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TAB File - What is a .tab file and how do I open it?
Learn about .TAB files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is a TAB file? A TAB file is a data file created by Typinator, a typing shortcut program for macOS. It contains a set of typing abbreviations and their associated words added by users. TAB files are referenced by Typinator to insert associated words when abbreviations are typed in documents, web browsers, and other programs on a computer.
More Information Typinator is a program used to increase users' typing efficiency. It allows users to type shortcuts instead of whole sentences, which is especially helpful when repeatedly typing the same sentence or phrase. Typinator also serves as an AutoCorrection tool for misspellings. NOTE: TAB files are similar to the more common .TYSET file.
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Popularity2.8 | 10 Votes
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.TAB File Extension
4 file types use the .tab file extension.
Typinator Set File
| Developer | Ergonis Software |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 32 Votes |
What is a TAB file?
A TAB file is a data file created by Typinator, a typing shortcut program for macOS. It contains a set of typing abbreviations and their associated words added by users. TAB files are referenced by Typinator to insert associated words when abbreviations are typed in documents, web browsers, and other programs on a computer.
More Information
Typinator is a program used to increase users' typing efficiency. It allows users to type shortcuts instead of whole sentences, which is especially helpful when repeatedly typing the same sentence or phrase. Typinator also serves as an AutoCorrection tool for misspellings.
NOTE: TAB files are similar to the more common .TYSET file.
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Programs that open or reference TAB files
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Mac
Ergonis Software Typinator
Free Trial
Category: Data Files
Updated: October 25, 2019
Tab Separated Data File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.4 | 19 Votes |
Text file that contains a table of data in which columns are separated by tabs; can be imported by most spreadsheet programs, which will format the data into cells.
More Information
More often seen with a .TSV extension.
Programs that open TAB files
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Windows
Microsoft Excel 365
Free Trial
Any text editor
Mac
Microsoft Excel 365
Free Trial
Web
Google Sheets
Free
iOS
Google Sheets
Free
Android
Google Sheets
Free
Chrome OS
Google Sheets
Free
Category: Text Files
Updated: June 5, 2009
MapInfo TAB File
| Developer | Pitney Bowes Software |
| Popularity |
3.2 | 21 Votes |
GIS file saved by MapInfo, a desktop mapping program now owned by Pitney Bowes Software; saved using ASCII text and can contain references to spatial data files used for visualization as well as spatial data itself.
More Information
TAB files are commonly used for storing geographical maps containing political boundaries, roads, water features, and other topological objects of interest.
Programs that open TAB files
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Platform
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Pitney Bowes MapInfo
Paid
ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop
Free Trial
Golden Software Surfer
Free Trial
Golden Software Didger
—
Discontinued
Free Trial
GDAL
Free
Category: GIS Files
Updated: January 17, 2012
Guitar ASCII Tablature File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
2.8 | 10 Votes |
A TAB file may also be a guitar tablature file, which is a plain text file that contains guitar tabs and lyrics in the ASCII tab (TAB) format. Users can create, open, and edit TAB files with a text editor or import them into various guitar tablature applications.
More Information
TAB file open in Microsoft Notepad 11
Guitar tablature is a form of musical notation that includes the finger placement on a guitar for playing a piece. There are many guitar tablature formats, with TAB being one of the most human-readable formats.
TAB files typically include tablature and lyrics and may include symbols to denote various techniques. Some symbol examples include the following:
NOTE: While humans can easily read the TAB format, it is also inconsistent since many people create TAB files by simply typing in tablature in a simple .TXT file. They then change the .txt file extension to .tab .
How to open a TAB file
You can open a TAB file with various guitar tablature applications, most notably, Arobas Music Guitar Pro (multiplatform). To open a TAB file with Guitar Pro, select File → Import → ASCII Tab .
You can also open TAB files with any text editor.
For example, you can open a TAB file with Microsoft Notepad or Microsoft WordPad in Windows. Both of these text editors come bundled with Windows. To open a TAB file with Notepad, select File → Open... .
In macOS, you can open a TAB file with Apple TextEdit , which is included with the operating system. To open a TAB file with TextEdit, select File → Open... .
How to convert a TAB file
Arobas Music Guitar Pro can convert TAB files to various file types, including the following formats:
Programs that open TAB files
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Windows
Arobas Music Guitar Pro
Free Trial
Any text editor
Microsoft Notepad
Included with OS
Microsoft WordPad
Any web browser
Mac
Arobas Music Guitar Pro
Free Trial
Any text editor
Apple TextEdit
Included with OS
MacroMates TextMate
Free
Any web browser
Linux
Any text editor
Leafpad
Free
gedit
Free
Any web browser
Chrome OS
Google Chrome Text
Included with OS
Category: Misc Files
Updated: August 19, 2022