Opening an ASC File

The ASC file type is primarily associated with Sublime.

ASC	File extension: ASC
	File type:	text

What is an ASC file

ASC files mostly belong to Sublime by Sublime. ASC is the filename extension of ASCII-encoded text files used to exchange 3D scenes, geometry points, or shapes between Autodesk CAD programs such as 3DS Max and AutoCAD. Another type of ASC file is a public key or a digitally signed message generated with Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) communication encryption/authentication software. ASC is also the filename extension of electronic circuit schematics and electronic schematic design databases created with programs such as LTspice and PADS. CANalyzer network communication analysis and simulation software saves trace logs in ASC files. ArcGIS geospatial data visualization/analysis software suite saves grid data in an ASC file.

How to open ASC files

You need a suitable software like Sublime to open an ASC file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your ASC file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a ASC file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online ASC Text Viewer

Choose your .asc file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to extract texts from ASC files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

If you want to extract texts from ASC file or capture a screenshot, you can use our free Online ASC File Viewer:

Just click the "Choose your .asc file to view" button on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert ASC files:

Sublime by Sublime
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. ASC files are often referred to as Sublime simple text files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
3DS Max (3D Scene) by Autodesk
3DS Max is a professional computer-aided design software used to create 3D animations, models, games, and feature-length animated films. It can export a 3D scene as an ASCII-encoded ASC file. This file format is classified as 3D Image.
ADONIS (script) by BOC Group
ADONIS is a business process management, analysis, and optimization program. It uses scripts (source code) saved in ASC files. This file format is classified as Developer.
Apophysis (script) by The Apohysis Project
Apophysis is an open source program used to design and render fractal flames. A script used by this program is saved in an ASC file. This file format is classified as Developer.
ArcGIS (grid) by ESRI
ArcGIS is a geospatial data acquisition, visualization, and analysis software suite available as a web and desktop application. It uses ASC files to store grids. This file format is classified as GIS.
Atlantis Word Processor (spellcheck settings) by The Atlantis Word Processor Team
Atlantis Word Processor is a fully portable, standalone word processor. Its spellcheck settings are saved in one or more ASC files. This file format is classified as Settings.
CANalyzer (trace log) by Vector
CANalyzer is a program used to analyze and simulate Electronic Control Unit network communications. Trace logs generated by CANalyzer are saved in ASC files. This file format is classified as Data.
Flash (server-side script) by Adobe
Flash is a discontinued multimedia runtime for creating and rendering animations, rich web applications, mobile apps, and desktop applications. ActionScript is its server-side scripting language for developing web apps. A script written in this language is saved in an ASC file. This file format is classified as Developer.
ICT (printed circuit board) by Tebo
ICT is an in-circuit test (ICT) and automatic test equipment (ATE) fixture software compatible with various Gerber file formats. It can save and open printed circuit boards in ASC files. This file format is classified as CAD.
LTspice (electronic circuit schematic) by Anaog Devices
LTspice is a SPICE simulation, schematic capture, and waveform viewing software for analog electronic circuits. It uses an ASC file to store electronic circuit schematics. This file format is classified as CAD.
PADS (electronic schematic design database) by Siemens
PADS is a printed circuit board (PCB) design and prototyping software suite. It saves an electronic schematic design database in an ASC file. This file contains electronic circuit parameters, connectivity data, parts lists etc. This file format is classified as CAD.
Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) (public key) by PGP Corporation
Pretty Good Privacy is a cryptography program used to sign, encrypt/decrypt, and authenticate communication data. It uses an ASC file to store public keys and digitally signed messages. This file format is classified as Encoded.
RapidForm (3D geometric points/shapes) by 3D Systems
RapidForm is a discontinued 3D scanning, point cloud processing, and parametric solid modeling software. 3D geometric points and shapes created with RapidForm were saved as text-based ASCII files. This file format is classified as 3D Image. Related links: RapidForm Free Viewer
SmartLab (single pole figure) by Rigaku
SmartLab is the guidance software shipped with SmartLab automated x-ray diffractometer. It saves a single pole figure in an ASC file. This file format is classified as CAD.
Spectragryph (ultraviolet sample) by Spectragryph Team
Spectragryph is a free optical spectroscopy software. It can import, analyze and visualize an ASC file containing ultraviolet samples acquired from energy scans for the overlay spectrum of electronic lamps. This file format is classified as Data.

ASC file format details:

To find out what program is needed to open ASC files, you need to determine the file format. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). If the file extension does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Our examination of the ASC files comes to the following conclusion:

The ASC file extension is quite widespread and includes various formats for various programs. The two most popular formats are as follows:

40% of all ASC files belong to PGP ASCII-Armor. The files are using the common file format KEY. A public or private key is used in Public-key cryptography to digitally sign or verify documents, software or websites, or to authentice a user. The contents of these files can even be read by a human. The files are on average 1 KB in size and range from 520 bytes to 4 KB. The file type is relatively new. The files contain the following words: ----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----, Version and ----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----. An example of a file name is signature.asc. Such files sometimes refer to public, openpgp, python, publickey, encrypted, protonmail, epkey and facebook.
6% of all ASC files are associated with LTSpice Circuit Schematic. These files contain text and words, not binary data. ASC files are between 660 bytes and 6 KB in size. The following keywords are characteristic: Version 4, WIRE and SHEET 1 880 680. Files like these are sometimes connected to draft and filter.

The remaining 54% of all ASC files are different files with different signatures, often e.g. Esri grid, Rigaku Smartlab Pole Figure raw format, 3D Studio ASCII format, JSON, UTF-16 (LE), UTF-8, date, PADS, GemCad, NCOLS, EVENT, ALV and ASC. Tagged as theta, pins, secret, nets, data or sample. Just click the "Choose your .asc file to view" button on this page to find out what your ASC file is.

Technical Data for ASC File Extension

File classification:

Simple text file

Related files:

acs, pgp, openpgp_signature, zip, passwd, maud, pkr, ascii, txt, asy, sig, pcb, sac, sp, asice, acw, ras, esg, gpg, ticr, owl, ml, iba

Mime type:

application/pgp-signature, text/plain, image/ascii-art

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile, FileType: Flash AS Communication File, AppName: Flash MX 2004
EXEFile: Flash.exe

ProgramID: AfterlifeSavedGame
EXEFile: C:\ALIFE\ALIFE.EXE

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MACROM~1\FLASHM~1\Flash.exe %1

ProgramID: PGP Armored File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Network Associates\PGPNT\PGPtools.exe %1

ProgramID: PGP Armored File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SECURITY\PGP\PGP Corporation\PGP802eng\PGPMail.exe %1

ProgramID: Simply Accounting Data File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Winsim\winsim.exe %1

ProgramID: Simply Accounting Data File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Winsim2005PRO\winsim.exe %1

ProgramID: PGP Armored File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PGP Corporation\PGP for Windows XP\PGPMail.exe %1

ProgramID: SDDocuments.Chart2dDocument.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accelrys\MS Modeling 3.2\Studio\MatStudio.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MACROM~1\FLASH8~2\Flash.exe /dde

ProgramID: OpenPGP.Signature
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Privacy Tools\WinPT\WinPT.exe %1

ProgramID: Flash.ASKommunikationsdatei
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MACROM~1\FLASH8~2\Flash.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\FLASH8~2\Flash.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Flash 9 Public Alpha\Flash.exe

ProgramID: OpenPGP.Signature
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accessories\Windows Privacy Tools\WinPT\WinPT.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Macromedia\Flash 8\Flash.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MACROM~1\FLASH8~1\Flash.exe

ProgramID: nfodiz.ASC
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NfoDiz 6.0\nfodiz.exe

ProgramID: GPGshell.asc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GPGshell\GPGtools.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS3\flash.exe

ProgramID: Flash.ASCommunicationFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MACROM~2\FLASHM~1\Flash.exe

ProgramID: LTspice.Schematic
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\LTC\SwCADIII\scad3.exe

Show all 22 listings To Top

an asc text is a special file format by Sublime and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with ASC files

Associate the ASC file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open texts. Because only the current version supports the latest ASC file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Sublime manufacturer website after an available Sublime update.
To make sure that your ASC file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .ASC file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.