Tips to open MAP file
Can't open the MAP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MAP files as well as a list of programs that support MAP files.
MAP file extension
| File Name |
Geographical Map Format |
| File Developer |
Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The MAP file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MAP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MAP file on each system platform.
What is MAP file?
A .MAP file is a file that contains maps. It is a format that is heavily used by many different programs. From spatial information systems dealing with real maps and their objects, through augmented reality, ending with levels in computer games. There is no standard that defines an .MAP file. The most popular geographic .MAP files are MapINFO files. They contain a geographic layer written in vector form. Other elements are plotted in other files.
How to open MAP file?
The most common problem when using Geographical Map Format is that a specific MAP is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open MAP, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MAP 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 XnView
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that XnView is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing XnView 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 MAP with XnView. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open MAP files.
Programs to open MAP file
Remember to download programs supporting MAP files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of XnView with MAP files
If, despite the installed application, the MAP file does not start in the XnView 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. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the MAP file with the XnView program.
Step 3. Update XnView to the latest version
If, despite the association of the XnView program with the Geographical Map Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MAP file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to MAP files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. 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 MAP file. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover MAP 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 MAP file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair MAP file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MAP 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. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. Copying the MAP 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. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the MAP file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the MAP file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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