Opening RES Files

The RES file type is primarily associated with Visual Studio.

RES	File extension: RES
	File type:	compiled resource

What is a RES file

RES files mostly belong to Visual Studio by Microsoft. A RES file is a compiled resource for a Windows application written in C++ using integrated development environments such as Visual Studio, Delphi, and C++ Builder. A resource contains a collection of static media assets and code. Various games that are built with Source engine use resources saved in RES files. Another type of RES file contains output data generated by SHELX crystal structure determination software suite. SWAT soil and water assessment software uses a RES file to store parameters for modeling the movement of water and sediment through a reservoir.

How can I open a RES file?

You need a suitable software like Visual Studio to open a RES 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 RES file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a RES file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online RES File Viewer

Choose your .res file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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

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

Just click the "Choose your .res 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.
Your file will be converted and downloaded.

Programs that open and convert RES files:

Visual Studio by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. RES files are often referred to as Visual Studio developers because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-zip (compressed archive) by Igor Pavlov
7-zip is a file compression program for Windows desktop. It can unpack the contents of a RES file saved in 7Z format. This file format is classified as Compressed.
Acrobat (document) by Adobe
Acrobat is a cross-platform program for authoring, viewing, and signing documents written in Portable Document Format (PDF). It can read a RES file containing a document saved in PDF format. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: What does PDF mean?
C++ Builder (compiled resource) by Embarcadero
C++ Builder is an integrated development environment for building cross-platform native applications. A RES file created by this program contains the compiled resource of a Windows application written in C++. This file format is classified as Developer.
Championship Bass (game data archive) by Electronic Arts
Championship Bass is a fishing video game available for Windows desktop and PlayStation platforms. Various data used by this game are saved in RES files. This file format is classified as Game.
Delphi (compiled resource) by Embarcadero
Delphi is an integrated development environment with tools for building native Windows applications in C++, C#, and Pascal. It saves the compiled resource of a C++ application in a RES file. This file format is classified as Developer.
Etherlords 2 (game data archive) by Nival
Etherlord 2 is a turn-based strategy video game for Windows desktop. It uses a game data archive saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as Game.
Evil Islands (game data archive) by 1C
Evil Islands is a roleplaying real-time strategy video game available for Windows desktop. A game data archive used by Evil Islands is saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as Game.
Flyff (game resource) by Play2bit
Flyff is a massively multiplayer online role-playing fantasy game for PCs. It uses game resources saved in files with RES filename extension. This file format is classified as Game.
Half-Life (game map) by Valve
Half-Life is a first-person shooter video game series for desktop and game consoles. It uses game maps saved in a file with RES filename extension. This file format is classified as Game.
Haven & Hearth (resource) by Heaven & Hearth Developers
Haven & Hearth is a massive multiplayer online roleplaying game set in a fictional world. It uses a resource saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as Game.
Infinity (character biography) by BioWare
Infinity is an engine used to develop and render BioWare video games. The biography of game characters in such games are saved in RES files. This file format is classified as Game.
Kindle (e-book data) by Amazon
Kindle is a cross-platform application for managing and reading e-books. It uses some e-book data saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as eBook.
SHELX (output data) by SHELX Developers
SHELX is a software suite used for the determination of crystal structures. Its output data is saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as Data.
SNNS (result) by University of Tübingen
SNNS short for (Stuttgart Neural Network Simulator) is a Java-based neural network simulation program. It uses a RES file to store the result of a simulation. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Wikipedia SNNS Page
Steam (resource) by Valve
Steam is a digital content distribution software for managing video game installation, updates etc. on multiple platforms. The Source engine component of Steam uses resources saved in a RES file. This file format is classified as Game. Related links: Source Engine
Xboard (resign conferences data) by Free Software Foundation
Xboard is a cross-platform chess game client compatible with various chess engines. A RES file used by Xboard contains resign conferences data. This file format is classified as Game.

RES file format:

If you can determine the file format, the associated program can also be determined. 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. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below you will find our evaluation of the RES files:

RES is one of the most common file extensions and is used by many programs, each with its own file format. But the following two file formats are common:

10% of all RES files belong to Windows compiled resource. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. The file size is in the range of 870 bytes to 2 MB. The file type was developed 20 years ago and is still in use today. The file name imageres.dll.mun.res is characteristic of these files. Files like these are about game, explorer, project, icons, script, resource, dialog, shell and icon.
6% of all RES files start with the magic bytes "Resource, which are always the first bytes of this file format. The content also consists of readable text fragments, which can be viewed with the help of a text editor. The files are often between 550 bytes and 25 KB in size. The following keywords are characteristic: Resource, "fieldName", "xpos", "ypos", "ControlName", "wide" and "tall". The following filename is common: hudlayout.res. Files like these are about crosshairs, localplayerpanel, mainmenuoverride, board, score, menu and motd.

All the rest of the RES files (84%) have different formats, the following 80 formats exist: Project IGI Resource data, Bink Texture, SHELX output, Etherlords 2 game data archive, Haven Resource data, Stunt Island Resource, Looking Glass Resource data, ZIP, 7z, UTF-8, PDF, JPG, XML, WordPerfect, config, EXE, ResB, res and time. Often described as recovery, cures, biogem, item, series or level. If you want to find out what your RES file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.

Technical Data for RES File Extension

File classification:

Developer

Related files:

ress, qvm, zip, lefse_internal_res, pak, kmerres, resource, flist, exe, ayesha, rr0, smp, txt, rres, dpr, tga, sav, pdf, tb_, ft, aps, map, config

Related links:

Resource Files (C++)

Mime type:

application/x-dtbresource+xml, text/x-rustsrc, text/xml

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: resfile, FileType: Compiled Resource Script, AppName: Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002
EXEFile: devenv.exe

ProgramID: resfile, FileType: RES File, AppName: Microsoft (R) Developer Studio

ProgramID: resfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe /dde

ProgramID: ResourceBuilder.ResourceFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SiComponents\Resource Builder 2.0\Resbldr2.exe %1

ProgramID: VisualStudio.res.7.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe /dde

ProgramID: resfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Restorator 2004\Restorator.exe %1

ProgramID: VisualStudio.res.8.0
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe /dde %1

ProgramID: resfile
EXEFile: C:\BC5\BIN\BCW.EXE

ProgramID: SDDocuments.Atomistic3dDocument.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Accelrys\MS Modeling 3.2\Studio\MatStudio.exe

ProgramID: DUP5.Files
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Dragon UnPACKer 5\drgunpack5.exe

ProgramID: VisualStudio.res.9.0
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe

ProgramID: BomeRst.res
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CrackersKit\Other\Resource\Restorator 2006\Restorator.exe

Show all 12 listings To Top

a res compiled resource is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with RES files

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