Files that contain the file extension PGM are associated with multiple programs and applications. The most common programs and applications include Portable Gray Map, CGI, RS7000 OS and Signature. PGM files contain data and information related to the specific program that created them.
PGM files related to Portable Gray Map are images in 8-bit grayscale which contain a combination of gray colors and transparent pixels. The files contain numbers in a text file type which represent the pixels and can be edited using a basic text editing program.
If the PGM file is created using a CGI program, the file is an executable type which is created using a variety of programming languages, such as Perl, C++, Visual Basic, and Java. CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface and this type of PGM file provides a way to transmit information between a web server and a program that contains the CGI specification. This allows a web server to interact dynamically by sending and receiving CGI data.
PGM files associated with RS7000 OS are image files which contain data that has been duplicated for the purpose of backup and storage. This is a backup file type which can consist of a wide variety of different data.
If the PGM file is being used with a Signature program, it is a source code and script file type created with a programming language such as C++. This type of PGM file is a human readable text file which contains code that instructs your PC on what actions to take when using specific software applications.
How to Open PGM Files
If you are unsure about the origin of a PGM file, double click on it to see if it automatically opens in a default application. If it was created on your PC, chances are you have the appropriate program installed for opening the file.
PGM files which are associated with Portable Gray Map can be opened using any text editing program, such as Notepad or WordPad for Windows, Apple TextEdit for Mac, and gEdit or Nano Editor for Linux.
If you use Windows, you can open Portable Gray Map (PGM) files using Adobe Photoshop CS6, Corel PaintShop Pro X4, ACD Systems Canvas 14, or ACDSee Photo Manager 14. For Mac OS X, you can use Adobe Photoshop CS6 with the Carta PGM plugin.
If you are looking for a multiplatform application to open Portable Gray Map images, you can use GIMP, Inkscape, or Netpbm. All programs are compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
If PGM files are created as a CGI program, this type is browser specific, which means you can open it with Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer. You can also choose to convert the file to another format using a conversion program. If you are a programmer, you can open the file using an application such as Microsoft Visual Basic.
PGM files associated with RS7000 OS can be opened using a program which is designed to open a Virtual Hard Disk file. If you use Windows, you can open PGM files using Microsoft Virtual PC or Virtual Server, or you can use ISO Buster. For Mac OS X, you can use Parallels Desktop for Mac, which is also available in a version for the Linux operating system.
Signature PGM files are source code written with the C++ programming language. This type of PGM file can be opened using Visual C++ or by using any text editing program.
