application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Altium Limited..

How to open GTL file?

The most common problem when using Gerber Top Layer is that a specific GTL is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open GTL, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the GTL 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 Altium Designer

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Altium Designer is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Altium Designer into the system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open GTL files.

Programs to open GTL file

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

Step 2. Create association of Altium Designer with GTL files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the GTL file still does not use the Altium Designer program, it means no association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the 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 GTL file with the Altium Designer application.

Step 3. Update Altium Designer to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Altium Designer program, it is possible that Gerber Top Layer requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Altium Limited. website or update the program from the application.

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

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the GTL file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the GTL file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover GTL files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of GTL file may not always be supported by the latest software version. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged GTL files. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted GTL files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
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 GTL 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. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the GTL file again. However, some background programs may block the GTL file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.