When you find a file type that you (and your Operating System) do not identify, it does not seem easy to figure out how to open it. After all, every file format has compatible software that is used to open that specific type of file, from DAT files in Windows to Office formats similar to DOCX or PPTX. Even the files which not have extensions mostly require the right software to open them.
In unidentified software, there is a file format that you may not identify as the CFG file format, but what is a CFG file?
What is a .cfg File Extension?
CFG files are mostly related to Notepad by Microsoft. CFG files used for this purpose are typically named config .cfg and comprise ASCII text characters that generate commands used to run a given program and load a file. A 3D character Cal3D animation utility uses the CFG file extension to save the settings for 3D models and for referencing modules such as skeletons (CSF) and meshes (CMF) files. A CFG file can also use other formats as well as plain text. These CFG Files are typically written in ASCII code, though these files may store in a different format depending on the application created with.
A file with a .cfg extension at the end of the file name is a type of settings file. It is a famous file type used to save information regarding configuration and settings for computer programs. Many types of CFG files are kept in text format and may not be opened manually. Instead, they can be extracted using a text editor.
Configuration of .cfg Files on Windows
Configuration files are used by an extensive range of programs and applications. It has configuration data and settings that software designers use to write in apps and games. The information in some CFG files contains a program’s reboot configuration and settings. Some CFG files are also generated when you modify the settings of a particular program or computer application. For the sake of example, if you alter the interface settings of a specific application, that application can generate a new CFG file to accommodate those settings.
How to Open CFG Files
CFG files are not easy to open with your default app. There are many ways to open the CFG format extension files. But here we provide you a general method to open a CFG file; follow the steps:
- To open the CFG file through Notepad, open the file explorer.
- Search the CFG file you want to open.
- Right-click on the file.
- Click Open With.
- Select either Notepad. If you do not find it in the options, click More Apps.
- Click the OK button.
How to Edit and Save CFG Files
CFG files are also not easy to edit and save with your built-in app. There are several ways to edit and save the CFG form extension files. But here we provide you a general method to edit and save a CFG file; follow the steps:
How to Edit and Save a CFG File.
- Tap the Windows Start button.
- Right-click the CFG file you want to edit shown in the results window.
- Open the file and Edit any formations you want to edit.
- Press the Ctrl+S keys to save the changes file.
List of Best Programs that can Open, Edit, and Save .cfg files
Are you trying to Open, Edit, and Save a CFG file? Find here the right software which will enable you to view, open or edit Configuration File type.
1. Microsoft Notepad
Microsoft Notepad is one of the famous text editors used by hundreds of millions of users globally. Though it is mainly used for simple coding by developers, Notepad contains a plain text editor that is available with all Windows operating systems.
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Notepad is a simple but powerful text editor to open CFG files in Windows 10. The tool permits you to cover your text while selecting the font, size, style, and text. Furthermore, it provides CFG file formats and over fifteen different text coding formats. Although this is restricted to basic formatting features, you can view, edit, and modify CFG source code files.
Meanwhile, it is already built into Windows 10. Later, you can use it to open CFG files by default. The dark mode is available and privacy-focused. It works offline and supports Android, adding it to the home screen. You can write notes on it that are then saved to the localStorage.
2. PSPad
PSPad editor is a freeware editor, which has the Programming languages like Delphi, Object Pascal. PSPad is the third-party software you can use to open the CFG files. It is free of cost text editor for Windows 10. You can execute basic editing in the files through the drag and drop method.
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PSPad permits varied text formatting features with its inbuilt code editor, making it is ideal for programming. It supports CFG format files and permits viewing and alternating of CFG format files. Therefore, you can use it to open CFG files.
One bright feature of this tool is the File Difference view. It displays 3 windows at a time. One window highlights the difference while two others show the opened files. This is especially useful to resolve source file conflicts manually, e.g., detected by SVN. Furthermore, this tool also supports formats like HTML and CSS and has a converter that changes file formats.
3. File Viewer Plus 4
File Viewer Plus 4 contains over 400 file formats. You can view many common file types, such as Office documents, PDFs, and image files, all with one program. This can also use to play hundreds of audio and video file formats with the default media player. The decompression tool helps in decompressing archives.
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You can also open unknown file formats with File Viewer Plus. Open Microsoft Project and Visio documents. It is an open-source code file with syntax highlighting. This tool has email attachments and downloads. If you have unknown files on your PC, use File Viewer Plus.
It featured an automatic interface where you can rapidly search your files and check file previews directly in the file browser. Also, for faster access, you can save file locations. You can perform lightning-fast batch conversions through this.
4. Apache OpenOffice
One more software you can try is Apache OpenOffice. It is an office suite like the Microsoft Office Suite. Apache OpenOffice is extensively used as it permits different file formats. You can open, edit, and save your CFG files also text formats like RTF, TXT, DOCX, DOC, and HTML. Apache OpenOffice is a familiarly used office suite parallel to the Microsoft office suite.
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The suite has a writer that is a word processor with lots of innovative features to that of a notepad. In addition, OpenOffice Writer allows you to do varied functions such as text and spell check and formatting documents.
The program provides a standard layout with numerous formatting samples available for you to use. This writer can open files in all formats also the unknown extension files. It is a better word processor and offers a better option when working with CFG files in Windows 10.
5. Notepad++.exe
Notepad++ is a text editor developed by Don Ho, and written in: C++ language but is available in 90+ languages. CFG files comprise plain text; you can use your Windows Notepad to extract these files. This software is always pre-installed on the latest Windows to read these text files. If you are interested in using a third-party solution, you can install Notepad++.
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Notepad has elementary functions with no formatting tools. It also provides Syntax highlighting and folding on Notepad++. Notepad++ can have other languages like C++ and Java. This tool is top-rated among web developers as it offers extra code editing features. The editing tool uses drag-n-drop features while providing a designed document interface.
If you want to alter and edit CFG files, Notepad++ gives extra options and flexibility. Also, it assists plugins that can be further added to CFG files for additional functions. Also, being a powerful text editor specializing in coding and supporting multiple file-formats, Notepad++ is an excellent tool to open CFG files on Windows 10 PC.
6. NoteTab
NoteTab is a text editor created by Swiss tech company jokes Software. The award-winning app is known for its inimitable Html editor and versatile text editor. For web admins, it is the firmest HTML editor. For others, it is the most adaptable text editor. For power users, it is a unique text-processing workhorse.
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This tool has special features like the search and replace option that permits you to change text selection, an entire document, or even closed files on your drive. The text editor contains an exclusive clipboard having snippets that can be injected into your document location.
In addition, this can also be used to open CFG files. It assists CFG file-formats in which you can modify your files and edit contents. It also permits other formats like HTML and CSS and is an outstanding tool for coding. It is not free to download, but there is a 30 day trial period.
7. WordPad
WordPad is another way to open your CFG file. It is a program in your Windows that chains the functions of Microsoft Word and Notepad. It provides you to use different formatting options and insert links or objects to the text. It is a hybrid text editor with numerous options than Notepad but fewer competencies than Microsoft Word.
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WordPad permits various formatting options to customize your text document’s fonts, line spacing, and text format. You can also insert links and objects such as shapes and images into your text documents. The tool also offers innovative selections for sending your documents via email through Outlook.
WordPad combines CFG files and formats more than Notepad, like .docx format. WordPad does not require numerous graphic details and originates in handy as an advanced option to the common Microsoft Notepad.
8. Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is a united development environment from Microsoft. It is developed on open-source, free, and runs with every operating system. It is used to design web services, computer programs, websites, web apps, and mobile apps. It can create both native codes and managed code.
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This Editor contains a debugger that works both as a source-level debugger and a machine-level debugger. The most basic edition to this Editor is the community edition, which is available free of cost. The slogan for this edition is open-source, Free, fully-featured IDE for students and individual developers.
It has a host of visual designers to help in the development of applications. This permits developers to create extensions for Visual Studio to extend its proficiencies. These extensions plug into this Editor and extend its functionality.
9. Sublime Editor
Sublime Editor is related explicitly to the text editor for code, markup, and prose. It is one of the best convenient Apps for you to open, edit, and save CFG files. It is an essential app for you to install on your Mac PC, Linux, or latest Windows to run CFG files. You like the simple user interface, unique features, and incredible performance.
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One license is enough; you need to use this on every PC you own, no matter which operating system it uses. This tool provides a custom UI toolkit to enhance speed and beauty while taking the benefit of native functionality on every platform. Use the Goto Anything option available in this tool to open files with a few keystrokes, and instantly jump to symbols, lines, or texts.
The Command tray holds unusually used functionality, like sorting, syntax, and indentation options. All these shortcuts can be combined in this program. You can make ten changes at one time. You can enable Distraction Free Mode for free. Get advantage of multi-monitor editing by adding various windows and using multiple splits in each window.
10. TextMate
TextMate is a multipurpose plain text editor with an exclusive and innovative function set that is the reason to win an Apple Design Award. A fast-growing community has created bundles for more than a hundred different modes, having support for all essential programming languages, script prose in structured formats such as Textile, LaTeX, Markdown, etc.,
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Powerful and customizable text editor with support for a massive list of programming languages and designed as open source. This tool commonly uses sections of text or code that can be changed into snippets with placeholders, transformations, and more to adapt to the context in which they are used. It makes multiple changes at once, swaps pieces of code, and a lot more is made trivial with TextMate’s easy way to add various insertion points.
TextMate uses many options for customization and supports a number of different languages, markup systems, workflows, and more. Clipboard history, custom themes, live HTML/Markdown preview, foldable code blocks, soft indented wrap, etc.
Final Words
Some applications that can be used to open, edit, and save CFG format files are mentioned above. These applications offer more features and easiness in the opening, editing, and saving CFG files. Most of these are free to download and with simple steps to follow. You can select one or more apps to meet your need in the best manner.