Tips to open OSB file
Can't open the OSB file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open OSB files as well as a list of programs that support OSB files.
OSB file extension
| File Name |
OpenStreetMap Binary Map Format |
| File Developer |
Merkaartor |
| File Category |
GIS Files |
The OSB file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the OSB files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the OSB file on each system platform.
What is OSB file?
The file in the OSB format belongs to the GIS Files category. The creator of this file is Merkaartor. Additionally, the GIS Files category contains 255 of other files. OpenStreetMap Binary Map Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Linux, Mac OS, Windows. The Merkaartor application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Jean-Philippe Lang. There are also 2 alternative programs to handle the OSB file.
How to open OSB file?
The most common problem when using OpenStreetMap Binary Map Format is that a specific OSB is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that OSB files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This problem can be easily remedied.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the OSB 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 Merkaartor
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Merkaartor is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Merkaartor 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 OSB files.
Programs to open OSB file
Remember to download programs supporting OSB files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Merkaartor with OSB files
If, despite the installed application, the OSB file does not start in the Merkaartor application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting 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. 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. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the OSB file with the Merkaartor program.
Step 3. Update Merkaartor to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Merkaartor program with the OpenStreetMap Binary 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 Jean-Philippe Lang page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the OSB file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:
The OSB file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the OSB file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our OSB file. However, remember that not every infected OSB file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of OSB file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular OSB file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Merkaartor, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted OSB files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the OSB file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the OSB file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. However, some background programs may block the OSB file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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