Five Steps to Open BBS Files

If you have BBS files that you need to open, but you’re not sure how, follow these steps.


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Step 1: Double-click the file.

Locate the BBS file icon and double-click it. If you have the right program installed, it should open the file automatically. If it doesn’t, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Look for another program.

If the BBS file doesn’t open when you double-click it, you probably don’t have the right program on your computer. There are several popular programs that can be used to open a BBS file. Try one of the three most common programs: Unknown Apple II File, Bulletin Board System Text, or FTN Software Hudson-style Messagebase.

Step 3: Check the file type.

If none of the above programs will open your BBS file, check the file type to make sure you have a program that can open that type of file. Most BBS files are Text Files, but there’s a chance it might be another type.

You can find this information in the file’s properties. On a Windows computer, just right-click the file and click properties, and look for the file type under “Type of File.” On a Mac computer, right-click the file and click “More info,” and look for the file type under “Kind.”

Step 4: Get help from a developer.

If you can’t figure out how to open a BBS file, a developer can probably tell you how. Find the program you have in the table below and contact the developer of that program.

Program Name Developer Name
Unknown Apple II File found on Golden Orchard Apple II CD Rom
Bulletin Board System Text Microsoft Developer
FTN Software Hudson-style Messagebase Microsoft Programmer

Step 5: Find a universal file viewer.

The easiest way to open a BBS file, or any kind of file, is to use a universal file viewer like File Magic (Download). You can use it to open many different file formats. If it’s not compatible, the file will just open in binary.

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