Will files with hidden file extensions in Mac OS X still open automatically in the correct application on a windows PC?

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Will files with hidden file extensions in Mac OS X still open automatically in the correct application on a windows PC?

I recently submitted some job applications that had word and PDF attachments. However, when I saved the files I unwittingly had the 'hide extension' box selected. Will these files still open automatically in the correct application on a PC? (ie are the file extensions just 'hidden' at my end or are they completely removed by selecting this option so as to cause problems when opening them on a PC?)

Thanks in advance.

Posted on Jul 22, 2011 9:26 AM

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Answer 1

Richard_432 Author

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Jul 22, 2011 9:50 AM in response to Richard_432

Forgot to mention, I'm running the latest version of OS X 10.6

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Answer 2

Jul 22, 2011 9:53 AM in response to Richard_432

The file extension is simply hidden. The file will be fine is put on a PC and opened.

Note that if you did remove the file extension, it's not a big deal to simply rename the file and put one back on.

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Answer 3

Richard_432 Author

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Jul 22, 2011 10:06 AM in response to J D McIninch

Thanks, so having the 'hide extension' box checked when saving a new file for the first time won't save the file without an extension? (because I understand that Mac OS doesn't rely on the file extension but has other ways of knowing what the file is and what to open it with)

The reason I'm paranoid now is because one of the fields where I was uploading a file had a message to Mac users saying something like 'Mac users, be sure to save your file with an extension'. Surely this just happnes by default??

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Answer 4

Richard_432 Author

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Jul 22, 2011 10:25 AM in response to Richard_432

Can you JD or anyone else explain how the whole Mac file extension thing works? How is it possible to save a file without a file extension? (which would make it useless to a PC user I suppose??)

Help please??!! Very confused :s

Thanks :)

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