Properties of ANS Files and How to Open a File with .ans Extension

ANS files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: ANSI Text File

General Information

Title	ANSI Text File
Extension	.ans
Full Form	ANSI Text File
File Type	Text File
Developer	N/A
MIME Type	text/ansi

File Function

Primary Function	Display text
Additional Functions	Contain ANSI sequences
Features	Text formatting, Color codes

File Characteristics

Quality	Plain text
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	No
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

BBS Artwork	Yes
Legacy Systems	Yes
Text-based Gaming	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low risk
Best Practices	Validate input

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	1980s
Latest Version	N/A

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.txt, .nfo, .asc

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Notepad++	Free	Windows
Sublime Text	Free, Paid	Windows, Mac, Linux
VSCode	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 2: HotDocs Binary Answer File

The .ANS file extension designates HotDocs answer files. HotDocs saves answers in XML format now. The .ANS extension remains for backwards compatibility. We provide software to open or handle ANS fi...