5 file types use the .cap file extension.

What is a CAP file?

A CAP file contains packets collected by a packet sniffing program. It saves raw data and metadata captured over a network transmission. CAP files are also called trace files or bone files, and they are used by multiple packet sniffer applications.

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How to open a CAP file

Category: Data Files

ASUS BIOS Update File

A CAP file may also be a BIOS update file used to "flash" the BIOS to ASUS computers running Windows. It contains settings and instructions for updating the BIOS on an ASUS motherboard .

BIOS stands for "Basic Input/Output System" and is a type of firmware used by a computer's microprocessor to boot the computer system when it is turned on. It is also used to manage the data flow between a computer's operating system and any attached devices.

NOTE: To update the BIOS on your computer, download the CAP file from the ASUS website and copy it to a USB key (formatted to FAT or FAT 32). Then, connect it to the appropriate ASUS machine, and use the EZ Flash utility (built into the BIOS firmware) to load the update.

Programs that open CAP files

Updated: February 26, 2015

Construct Game Development File

A CAP file may also be a project file created by Construct, a game development application used for building DirectX games. It includes game graphics, audio, physics models, and event handlers for actions in the game.

NOTE: Construct now uses .CAPX and .CAPROJ files for game development projects.

Programs that open CAP files

Updated: August 29, 2012

Capella Score

A CAP file may also be a musical score created using Capella, a music composition program. It contains binary or XML data that Capella translates into notes, rests, measures, and other musical notation. The CAP file format was replaced by the .CAPX format.

Capella is a Windows and Mac program that composers use to create, edit, play, and print musical scores. In previous versions of Capella, these scores were saved as CAP files.

Originally, CAP files were binary files that could be opened only in Capella and its related software, such as Capella Viewer. However, around the year 2008, the Capella team began transitioning the program to save scores in an open XML format, so composers could load Capella scores in other composition programs. During this transition period, some CAP files were saved in an XML format. So, a CAP file may contain either binary or XML data, depending on when it was created. Now, the CAP file format has been replaced by the CAPX format, which is an entirely XML-based format.

You can open a CAP file in Capella (Windows, Mac), Capella Reader (Windows, Mac), or Capella Score Reader (iOS, Android). Capella Reader and Score Reader are free programs that allow composers to view, play, and print the score a CAP or CAPX file contains.

Programs that open CAP files

Updated: July 21, 2021

PASCO Capstone Experiment File

A CAP file contains an experiment created by PASCO Capstone, a scientific program used to collect, display, and analyze data in engineering and physics labs. It stores information about an experiment, which may include one or more pages of analyses and graphs, calculations, collected data, and experiment settings.

Capstone CAP experiment files are saved in a proprietary format and can only be opened using PASCO Capstone in Windows or macOS. To open a CAP file in Capstone follow these steps:

NOTE: Capstone CAP files are used for storing experiments in various scientific fields, such as thermodynamics, oscillations, mechanics, quantum, electromagnetism, and waves and optics.

Programs that open CAP files

Updated: May 15, 2019