Tips to open HCU file

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

HCU file extension

File Name Hydrograph Units Definitons Format
File Developer HydroCAD Software Solutions
File Category Data Files

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

Operating systems
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is HCU file?

The HCU file has been categorized as Data Files. The author of this format is HydroCAD Software Solutions. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. Hydrograph Units Definitons Format is supported by 1 operating systems. These systems consist of Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The HydroCAD application is recommended to open the file. It was released by HydroCAD Software Solutions LLC. This file type can also be opened by 1 other programs. HydroCAD Sampler will apply when it is not possible to use HydroCAD.

How to open HCU file?

The most common problem when using Hydrograph Units Definitons Format is that a specific HCU is not associated with the program. This causes the file HCU to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the HCU 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 HydroCAD

The first step is to check if the computer has the HydroCAD program installed. To do this, enter the name HydroCAD into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file HCU.

Programs to open HCU file

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

Step 2. Create association of HydroCAD with HCU files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the HCU file still does not use the HydroCAD program, it means no 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 select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the HCU file with the HydroCAD program.

Step 3. Update HydroCAD to the latest version

If, despite the association of the HydroCAD program with the Hydrograph Units Definitons Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the HydroCAD Software Solutions LLC website or update the program from the application.

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

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the HCU file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file HCU or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected HCU files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the HCU file. 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. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair HCU file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting HydroCAD Software Solutions, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted HCU 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 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 HCU file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the HCU file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the HCU file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.