The file extension CUR is associated with Microsoft Windows and is a cursor file used with the Windows Cursor tool for the operating system environment. CUR files provide the images and animations used with the mouse pointer, such as the blinking cursor for word processing, the hourglass shape for loading applications, and the most commonly known arrow which points to objects you see on the screen prior to clicking on them.
CUR files are a system file type that contains data which provides you with custom themes for your cursor, animations, images, and other features you typically experience when using the Windows Cursor tool. This type of CUR file is proprietary to Windows and is created using the Windows Cursor Resource.
In the earlier versions of Windows there was no way to open and edit cursor files without the assistance of the Window Cursor Resource. However, with more recent versions of Windows, such as XP and later, you can use a variety of applications to view and edit CUR files to provide a customized look to your Windows desktop theme.
How to Open CUR Files
The best way to open CUR files is by using a later version of the Windows operating system. However, there are multiple methods of editing CUR files using Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
In Windows you can open and edit CUR files using Greenfish Icon Editor Pro, which is an application for designing your own custom icons. Greenfish is available as a free download from the CNET website. Other programs that will open CUR files in Windows include Axialis CursorWorkshop and Corel PaintShop Pro X4.
For Mac OS X, you can use Snap Converter, which is an image and icon conversion utility available for download for $0.99 from the App Store. You simply drag and drop images into the program and then convert them to another format.
If you use the Linux operating system, you can use Inkscape to open and edit CUR files. It is an open source graphics editor which provides capabilities similar to professional image editing programs using scalable vector graphics defined by the World Wide Web Consortium. Inkscape is multiplatform and works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. The program is available as a free download from the Inkscape.org website.
It is important to mention CUR files can become damaged or corrupt from opening and editing them. In this case, you can deploy a CUR file repair program to clean the errors from the file. There are a number of CUR file repair programs available for download on websites such as CNET and Softpedia.
