How to change Filename Extensions in Windows XP | Anything, but not Everything

Extension is the 3 letter term used after the dot in a filename like .exe for executable files .txt for text files .doc for office documents .xls for spread sheets, it may sometimes be just two letters long like .pl for Perl language files. By default windows doesnot show you the extension of a file, only those files which it are not yet associated with any program are shown along with their extensions. Rest of the common file types dont have extensions displayed, when you try to change a file’s extension when its extension is not displayed you will just end up adding the new extension to the filename and not to the extension part of it, like you have a spreadsheet named accounts which is actually accounts.xls and you want to change it to a text file called accounts.txt when you just rename it you will end up renaming it to accounts.txt.xls where accounts.txt is the filename part and .xls is the extension part. So the solution for this is to make windows display the extensions of all files, to do this open Windows Explorer or commonly known as the My Computer and go to the Tools Menu (Alt + t) and then click Folder Options, in the dialog box change to the View tab and look for Hide extensions for known files and uncheck it and click OK.

via angrys0ul.com

This article was such a life saver for me this weekend!
I've just borrowed my sisters camera (indefinitely *wink*) to make some movies, but after finally completing them I went to edit them only to find that my software wouldn't recognise the files...a little googling told me that I needed to change the files extension - simple right??

Yes, back in the olden days (hahaha) it was a simple little task - but having not changed a file extension for a few years (possibly 10) I discovered that things had changed...but with the help of google my life became simple again.

Apparently it's a particular problem if you're using a JVC camera - you need to change the MOD extension to MPG  - phew!

Now if I could only get ALL the files I want OFF the camera...there's a couple there that I can see, but they're not showing up in the files on the PC.

Any suggestions??!

Comments

[janine pearce]

wow, you understand all this computer stuff far better than me Kelly.
all the best with working out the rest of it, sorry I would be no help what so ever

you have a very creative, well organised easy to read blog.

[Chris@JVC]

Hi,

I work for JVC and would like to try and help. It may not be necessary to change the file extensions at all. Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Try to see if your sister will also let you borrow the CD-ROM software that came with the camcorder. It includes software that makes it particularly simple to manage your files, including transferring them to your PC. It also includes some basic editing software. The software that JVC provides is generally pretty simple to use.

2. Keep in mind that there are a wide variety of very popular editing programs that can work with the JVC files without requiring you to change the file extensions. A free program that I really like is the new Windows Live Movie Maker from Microsoft. You can download it here: http://download.live.com/moviemaker.

3. If you would like a little more advanced program that supports JVC .mod files, check out Pinnacle Studio. The newest version starts around $49. It's pretty amazing what all it can do.

I hope this helps.

Chris

[Kelly]

Hi Chris, thanks for your reply. I was using Picasa3 and Windows Movie Maker (already on my PC). I checked out the link for Windows Live Movie Maker & it's doesn't support XP, which is what I'm currently running. I'll ask my sister if she can find the CD & will also check out Pinnacle Studio. I do love the quality of the JVC movies & the camera is so cute & compact that I don't want to give it up :o)

[Kelly]

Janine, I'm lucky to have been around computers for ages. My Dad always liked to have the latest stuff when we were growing up & he worked from home, so I had easy access to computers & my Mum loves design, so she had CorelDraw (back in the day) & photoshop when that became popular, so I had them to play with - and now with google I can find an answer to any problem I have :o)