.db file extension

[George38]

I have received an email attachment with a .db file extension and can't open it. Are there any free downloads available that would enable me to view the attachment now that I have downloaded it to my desktop? I keep getting the message "windows needs to know what program created it" and I have no idea!! I am using windows XP.

[vehelpfulguy]

A db extension usually indicates some sort of database file.

Lots of programs use it, sometimes as an internal file to store a list of things and not usually expected to be opened by the end user.

To be honest without more information it is going to be dificult to say what program could open it.

Could you not ask the person who sent it to you what type of file it is?

It is not called thumbs.db is it?

Here is a list of programs that use the db extension, but it could be any of them, or none of them.

http://filext.com/file-extension/DB

[webdude]

The .db file extension is a generic database file and is used by a number of applicaitons including File Maker Pro, MS Access but also by Windows to store information about thumbnail images. As such they are used by apps and are of little interset to the user. Some people disbale the creation of these files to speed up disk access when browsing large volumes of images. See this link for info http://www.fileinfo.net/help/windows-thumb-db- files.html

[George38]

Thank you for your prompt replies! The file is called Thumbs.db and was sent as an email attachment. I merely downloaded it to my desktop. I believe it to contain photographs taken by a work colleague, perhaps using Microsoft Access. Although I have the Office suite on my computer, I do not have Access. I have tried the suggestion you gave webdude which involves changing my advanced settings to "Show hidden files and folders" but opening the file in say, Word, only shows what I imagine is machine code!

[vehelpfulguy]

I did ask if it was thumbs.db didnt I.

Thumbs.db is a Windows system file and does NOT contain any pictures (only thumbnails of pictures).

When a directory contains images then Windows creates this thumbs.db file to just hold a thumbnail of all the pictures to help speed up display.

It is normally a hidden file so the end user does not normally see it. It is only if you have "show hidden files" on can you see it.

You can safely delete it as it will serve no purpose being on your PC as it only relates to the PC of the person who sent it to you.

More here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs.db

[George38]

Thanks very much vehelpfulguy!! That now makes sense!! I will get rid of it and ask the sender to use some other means to send me photos!!