Class Files

[SAH]

Can anyone tell me what a class file is as I've been sent a music file of this type that I can't open, is there some sort of software I need to download?

[j2buttonsw]

I assume you are Windows user, if so then are you sure it is a ".class" file, or are you getting confused? In other words what is the 3 (or the rarer 2) lettered extension to this file? In other-other words the music file will have a .xxx or .xx extension such as song.wav, song.mp3, song.cda etc, what is the xxx (or xx)? If you can't see it then double click My Computer > Tools > folder option > view > ensure " hide file extensions for known file types" is unticked. If you do not understand what I mean then perhaps you should buy a rudimentary computing book first then re-submit this question.

[smorodina]

Is this answerbank or tweak-my-expertise.co.uk? The guy's asked the question because he doesn't know what the file is. I agree that it would help to know more about the file, but being rude about his level of knowledge is unhelpful. Answerbank really is rapidly becoming a clique.

[darth vader]

Are you having a bad day J2B?

SAH - please be more specific about what you mean by a "class file" i.e. can you tell us what the file extension is please?

[j2buttonsw]

Well I am shocked at your replies: I thought I gave an honest and informed answer 1) You need to know the file extension to understand its application association 2) I gave a full explanation what a file extension is with examples. 3) By default file extensions are hidden so I explained how to show them. 4) If you don't understand my explanation find another source: it is rudimentary thus should be easy to understand (I was not being rude: this is how knowledge is gained). How was that unhelpful??? And, more to the point, how was that cliquey???

[lisaj]

Seiously guys, you should all know a class file is simply a compiled java file (applet or applcation) :-).

[darth vader]

we DO know (or at least i do anyway and i would have thought it goes without saying that j2b knows too) lisaj, though SAH seems to think it is a music file - hence the questions asking SAH to confirm the file extension....

[SAH]

First of all can I just say that I never realised that my question would provoke such a response! Unfortunately darth vader I do not know what the file extension is, but what I do know is that it's DEFINITELY a music file. Oh and j2buttonsw, you're not a teacher by any chance are you?? -

[smorodina]

SAH if you follow j2buttonsw advice you should be able to see the file extension. However, you could try this: download a small program called g-spot:http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ then load your file into it. It has various windows of information and will tell you what type of media file it is. It works for video and audio and will analyze any file and tell you if it is a media file or not. Alternatively you could try loading it into Jet Audio which plays just about any media file there is. Free version available: http://www.jetaudio.com/download/

[SAH]

smorodina - thanks for that info, I've just followed j2buttonsw's advice from earlier and I've unticked the file extension box and the extension now comes up as "name of song.class" so I'm still none the wiser!

[j2buttonsw]

So you have got a java bytecode or class file ( http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=CLASS ). I'm sure lisaj will show you how that works. As for me, I'm far too stupid to be a teacher.

[darth vader]

2nd opinion - definitely a java class file (which is compiled java code not a sound file - what makes you think it's a music file?)

[SAH]

darth vader - the reason I think it's a music file is because my friend who sent it to me said it was, so what reason would I have to think otherwise?

[j2buttonsw]

How big is this file? Class files are relatively small whereas music files can be 5 - 500 MB. Copy the file then rename it with a standard music file extension such as .mp3, .wav, .cda, .ra, .ram, .rm, .mid etc etc then see if it plays.

[j2buttonsw]

Oh yes, how did your mate play this file? What application did he use?

[SAH]

j2buttonsw - Thanks for that - the file is about 3.3MB I took your advice and renamed the file as an mp3, but when I tried to play it I got an error message which said " A general error has ocurred - cannot find file format - this may not be an MPEG file" As to what application my friend used, I'll have to ask her.

[SAH]

Just to let you all know that I've finally solved this one now, all I need to do to play any files of this type in future is to save them as a zip file. Thanks for your help everyone, it was much appreciated!