APX File

What are APX files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an APX 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 APX files.

What is an APX file?

APX files have multiple uses, and Ability Office PhotoPaint Bitmap is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Ability Office PhotoPaint Bitmap

.apx files are image files created by the Ability Office PhotoPaint application. PhotoPaint is an image-editing tool included in the Ability Office package. When users make and save PhotoPaint image files, the default image type is a bitmap file with the .apx extension. A bitmap is a digital image composed of matrix dots. Each dot in a bitmap image contains a different color.

The Ability Office software was developed in 1992 and released on Windows-based PCs in 1995.

How to open APX files

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

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested five different APX openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

All known file formats using extension .APX

While Ability Office PhotoPaint Bitmap is a popular type of APX-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .APX file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

ArcPad User Data File

ArcPad User Data File is an XML-format configuration file created by the ArcPad GIS application for mobile field mapping and data collection. It serves to customize ArcPad's behavior each time the program launches, defining what toolbars the user sees, which forms are available, which scripts run on which events, the layout of the user interface, GPS settings, and other preferences. Common examples are the default configuration file (named ArcPad.apx), the preferences file (ArcPadPrefs.apx), the global bookmarks file (ArcPadBookMarks.apx), and studio or system settings files using the same format.

ArcPad User Data Files are written using ArcPad Studio (or a text/XML editor) by GIS specialists or administrators who want to define standard workflows or deploy consistent configurations to multiple field devices. When ArcPad starts, it looks for a configuration file called ArcPad.apx to load default settings for that device. The Preferences file stores individual or device-specific settings such as display themes, GPS behavior, paths, and scripting options. Global bookmark files hold map extents usable across maps. Studio settings files control how ArcPad Studio itself behaves during development. These files are exchanged, edited, and deployed across devices to ensure uniform setup, but data collection and map layers are managed separately.

The format is based on XML 1.0 (including elements and attributes familiar from ArcXML regarding symbology and UI constructs). Files can be encoded in ANSI, UTF-8, Unicode, or Big Endian Unicode. The file type is identified by its extension and its root XML elements: for example CONFIG is used in a default configuration file to define what toolbars are present or system object event handlers, GPS elements specify GPS preferences, TOOLBAR, FORMS, and SCRIPT elements define parts of the interface or behavior.

Borland C++ Appexpert Database

Borland C++ AppExpert Database files store metadata about a visual application project inside the Borland C++ development environment. They are created by the AppExpert tool, a part of the Borland C++ IDE, to hold information about the application's user interface components, menu structure, classes, dialogs, and event handlers. ClassExpert uses this database when working with the project.

These files are generated when setting up a new AppExpert project in Borland C++ and are maintained alongside other files like the main source file, header files, resource scripts, and project definition files. When source code is changed - classes added, renamed, or removed - the Rescan operation in the IDE examines the project's source files (.CPP, .H, .RC, etc.), looks for special markers, and updates or rebuilds the database file so it reflects the current structure of the application.

In its internal structure the file is binary and begins with a distinct identifier: at offset 8 it contains the ASCII sequence "BORCMDB". It also includes the plain string "BORCMDB" and may contain the filename ".APX". These signatures help tools recognise the file even if it's been renamed.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of APX files. Remember, different programs may use APX files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about APX file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.