Tips to open HGT file
Can't open the HGT file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open HGT files as well as a list of programs that support HGT files.
HGT file extension
| File Name |
SRTM Elevation Data Format |
| File Category |
GIS Files |
The HGT file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the HGT files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the HGT file on each system platform.
What is HGT file?
The file with the extension HGT is the GIS Files file type. GIS Files consists of 255 similar files. SRTM Elevation Data Format is supported by 2 operating systems. These systems consist of Linux, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The ArcGIS Desktop application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Esri. Alternatively, you can use 3 other programs. SRTM Void Killer, VTBuilder, Terrain Viewer will apply when it is not possible to use ArcGIS Desktop.
How to open HGT file?
The most common problem when using SRTM Elevation Data Format is that a specific HGT is not associated with the program. This causes the file HGT 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 HGT 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 ArcGIS Desktop
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that ArcGIS Desktop is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name ArcGIS Desktop in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open HGT files.
Programs to open HGT file
Remember to download programs supporting HGT files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of ArcGIS Desktop with HGT files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the HGT file to open in the ArcGIS Desktop application, but you can set it manually. 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 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 HGT file with the ArcGIS Desktop program.
Step 3. Update ArcGIS Desktop to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the ArcGIS Desktop program, it is possible that SRTM Elevation Data Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Esri website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the HGT file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to HGT files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file HGT or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover HGT files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the HGT file. 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.
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 HGT files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file HGT 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.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the HGT file to another location.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the HGT file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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