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ECW File - What is an .ecw file and how do I open it?
Learn about .ECW files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an ECW file? An ECW file is an image saved in the Enhanced Compression Wavelet (ECW) format. It was likely created using aerial photography or satellite imaging. Geographers and other Earth scientists use the images ECW files contain in GIS applications.
More Information ECW file open in QGIS Earth Resource Mapping, an Australian-based software company, developed the ECW format in 1998. The format has since become widely used in the geographical sciences community, because it efficiently compresses the large images created by aerial and satellite imaging. This allows geographers to more easily store geographical images and load them in GIS applications, which are used to analyze data about the Earth's surface. In addition to image data, an ECW file can also contain map projection data, used to map the two-dimensional image the file contains to the Earth's curvature. Each ECW file can contain up to 65,535 bands, which are layers or colors that can be viewed separately in the image. NOTE: Leica Geosystems now owns the rights to the ECW format.
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DeveloperGreen Eclipse
Popularity2.6 | 5 Votes
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In-Depth
.ECW File Extension
2 file types use the .ecw file extension.
Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image
| Developer | Earth Resource Mapping |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 8 Votes |
What is an ECW file?
An ECW file is an image saved in the Enhanced Compression Wavelet (ECW) format. It was likely created using aerial photography or satellite imaging. Geographers and other Earth scientists use the images ECW files contain in GIS applications.
More Information
ECW file open in QGIS
Earth Resource Mapping, an Australian-based software company, developed the ECW format in 1998. The format has since become widely used in the geographical sciences community, because it efficiently compresses the large images created by aerial and satellite imaging. This allows geographers to more easily store geographical images and load them in GIS applications, which are used to analyze data about the Earth's surface.
In addition to image data, an ECW file can also contain map projection data, used to map the two-dimensional image the file contains to the Earth's curvature. Each ECW file can contain up to 65,535 bands, which are layers or colors that can be viewed separately in the image.
NOTE: Leica Geosystems now owns the rights to the ECW format.
How to open an ECW file
You can open an ECW file with ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop (Windows), QGIS (Windows, Mac), and several other GIS applications. For example, to open an ECW file with QGIS, drag the file to the open program window. Then, the image your ECW file contains will appear in QGIS.
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Programs that open ECW files
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ERDAS IMAGINE
Paid
Canvas GFX Canvas X Pro
Free Trial
Safe Software FME Desktop
Free Trial
ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop
Free Trial
TatukGIS Viewer
Free
QGIS
Free
Mac
Safe Software FME Desktop
Free Trial
QGIS
Free
Linux
Safe Software FME Desktop
Free Trial
Category: Raster Image Files
Updated: November 29, 2022
EclipseCrossword Word List File
| Developer | Green Eclipse |
| Popularity |
2.6 | 5 Votes |
An ECW file contains a crossword created by EclipseCrossword, a program used to generate crossword puzzles. It contains a crossword puzzle, which includes each word with its clue and whether it is down or across. ECW files also include the title, author, copyright, and letter width and height of the puzzle.
More Information
You can open ECW files in EclipseCrossword. However, the program is only available for Windows. If you come across an ECW file in macOS you can open the ECW file with a text editor since the file is stored in plain text.
You can print crosswords stored in ECW files and save them as webpages in EclipseCrossword. You can also publish ECW puzzles as .RTF , .WMF , .EPS files.
Programs that open ECW files
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Green Eclipse EclipseCrossword
Free
Category: Game Files
Updated: July 13, 2017