BAK File
Encyclopedia
In computing, ".bak" is a filename extension
commonly used to signify a backup copy of a file.
When a program is about to overwrite an existing file (for example, when the user saves the document he or she is working on), the program may first make a copy of the existing file, with .bak appended to the filename. This common .bak naming scheme makes it possible to retrieve the original contents of the file. In a similar manner, a user may also manually make a copy of the file before the change and append .bak to the filename.
Other naming schemes are also in widespread use: file~, file.orig, file.old, and so on.
Database Applications like FoxPro
and SQL Server use .bak files to back up their databases. Many applications, like XML shell, create .bak files in their Autosave process. They don't get automatically deleted, so they need to be manually deleted after the process using it is stopped.
Filename extension
A filename extension is a suffix to the name of a computer file applied to indicate the encoding of its contents or usage....
commonly used to signify a backup copy of a file.
When a program is about to overwrite an existing file (for example, when the user saves the document he or she is working on), the program may first make a copy of the existing file, with .bak appended to the filename. This common .bak naming scheme makes it possible to retrieve the original contents of the file. In a similar manner, a user may also manually make a copy of the file before the change and append .bak to the filename.
Other naming schemes are also in widespread use: file~, file.orig, file.old, and so on.
Database Applications like FoxPro
FoxPro 2
FoxPro is a text-based procedurally-oriented programming language and DBMS, originally published by Fox Software and later by Microsoft, for MS-DOS, MS Windows, Apple Macintosh, and UNIX....
and SQL Server use .bak files to back up their databases. Many applications, like XML shell, create .bak files in their Autosave process. They don't get automatically deleted, so they need to be manually deleted after the process using it is stopped.
Applications that use bak files
- Finale Notepad
- FoxPro
- Sony VegasSony VegasSony Vegas is a professional video editing software package for non-linear editing systems originally published by Sonic Foundry, now owned and run by Sony Creative Software. Originally developed as an audio editor, it eventually developed into an NLE for video and audio from version 2.0...
- SQL Server
- XML Shell
- AutoCADAutoCADAutoCAD is a software application for computer-aided design and drafting in both 2D and 3D. It is developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers, notably the IBM PC...
- Outlook Express
- Photo Shop
- Word
- Steinberg CubaseSteinberg CubaseCubase is a music software product developed by Steinberg for music recording, arranging and editing as part of a Digital Audio Workstation. It is one of the oldest DAWs to still enjoy widespread use...
- WinMergeWinMergeWinMerge is a free software tool for file comparison and merging text-like files. It is useful for determining what has changed between versions, and then merging changes between versions.The project is currently dormant.WinMerge runs on Microsoft Windows....
- MatlabMATLABMATLAB is a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. Developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages,...
- Pscad