Properties of TAB Files and How to Open a File with .tab Extension

TAB files exist as 4 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: Typinator Set File

The TAB data file stores shortcuts and phrases for Typinator. Typinator helps users type faster. Users add abbreviations and the full phrases to the TAB file. Then Typinator inserts the phrases when t...

General Information

Title	TAB File Extension
Extension	.tab
Full Form	Typinator Set File
File Type	Data File
Developer	Ergonis Software
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store snippets
Additional Functions	Text expansion
Features	Template storage, Auto-correction

File Characteristics

Quality	Highly structured
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	N/A
Editable	Yes, with Typinator

Use Cases

Text Expansion	Yes
Auto Correction	Yes
Template Management	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low
Best Practices	Regular backups, Use updated software

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Unknown
Latest Version	Depends on Typinator version

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.plist, .txt

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Typinator	Commercial	macOS

Type 2: MapInfo TAB File

The MapInfo TAB format links files into one dataset. It is a vector data format for GIS software. MapInfo Corporation develops and regulates it. The basic files allow MapInfo browser and mapper view. The browser view stores attribute data like a spreadsheet. No geographic data is available here. Minimum files needed only for browser view are TAB and DAT.

A TAB file contains typing shortcuts. Typinator inserts the associated words when shortcuts typed. Users add abbreviations and words. TAB files increase typing efficiency. They allow typing shortcuts instead of sentences. They also autocorrect misspellings.

The TAB format allows importing data by spreadsheets. They format information into cells. You can open TAB files with text editors too. You can save them as TSV files. Programs open tab separated data files.

TAB files store feature geometry and attributes. An ASCII file links other MapInfo files. It holds data type information too. Primarily MapInfo works with TAB files. Conversion is possible as part of the whole map file.

Over 400 file formats open with File Viewer Plus. Free download available. TAB is a MapInfo format file. Pitney Bowes Software develops it. TAB files work on Windows systems. MapInfo handles these files best. ArcGIS and Didger also handle TAB files.

FME considers a MapInfo dataset as TAB files collection. It must define attribute definitions first. FME scans for defined MapInfo files. The mandatory TAB file describes dataset structure. MapInfo DAT file is the data file.

TAB files relate to MapInfo format. They fall in GIS files category. TAB files Windows, Mac and Linux support. To view TAB files 6 programs available. Popular options are ArcGIS, MapInfo, and QGIS. TAB files incorrectly associate with programs sometimes.

To open TAB files install a supporting program first. View associated spatial data then. TAB files store location geological details mostly. The ESRI ArcGIS desktop software views TAB files. Surfer and Didger applications also view TAB files aside from MapInfo application and GDAL software. Open TAB files by double clicking.

General Information

Title	TAB File Extension
Extension	.tab
Full Form	MapInfo TAB File
File Type	Geospatial Data File
Developer	Precisely
MIME Type	application/x-mapinfo-tab

File Function

Primary Function	Store geospatial data
Additional Functions	Spatial visualization, Analysis
Features	Map layers, Attribute data

File Characteristics

Quality	High precision
Supports Layers	Yes
Supports Transparency	No
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

GIS Mapping	Yes
Urban Planning	Yes
Environmental Analysis	Yes
Asset Management	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low
Best Practices	Regular updates, Data validation

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Early 1990s
Significant Updates	MapInfo Pro v2019, v2021

Associated Types

Related Extensions

.dat, .id, .map, .ind, .gis

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
MapInfo Professional	Paid	Windows
QGIS	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux
GDAL	Free	Cross-platform

Type 3: Tab Separated Data File

Tab-separated values (TSV) store tabular data in plain text files. Each record is on a new line. Values within a record are separated by tab characters. TSV files are a type of delimiter-separated va...

General Information

Title	TAB File Extension
Extension	.tab
Full Form	Tab Separated Data File
File Type	Text Data File
Developer	N/A
MIME Type	text/tab-separated-values

File Function

Primary Function	Data storage, Exchange
Additional Functions	Data import, Data export
Features	Plain text, Structured data

File Characteristics

Quality	Text readable
Supports Layers	No
Supports Transparency	No
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Data Analysis	Yes
Database Import	Yes
Data Exchange	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Injection attacks
Best Practices	Validation, Sanitization

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	N/A
Latest Version	N/A

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.csv, .txt, .xlsx

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Microsoft Excel	Commercial	Windows, Mac
LibreOffice Calc	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux
Google Sheets	Free	Web-based
Notepad++	Free	Windows

Type 4: Guitar ASCII Tablature File

TAB is a text file format used for guitar, bass guitar and drum tabulatures. It uses ASCII numbers, letters and symbols. TAB is human-readable rather than machine-readable. Some standards used by all ...

General Information

Title	TAB File Extension
Extension	.tab
Full Form	Guitar ASCII Tablature File
File Type	Text Document
Developer	Various
MIME Type	text/plain

File Function

Primary Function	Store guitar music
Additional Functions	Display frets, strings
Features	Text-based, Readable

File Characteristics

Quality	Text clarity
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	N/A
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Music Notation	Yes
Guitar Learning	Yes
Songwriting	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low risk
Best Practices	Regular updates, Trusted sources

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Varies
Latest Version	Varies by software

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.gp3, .gp4, .gp5, .gpx

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
TuxGuitar	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux
Guitar Pro	Paid	Windows, Mac
Power Tab Editor	Free	Windows
Text Editors	Free	Varies