The file extension CAB is either a Windows Cabinet file or an installation file for Windows Mobile. If the CAB file is associated with Windows Cabinet, it is used to facilitate the installation of different types of software that is compatible with the Windows operating system. CAB file extensions that are used with Windows Mobile perform a similar function except that they are used with a variety of mobile platforms used with the Windows smartphone.
Windows Cabinet CAB files are a system file type which contains configurations and settings that assist you with the installation of software, device drivers, and network components. The file often works with Microsoft Installers, Windows Device Installer or the Setup API, which is an application programming interface that provides functions and capabilities to perform installation operations on the Windows system.
CAB files that are associated with Windows Mobile are a system file type created with Microsoft Visual Studio that functions as an executable program for launching applications on Windows Mobile operating systems. The executable is bundled into the CAB file before it is inserted into the mobile platform used with Windows phones.
How to Open CAB Files
CAB file extensions are typically placed in a compressed format, which means the file can be opened using a variety of compression utility programs. For a Windows-based PC, the most obvious way to open CAB files is by using Microsoft Windows Installer, which is typically included with the operating system or it can be downloaded on the Microsoft website.
Another method you can use to open CAB files related to Windows Cabinet is by using WinRAR, Microsoft Windows Zip Utility, or 7-Zip, which are commonly used compression utility programs for Windows. Other programs that will open CAB files in Windows include Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe 2010, PeaZip, and WinZip.
For Mac OS X, you can open CAB files Apple Archive Utility, which typically comes preinstalled on a Mac PC, or Dare to be Creative Archiver, which is available as a free trial on the ArchiverApp website. You can also use Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe 2011, WinZip for Mac, or the Unarchiver, which is an open source compression utility program available for download in the Mac App Store.
If the CAB file is created for Windows Mobile, you can open it using Microsoft Visual Studio, which is a program for developers that facilitates the creation of system installer files. Microsoft Visual Studio is available for download on the Microsoft website. If you are a developer who uses the Linux operating system, you can open and edit CAB files with Cabextract, which is free software that allows you to open and extract CAB files for the purpose of editing and development. Cabextract is distributed under a General Public License and is available for download on the Cabextract.org website.
