.att — Attributed Text File
Various · 1990s
An ATT file is a plain text file that includes extra attributes or metadata about the text itself, often used for specific data processing needs.
Key Features
- Plain text based for broad compatibility.
- Supports embedded metadata and text attributes.
- Lightweight and easy to parse.
- Platform-independent.
Best For
- Simple text storage with minimal, well-defined attributes.
- Interoperability between text-based systems.
- Human-readable configuration files.
- Situations where proprietary formats are undesirable.
Less Ideal For
- Complex document formatting (e.g., rich text documents).
- Storing images, audio, or video data.
- Applications requiring sophisticated data structures (e.g., databases).
- Securely storing sensitive information without encryption.
Common Use Cases
- Storing configuration settings for applications.
- Exporting data with specific formatting notes.
- Exchanging text content with associated metadata between different systems.
- Basic log files with attribute tracking.
How to Open It
- Open with any standard text editor (e.g., Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, nano on Linux).
- Word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs may open them, interpreting attributes as text.
- Specific software that generated the ATT file will likely have the best support for its attributes.
What is a .att file?
An ATT file, short for Attributed Text File, is a plain text document that contains additional information or metadata alongside the primary text content. This metadata can include formatting instructions, character encoding details, or other attributes relevant to how the text should be processed or displayed. Because it's based on plain text, ATT files are highly portable and can be opened and edited by a wide range of text editors and word processing software. They are often used in systems where preserving specific text attributes is crucial for data integrity or application compatibility.
Programs That Open .att Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Notepad | Free | Official |
| Notepad++ | Free | ||
| macOS | TextEdit | Free | Official |
| Linux | Gedit | Free | Official |
| Nano | Free | Official | |
| Android | QuickEdit Text Editor | Free | |
| iOS | Textastic | Paid | |
| Web Browser | Google Docs | Free |
How to Convert .att Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .TXT | Save As in text editor, Copy/Paste to new .txt file |
| .RTF | Import into word processor and export as RTF |
Common Problems with .att Files
Frequently Asked Questions
.TXT files are strictly plain text. ATT files are also plain text but can contain additional metadata or attributes embedded within them for specific processing.
Yes, you can open any ATT file with a standard text editor, but the special attributes might appear as plain text or unrecognized characters if the editor doesn't know how to interpret them.
The .ATT extension is not as common as standard text formats like .TXT or .RTF and is typically associated with specific software or data exchange scenarios rather than general document creation.
Technical Details
ATT files are typically structured as plain ASCII or UTF-8 encoded text. The 'attributes' are embedded within the text content, often through special characters, tags, or defined structures specific to the application that generated the file. This format allows for basic text storage with associated metadata without requiring complex binary structures or proprietary software.