BDR File

What are BDR files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BDR 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 BDR files.

What is a BDR file?

BDR files have multiple uses, and Microsoft Border Art is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Microsoft Border Art

Microsoft Border Art files store decorative art designs used for border styles in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher, particularly under the "Page Borders" or "Borders & Shading → Art" features. They contain repeating clip-art graphics such as stars, flowers, apples, etc., which the application tiles around the edges of pages for visual decoration.

These files are created internally by Microsoft and are part of the program's default art border library. Word does not provide a public tool for converting external graphics (for example GIF, JPG) into this format, nor for creating new .BDR art border files. Publisher, however, allows deletion of individual art designs from its library and modifies .BDR files correspondingly. Restoring deleted patterns in Publisher requires copying original .BDR files from installation media.

Each .BDR file holds multiple border-art patterns. In many older Office versions there are about 15 .BDR files in the Office Borders folder, together containing over 160 different border patterns used by Word and Publisher. When a specific art design is deleted from the list, Publisher updates the .BDR file that contained it; the file itself remains present.

BDR files begin with a fixed byte signature that identifies Microsoft's proprietary Border Art data; for example the first bytes include 0x58, 0x54, 0x01, 0x00 at offset zero, followed by 0x00 at offset five, and a long sequence of zero bytes at offset 28.

How to open BDR files

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

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

Last updated: August 23, 2026

All known file formats using extension .BDR

While Microsoft Border Art is a popular type of BDR-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .BDR file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Microsoft Exchange Non-Delivery Report

We know that one BDR format is Microsoft Exchange Non-Delivery Report. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

BDR opener for Windows

We have identified one BDR opener that is compatible with this specific type of BDR file.

PrintPartner Borders

We know that one BDR format is PrintPartner Borders. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of BDR files. Remember, different programs may use BDR 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 BDR file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.