ABE File

What are ABE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ABE file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ABE files.

What is an ABE file?

An .ABE file is an ABE Encoded Data file.

ABE Encoded Data is a binary-to-text encoding format designed by Brad Templeton for translating arbitrary binary data into a printable ASCII form. It wraps binary files through ASCII so that those files can be included in text-only environments or transmitted where only text is allowed, similar in goal to uuencode or Base64.

Children of programs that use ABE produce files when they need to embed or transmit binaries via channels that strip non-printable characters. After transmission or storage, ABE files are decoded back into their original binary form. Users do not edit ABE files by hand; instead, they use the encoder and decoder tools created by Brad Templeton associated with the ABE system to convert to and from this encoded form.

The format begins with a literal ASCII header at offset zero: it starts with the string ";ABEASCII-Binary-Encoding(byBradTempleton)" followed by other markers. Inside the file are labeled metadata fields such as "$$UNAME", "$$SIZE", and "$$OS" and terminators like "END OF ABE ENCODING" or "$$END_FILE" to mark the end of the encoded block.

How to open ABE files

Important: Different programs may use files with the ABE file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your ABE file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 16, 2026

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