2 file types use the .a3w file extension.

What is an A3W file?

Unpackaged Authorware project created with Authorware v. 3 for Windows; editable format that has not yet been packaged for distribution.

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Category: Data Files

Alice 3 World

An A3W file may also be a 3D world created using Alice 3, the third iteration of the Alice programming language and integrated development environment ( IDE ). It is a Zip-compressed archive that contains the world's 3D models, source code, and other assets. A3W files are typically meant to be played as 3D animations, using the Alice Player.

Alice is an educational programming language and IDE that teachers use to teach programming concepts to middle-grade students. In Alice, students drag and drop characters, objects, and code snippets to produce 3D animations. A student can edit their animation in either Alice's Scene Editor, which allows the student to add and manipulate objects, or Code Editor, which allows the student to animate objects.

Typically, Alice saves students' animation projects as .A3P files. However, students can also export their projects as A3W files. These files are compressed archives that contain a copy of the 3D models, 2D images, source code, settings, and other assets that comprise an Alice 3 animation. Students can either decompress their A3W file to view the assets their animation project contains, or they can open the A3W file in Alice Player to watch their animation.

You can open an A3W file in Alice Player (Windows, Mac). To do so, open Alice Player, select Load New World , and then navigate to and open your A3W file. The animation your A3W file contains will immediately begin playing in Alice Player.

You can also decompress an A3W file using any Zip decompression utility, such as 7-Zip (Windows) or Apple Archive Utility (Mac), to view the assets it contains.

Programs that open A3W files

Updated: October 4, 2021