CHW file format description

Many people share .chw files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .chw file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .chw files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.chw - Compiled HTML Help Index

The CHW data files are related to Microsoft Office Resource Kit. The CHW file is a Compiled HTML Help Index. HTML Help is the standard help system for the Windows platform. The HTML Help compiler (part of the HTML Help Workshop) makes it possible to compress HTML, graphic, and other files into a relatively small compiled help (.chm) file.

Application:

Microsoft Office Resource Kit

Category:

Data files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

Compiled HTML Help Index related extensions:

.vf1: VictorGSM MSS Flash Data
.k3y: USB Raptor Password Data
.fbfileset: FileBoss File Sets Data
.bms: Backup Magic Backup Set
.idt: Cimplicity HMI IDT Data
.fdx: Food Data Exchange File

Naturally, other applications may also use the .chw file extension. Even harmful programs can create .chw files. Be especially cautious with .chw files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .chw file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.chw

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .chw file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

cbw, ch, cha, chd, che, chq, chs, cmw, cnw, ctw, cuw, cw, dhw, hcw, hw

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.chd: MAME Compressed Hard Disk Image
.cuw: Toyota Calibration Update Wizard Data
.ch: Scitex Continuous Tone
.chd: Chordastic Chord
.cw: CardWorks Template
.cha: Diablo 2 Singleplayer Character Data

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-chw-files

If you have useful information about the .chw file format, then write to us!