Tips to open PGN file
Can't open the PGN file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PGN files as well as a list of programs that support PGN files.
PGN file extension
| File Name |
Portable Game Notation Format |
| File Category |
Game Files |
The PGN file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PGN files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PGN file on each system platform.
What is PGN file?
The file with the extension PGN is the Game Files file type. In addition to this file, the Game Files category includes 1509 related files. Portable Game Notation 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. This file type can also be opened by 4 other programs. The ChessBase, PGN Viewer, WinBoard, XBoard programs will also handle the file when the Apple Chess program does not fulfill its role.
How to open PGN file?
The main problem with Portable Game Notation Format is that the PGN file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open PGN, 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 PGN 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 Apple Chess
In this case, you should first verify that the Apple Chess application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Apple Chess 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 PGN files.
Programs to open PGN file
Remember to download programs supporting PGN files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Apple Chess with PGN files
If, despite the installed application, the PGN file does not start in the Apple Chess application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. 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. 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 PGN file with the Apple Chess program.
Step 3. Update Apple Chess to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Apple Chess program with the Portable Game Notation Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PGN 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 PGN files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our PGN file. However, remember that not every infected PGN file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the PGN 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 this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular PGN file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PGN 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. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move PGN to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PGN file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the PGN file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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