Opening SYM Files

The SYM file type is primarily associated with Windows SDK.

SYM	File extension: SYM
	File type:	graphics symbol

What is a SYM file?

SYM files mostly belong to Windows SDK by Microsoft. A SYM file is a symbol used by various programs. Electronics design automation applications such as gEDA, SolidWorks Electrical, and P-CAD, for example, use a SYM file to store electronics component symbols. Another type of SYM file contains graphical symbols used by GUI application development environments such as Windows SDK and Stingray. C++ Builder IDE uses a SYM file to store precompiled headers. FreeBSD make tool uses a SYM file to store compiled Modula-2 definition modules. TNTgis geospatial data analysis software saves text symbols in a SYM file. SuperMap GIS suite also saves its symbol library in a SYM file.

How to open a SYM file

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

Online SYM Text Viewer

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Programs that open and convert SYM files:

Windows SDK by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. SYM files are often referred to as Windows SDK data files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
C++ Builder (precompiled header) by Embarcadero
C++ Builder is an integrated development environment for building cross-platform applications compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android operating systems. It uses a SYM file to store precompiled symbols. This file format is classified as Developer.
CODESYS (symbol) by CODESYS Group
CODESYS is a programmable logic controller development and debugging software suite. A SYM file created with CODESYS contains an ASCII symbol created when a project is compiled. This file format is classified as Developer.
Creo (symbol) by PTC
Creo is a computer-aided industrial product design software optimized for automotive design and simulation. A symbol used by this program is stored in a SYM file. This file format is classified as CAD.
Freelance (symbol library) by IBM
Freelance is a discontinued graphics editing and presentation program for classic Windows desktop operating system. It uses a SYM file to store a symbol library. This file format is classified as Data.
gEDA (electronics component symbol) by The gEDA Project
gEDA is an electronics design automation software suite used for schematic capture, netlisting, and PCB design. An electronics component symbol used by gEDA is saved in a SYM file. This file format is classified as CAD.
Harvard Graphics (symbol) by Serif
Harvard Graphics is a discontinued MS-DOS/Windows program used for graphical presentations. It used graphical symbols saved in SYM files. This file format is classified as Raster Image. Related links: Serif
IGSS (symbol table) by Scheider Electric
IGSS is a supervisory control and data acquisition program for controlling industrial processes. It uses a symbol table stored in a SYM file. This file format is classified as Data.
make (compiled definition module) by GNU
make is a low-level program for maintaining and compiling programs and dependencies in BSD and other UNIX-based environments. make uses a SYM file to store a Modula-2 compiled definition module. This file format is classified as Developer.
P-CAD (electronics component symbol) by Altium
P-CAD is a discontinued electronics design automation program for personal computers. Electronics component symbols used by P-CAD are saved in SYM files. This file format is classified as CAD.
PCLTool (symbol set) by Page Technology Marketing
PCLTool was a classic Windows dynamic library for transforming a Hewlett-Packard printer command line language file to a raster image (e.g. BMP, JPG, and TIFF). It uses a SYM file to save its symbol set. This file format is classified as Data.
Radan (symbol) by HEXAGON
Radan is a computer-aided design and manufacturing software suite used for sheet metal cutting, fabrication etc. It saves symbols in a SYM file. This file format is classified as CAD.
Stingray (UI symbol/icon) by Perforce
Stingray is a GUI application development environment for Windows. Symbols used as icons in a Stingray project are saved in a SYM file. This file format is classified as Developer.
SuperMap GIS (symbol library) by SuperMap
SuperMap GIS is a geospatial data analysis and visualization software suite compatible with Windows desktop. Its symbol library is saved in a SYM file. This file format is classified as Data.
TNTgis (text symbol) by MicroImages
TNTgis is a geospatial data analysis software suite. A symbol used by TNTgis is saved in a text-based SYM file. This file format is classified as Data.

SYM file format:

A file format defines how the data in the file is structured. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Frequently, however, one file extension is used by different programs for different file formats, and one file format for different file extensions. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. Our examination of the SYM files comes to the following conclusion:

The SYM file ending does not have a uniform file format. But the following two file formats are common:

10% of all SYM files internally utilize the XML file format. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple text-based format for representing structured information: documents, webpages, data, configuration, books, transactions, invoices, and much more. XML defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. The contents of these files are easily readable with a text editor. The files are 2 KB to 43 KB in size, with a median of 22 KB. The file type was developed only in the last few years. The following keywords are characteristic: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>, <RadanAttributes>, <RadanCompoundDocument xmlns="http://www.radan.com/ns/rcd"> and <Group class="system" name="System" desc="These attributes describe the Ra.
5% of all SYM files start with the magic bytes ÿÿÿÿ, which are always the first bytes of this file format. If you open these files in a text editor, you will see only illegible characters. The average file size is 11 KB with most files being between 1 KB and 47 KB in size. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. CDrawRect. Files like these have the following tags: gauge and round.

The remaining 85% of all SYM files are different files with different signatures, the following 16 formats can be found: DeltaCad Symbol, CODESYS Symbols, SuperMap - AvisMap GIS SYMbol library, gEDA Symbol, Harvard Graphics Symbols, DOC, UTF-16 (LE), UTF-8, ELF, FormatVersion, SYM and File. These files are often connected to beta, polishedcrystal, symbols, adjacent, delhi, marker, track or tank. If you want to find out what your SYM file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.

Technical Data for SYM File Extension

File classification:

Data

Related files:

ffo, syms, cff, cym, bla, sic, ri, txt, pro, zip, obj, sdb, pdf, xml, bin, rar, tx

Mime type:

application/octet-stream, text/plain

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: CodeWarrior_SYM
EXEFile: E:\CodeWarrior\bin\IDE.EXE %1

ProgramID: FLW3Presentation
EXEFile: c:\lotus\flg\f32main.exe %1

ProgramID: ethereal-file
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ethereal\ethereal.exe %1

ProgramID: Sym.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ELECTR~1\EWB9\SE.exe

ProgramID: GMLayout.Symbol
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\geomedia professional\Program\GMLayout.exe /w

ProgramID: Radan.Symbol
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Radan Software\Radan 06\radan\bin\Radraft.exe

ProgramID: Sym.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NATION~1\CIRCUI~1.0\SE.exe

Show all 7 listings To Top

a sym graphics symbol is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with SYM files

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